Vehicle 55003
Class 122
Builder: GRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30419
Diagram: 539
Allocations
| 3w/e 17/05/58 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | TS | |
| 23/09/87 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 10/08/93 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX | |
| 20/09/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX |
Modifications
p/e 11/09/85 - Converted for parcels use - seats removed for parcels use (temporary)
Disposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 55003 | 56293 | Noted 01/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1 | |||||||
| TY050 | 55003 | Listed at Tyseley - circa Dec-69 | |||||||
| TY050 | 55003 | Noted 16/05/70 - on SO 12:40 Birmingham Snow Hill - Wolverhampton | |||||||
| TY050 | 55003 | Listed at 2A - 16/08/70 | |||||||
| 55003 | Noted 23/08/75 - on Tyseley depot2 | ||||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Listed at TS - 12/08/79 | |||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Noted circa 01/19813 | |||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Noted circa 10/19813 | |||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||||
| TS050 | 55003 | Noted circa 03/19843 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55003 | Noted circa 01/19853 | |||||||
| TS510 | 55003 | 59533 | 53890 | Formation change - TS - circa Sep-85 | |||||
| TS510 | 55003 | 59533 | 53890 | Noted circa 10/19853 | |||||
| TS510 | 55003 | 59533 | 53890 | Noted circa 01/19863 | |||||
| TS003 | 55003 | Formation change - TS - circa Feb-86 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55003 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55003 | Noted 23/04/1987 - at Birmingham New Street - as 4 car set with TS6114 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55003 | Noted circa 06/19873 | |||||||
| T053 | 55003 | Listed at TS - Jul-87 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Formed at LA circa 10/87 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - 08/08/88 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - 15/05/89 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - Jul-91 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - Aug-91 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - Dec-91 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - 02/07/92 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - 24/09/92 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - November 1992 | |||||||
| P103 | 55003 | Listed at LA - 10/12/92 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Robert Chilton
Images:
mid-May 1963
Set number: 101
Gloucester double-ender W55003 heads to Stratford-upon-Avon, likely from Leamington Spa, at Wilmcote in mid-May 1963. Michael Mensing.
21st March 1964
Set number: 101
GRC&W double-ender W55003 with the 1.5pm Worcester Shrub Hill - Bromyard service leaving Knightwick on 21/3/64. Michael Mensing.
21st March 1964
Set number: 101
GRC&W bubble car W55003 seen east of Knightwick on Bromyard - Worcester Shrub Hill duties, March 21st 1964. Michael Mensing.
11th May 1964
Set number: 101
GRC&W 'double-ender' W55003 is attached to an ex-works Derby suburban triple working the 11.35 Stratford-upon-Avon - Leamington service approaching Warwick on 11 May 1964. Michael Mensing.
circa late 1960s
GRC&W double-ender M55003 at Gloucester (Central). The early version of Rail Blue livery with the yellow panel and 3" numbers suggests late 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1969
Set number: TY050
M55003 is attached to a Derby suburban triple set at Spring Road on a Birmingham Moor Street service in 1969. Steve Davies Collection.
circa 1969
Set number: TY050
A GRC&W bubble car is attached to the front of a Class 116 approaching Spring Road circa 1069. The bubble is almost certainly 55003, see image 14892. Stuart Mackay Collection.
late July 1975
Set number: TY050
Class 122 set TY050 - presumably 55003 - at Kings Norton - July in late 1975. Redditch is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
July 1976
Set number: TY050
Class 122 set TY050 - presumably 55003 - is seen at Somerset Road, Birmingham, in August 1976. Michael Mensing.
July 1976
Set number: TY050
A Class 122 bubble car seen at Wychall Lane (with Northfield station in the distance) with a Birmingham New Street bound service in late July 1976. Displaying set number TY050 in the cab window this is presumably M55003. Michael Mensing.
3rd July 1976
Set number: TY050
Class 122 M55003 at Lifford West Jct Pershore Rd Tunnel on 3 July 1976. Phillip Malin.
