Sign In

Vehicle 56494 / 54494

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30602
Diagram: 646

Allocations

The London Midland Region didn't publish trailer car details until late in 1968. Although not 100% reliable, if it is assumed that the trailers remained with the same power cars, the allocations for 51911 during the unknown period are:

30/04/60	New to	18A (Toton)
Feb-61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J

Then the allocations for 56494 are:

10/06/84	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	AN (Allerton)
29/03/87	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
01/10/89	Transferred to	CF (Cardiff Canton) PCFX
p/e 31/03/90	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX
30/09/90	Transferred to	CF (Cardiff Canton) PCFX
p/e 30/03/91	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX
16/05/91	Withdrawn from	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRZ

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56494 - original number
54494 - from Mar-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Derby Works dated 25/01/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Mayer Parry, Snailwell

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51911	56494	As delivered to 18A - 30th April 1960
	51911	56494	Noted 21/08/68 - at Manchester Exchange¹
	51911	56494	Noted 16/08/70 - at Preston²
	51911	56494	Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight then later at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	51417	56494	Noted 27/08/73 - at Liverpool Lime Street¹
	50629	56494	Noted 02/09/73 - in Manchester Oxford Road²
	51926	56494	Noted 19/04/74 - in Liverpool Lime Street¹
	51420	56494	Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot²
	50627	56494	Noted 20/08/1977³
	50627	56494	Noted 23/08/1977 - 08.07 Lime Street to Warrington Central³
	51924	56494	Noted circa 08/1982³
	51928	56494	Noted circa 09/1982³
	51417	56494	Noted circa 10/1982³
	51417	56494	Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 07.38 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street³
	51910	54494	Noted circa 04/1983³
	51911	54494	Noted circa 01/1984³
	51419	54494	Noted 8th January 1987
	51419	54494	Noted 18/07/1987³
CH252	51419	54494	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH252	51419	54494	Noted circa Jul-88
	51419	54494	Noted 09/08/89 - on 13:02 Warrington Central - Chester⁴

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Graeme Phillips

Images:

November 1971

Set number: AN279

Allerton depot in November 1971 contains Derby Class 108 sets AN272 and AN279 (with DTC 56494), Park Royal set CR209, and shunter D2851 (later 02 001). Note the blue squares are crossed out on the Park Royal DMBS (possibly 50400). Mel Smith.

Unknown date

A Class 108 DMU seen passing the National Gas Engine factory at Ashton-under-Lyne, date unknown. The DTSL appears to be 54494. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 23rd August 1988

Set number: CH252

CH252 (presumably 51419 leading with 54494) at Buxworth on 23/8/88. Walter Burt.

Date: 10th June 1989

Set number: CH252

Substituting for a Class 142, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M51419 & M54494 was stood in platform 5 at Preston station with a service to Liverpool Lime Street on June 10th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 23rd September 1989

Set number: CH252

A six-car Class 108 formation, with Driving Motor Brake Second M51419 leading (presumably paired with 54494), was passing Lostock Hall Junction with the Carlisle bound Sunday 'Dalesrail' service on September 23rd 1989. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 23rd September 1989

Set number: CH252

Three 2-Car Class 108 DMU sets were stood on the Down Fast at Leyland station with a Manchester Victoria to Carlisle 'Dalesrail' service (via Preston, Blackburn & Hellifield) on Sunday September 23rd 1989. The rear set was CH252 formed of cars M51419 & M54494. Martyn Hilbert.

➤