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Vehicle 56500 / 54500

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 51917 during the unknown period are:

11/06/60	New to	6G (Llandudno Junction)
w/e 01/10/60	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 31/12/60	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J

Then the allocations for 56500 are:

15/07/83	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
29/09/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
02/03/86	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
28/09/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
18/02/87	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
03/05/87	Transferred to	ME (Marylebone)
Oct-88	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
21/01/92	Transferred to	RG (Reading) NWRX
22/09/92	Withdrawn from	RG (Reading) NWRX

Notes

05/11/89 - new transfers 51531 and 59080 noted at Norwich along with ex-works 54500 in NSE livery

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56500 - original number
54500 - from Aug-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Jun-71 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 08/04/1982 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51917	56500	As delivered to 6G - 11th June 1960
	51916	56500	Noted 29/12/69 - in Manchester Oxford Road¹
	51416	56500	Noted 31/08/72 - in Liverpool Lime Street²
	51916	56500	Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester³
	51420	56500	Noted 09/07/1977 - Hauled through Beeston Castle by 40135⁴
	51419	56500	Noted circa 05/1982⁴
	51419	56500	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Victoria⁴
	51419	56500	Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 07.30 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria⁴
	51916	56500	Noted circa 02/1983⁴
	51912	56500	Noted circa 03/1983⁴
	51912	54500	Noted circa 09/1983⁴
	51912	54500	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	51912	54500	Noted circa 07/1985⁴
	51912	54500	Noted 12/09/85 - on 10:35 Machynlleth - Barmouth
	51912	54500	Noted circa 03/1986⁴
	51912	54500	Listed at Chester - Summer 1986
	51912	54500	Noted 30th November 1986
	51652	54500	Noted circa 10/1987⁴
	51652	54500	Noted 24/10/1987 - Chiltern Tours Special Train from Aylesbury to Folkestone Harbour 54500-51652 + 54499-51656
	51652	54500	Noted 17/12/1987⁴
	51652	54500	Noted circa 02/1988⁴
	51652	54500	Noted 09/07/1988 - Hertfordshire Railtours Chinnor Tonic 51654-54222 + 54500-51652
	51895	54500	Noted 21/02/90 - on services from Marylebone⁵
	51895	54500	Noted 08/05/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51855 + 59663 + 59736 + 51879⁵
spare	54500		Listed at RG - 12/08/92

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Aaron Calder

Images:

16th February 1985

On the left Class 108 No M54500 & M51912 and on the right Class 507 No 507 011 at Hunts Cross station Liverpool on 16 February 1985. Keith Long.

12th September 1985

M54500 + M51912 are seen at Tywyn with the 10:35 Machynlleth - Barmouth on September 12, 1985. Hamish Stevenson.

September 1986

New meets old at Barmouth in September 1986 when first generation DMUs such as the Derby class 108 (car number M54500) were giving way to new Class 150 "Sprinter" units such as 150140 on the Cambrian route. Bob Belcher.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 12th September 1985

M51912 + M54500 at Machynlleth on the 12th September 1985, working the 10:35 to Barmouth. Hamish Stevenson.

Date: 9th July 1988

The Chinnor Tonic railtour (the first of three) is seen at Quainton Road on 9 July 1988, with Class 115 M51654 nearest the camera. The Six Bells Junction website notes the other vehicles as 54222 + 54500 + 51652. Robert28194.

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