1977
Set number: TY050
M55003 - one of Tyseley's class 122 bubble cars - waits to leave Stourbridge Town for the 3 minute trip to Stourbridge Junction in 1977. Stephen Burdett.
May 1977
GRC&W double-ender 55003 at Northfield (Birmingham) in May 1977. Michael Mensing.
1st June 1978
Class 122 'Bubble Car' 55003 at the soon to be demolished Stourbridge Town on 01/06/78. Steve Jones.
30th June 1978
Set number: TY050
Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Town 30 June 1978. Alistair Ness.
30th June 1978
Set number: TY050
Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Junction 30 June 1978. Alistair Ness.
30th June 1978
Set number: TY050
Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Junction 30 June 1978. Bwaaaaaaah! Cough splutter. Make Greta proud. Alistair Ness.
August 1978
Set number: TS050
M55003 is seen at Hatton in August 1978. Michael Mensing.
August 1978
Set number: TS050
M55003 at Hatton in August 1978. Michael Mensing.
1st June 1979
Set number: TY050
Class 122 DMUs M55003 and M55004 in Leamington Spa station on Friday 1 June 1979. David Russon.
19th June 1982
Single unit M55003 rattles into Leamington Spa with a shuttle from Stratford-upon-Avon 10.30 am on 19 June 1982. Lewis Bevan.
14th September 1982
Set number: TS050
Class 122 55003, set number TS050, is seen stabling at Saltley in all over BR blue livery on 14.09.1982. DMU's were never very common visitors to Saltley. Andy Cole.
15th March 1983
Set number: TS050
W55003 at Stourbridge Town on the 15th March 1983. Hamish Stevenson.
27th May 1983
Set number: TS050
Class 122 Gloucester RCW single car 55003 at Stourbridge Town with 13-11 to Stourbridge Junction on 27-5-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
30th August 1983
Set number: TS050
Class 122 DMU 55003 in Stourbridge Junction station on 30 August 1983 awaiting departure for the short journey to the Town station. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1st June 1985
Set number: TS053
Class 122 single unit 55003, Tyseley set T053, was in the Cold Store Siding at Stratford-upon-Avon on the sunny early morning of 1 June 1985 alongside a hybrid set led by a class 116 DMBS and numbered T626. The latter had just been started before forming the first train of the day to Birmingham Moor Street, the 06.20 departure from Stratford, while the class 122 would be next with first train to Leamington Spa. Stratford station was both a stabling and signing-on point at the time with several train crews being based here. Peter Tandy.
13th June 1985
Set number: TS053
Class 122s set TS053 (55003) and set TS062 (55012) with a 12XX Leamington Spa - Stratford Upon Avon after arrival at Stratford Upon Avon on Monday 10th June 1985. Colin Brooks.
2nd September 1985
Set number: TS053
Tyseley Depot may have been short of serviceable Diesel Parcels Units on 2nd September 1985, as this tidy Gloucester RC&W built single unit 55003 was in the Parcels bays at Northampton, around the time when a Diesel Parcels Unit should have been there! AndrewHA.
12th September 1985
55003 is working in front of a Class 120 Cross-Country set when seen at Dovey Jct with the 10:20am Aberytswyth - Shrewsbury, 12/9/85. Hamish Stevenson.
14th September 1985
Class 122 M55003 and a two-car Class 101 are seen at Shrewsbury on 14 September 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
Class 122 W55003 in Worcester Shrub Hill, date unknown. Walter Burt.
11th April 1986
An everyday scene on Hatton Bank on 11 April 1986 as class 122 single car 55003 climbs the 1/110 average gradient with an afternoon Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon service. This was a popular location for railway photographers with many different viewpoints being available to vary the pictures during an afternoon's photography. It is completely overgrown and the line is not visible from the footpath running along the wooden fence. Peter Tandy.
28th June 1986
Class 121 no 55033 and class 122 no 55006 (nearer the camera) are seen at High Wycombe on 28 June 1986, where they would go on to form the Thame Phoenix shuttles to Thame operated by Hertfordshire Railtours. Robert28194.
autumn 1986
Set number: TS053
A Spa with Bubbles. M55003 and a classmate have arrived at Leamington Spa in the autumn of 1986 with a shuttle from Stratford-upon-Avon. This Bubble Car had been working from Tyseley since new, but would be reallocated to Laira the following year. Murray Liston.
24th January 1987
Set number: TS053
Class 122 DMU, 55003, set number TS053, arriving in Platform 3 at Leamington Spa station. January 1987. Not 100% sure, but I believe the date to be 24th January 1987. Paul James.
1st February 1987
55003 is working the Stoubridge shuttle on 1st February 1987 and is seen at Stourbridge Town. Ian Buck.
February 1987
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.
February 1987
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.
February 1987
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.
14th March 1987
Set number: TS053
Class 122 55003, set number TS053, is seen stabled at Tyseley on 14.03.1987. Andy Cole.
11th April 1987
On the afternoon of 11 April 1987 classes 122 and 121 single units 55003 + 55034 stand in platform 2 at Stratford-upon Avon with a train for Leamington Spa. The train in platform 2 has been put together ready for departure by 47613 and was ready to head off to London Marylebone. Peter Tandy.
11th April 1987
Set number: TS053
Single-Car DMU's class 122 55003 and class 121 55034 set back from platform 1 in order to access platform 3, having arrived at Stratford-upon-Avon with a Leamington service on 11 April 1987. 47613 'North Star' has brought in an Intercity charter from London. Chris Morrison.
11th April 1987
Set number: TS053
Two bubbles, 55003 (leading) and 55034, at Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 11 April 1987. In the down goods line is 47 610, sent by Saltley to shunt a steam special hauled by 35028 Clan Line. Peter Tandy.
3rd October 1987
M55003 is seen at Vic Berrys yard in Leicester on a visit for asbestos stripping, 3/10/87. Ian Francis.
Unknown date
Set number: P103
Gloucester bubble car 55003 at Laira beside 55005, date unknown. It was allocated there 1987 to 1993. Robert Frise Collection.
29th May 1989
Set number: P103
In the low evening light, Class 122 W55003 arrives at Starcross with the 17.22 Paignton to Exmouth on May 29th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
May 1990
Set number: P103
Class 122 number P103 (car 55003) waits for trade at St Ives in Cornwall in May, 1990. Glen Batten.
6th August 1990
Set number: P103
Laira Class 122 single car DMU P103 / 55003 at Plymouth 6-8-90 or thereabouts. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
21st August 1990
Two Class 122 single cars at Penzance on August 21, 1990, in the company of 08 644. The closest bubble is probably 55003. Ian Cuthbertson Collection.
April 1991
Sitting in the Looe bay platform at Liskeard is 55003 in April 1991. Ian Buck.
April 1991
55003 reversing at Coombe on the Looe branch in April 1991. Ian Buck.
April 1991
Working the Looe branch 55003 at Causeland in April 1991. Ian Buck.
circa 1992
Set number: P103
55003 as Plymouth Laira's set P103 at Exeter St. Davids with the stabling point in the background. Robert Chilton Collection.
circa 1992
Swans and a Class 122 Bubble car (which appears to be 55003) near Terras crossing on the Looe branch circa 1992. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
23rd January 1992
Class 122 DMU 55003 on the Liskeard to Looe line on 23 January 1992. Keith Miller.
23rd January 1992
Set number: 103
Class 122 DMU 55003 heads away from Liskeard with a Looe branch service on 23 January 1992. Keith Miller.
23rd January 1992
Set number: 103
Class 122 DMU 55003 in the Looe branch platform at Liskeard on 23 January 1992. Keith Miller.
28th June 1992
Set number: P103
Class 122 55003 on Exeter depot alongside 47442, 08937 and 57241 on 28 June 1992. Keith Miller.
8th August 1992
Set number: P103
Class 122 DMUs 55003 and 55006 in Exeter St Davids station on 8 August 1992. Keith Miller.
10th August 1992
Set number: 103
Class 122 55003, set number 103, is seen stabled at Plymouth on 10.08.1992. Andy Cole.
13th October 1992
Set number: 103
Class 122 "bubble car" 55003 rests at Penzance on 13 October 1992. Sparegang.
22nd November 1992
Set number: 103
A Santa Special arrives into Exeter St Davids led by 55003. It will run to Exmouth and back, November 22, 1992. Alex Drennan.
December 1992
Set number: P103
Class 122 55003 at Causeland on the Looe branch in December 1992. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
22nd August 1993
Set number: 103
Class 122 DMU 55003 and a sandite Class 108 formed of 977841 (ex 52047) and 977840 (ex 51932) at Laira on 22 August 1993. Keith Miller.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: circa 1969
Set number: TY516
Class 116 set 516 (50074 and presumably 59016 + 50110) departs from Spring Road with a bubble at the front, passing another suburban set, circa 1969. The bubble is probably 55003, see image 14892 (and 4213). Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: August 1978
Set number: TS525
Refurbished Class 116 set TS525 (presumably 50830 + 59332 + 50883) with Class 122 55003 on the rear at Small Heath Bridge with a Moor Street service in August 1978. Michael Mensing.
Date: 1st June 1979
Set number: TY051
Class 122 DMUs M55004 and M55003 in Leamington Spa station on Friday 1 June 1979. David Russon.
Date: 4th June 1985
The shuttles between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon were generally operated with 1 or 2 single units in 1985. On the afternoon of 4 June class 122s 55012 + 55003 were in use and I photographed them climbing Hatton Bank from the field adjacent to the boarded crossing by Hatton Locks. The crossing was subsequently closed and replaced with a tall steel structure as were the other 2 similar crossings in the area. This picture would be impossible in 2021 as the growth of lineside vegetation has been so rampant that one can walk along the paths here and not know that a railway line existed unless a train passed by. Peter Tandy.
Date: 10th June 1985
Set number: TS062
Class 122s set TS062 (55012) and set TS053 (55003) await departure at Stratford-upon-Avon in the early afternoon of Monday 10th June 1985 with a Leamington Spa service. Colin Brooks.
Date: mid-1980s
Set number: TS059
Class 122 55009 and 55003 wait at Worcester Shrub Hill with a service for Hereford in the mid-1980s. Stephen Burdett.
Date: summer 1986
Set number: TS068
Class 121 55003 stabled at Leamington Spa station. It carries a Tyseley set number in the window which seems to read TS068. Date unknown, presumably summer 1986 between transfer from Laira in May and painting into Midline livery in October. Glyn Weigh.
Date: 11th April 1987
Set number: TS084
Tyseley single-car DMUs 55034 and 55003 call at Claverdon with a Stratford upon Avon - Leamington Spa service on 11 April 1987. Chris Morrison.
Date: unknown
Set number: 105
Bubbles 55005 and 55003 on Laira depot, date unknown. Robert Frise Collection.
Date: 29th December 1989
Set number: 106
Class 122 bubble cars 55006 and 55003 at Plymouth on 29-12-1989. Gordon Thomson.
Date: 24th November 1990
Set number: 861
Class 101 set No.861 with 51512 leading forms an evening Paignton-Exmouth service at Exeter St David’s. On the left is Class 122 55003 which had failed in the platform and behind the 101 is 50001 waiting to depart with the 1822 to Waterloo. Jay Hartley.
Date: 8th August 1992
Set number: 106
Class 122 DMUs 55006 and 55003 arriving at Exeter St Davids station on 8 August 1992. Keith Miller.
Date: 13th May 2005
Set number: 960012
The South West Train route learning vehicle 977860 (ex 55028) seen at Alresford on the Mid-Hants with 55003 on 13/5/05. Ian McDonald.