Vehicle 55009
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
| 4w/e 14/06/58 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
| Sep-72 | Transferred to | 1E (Bletchley) | |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | BY | |
| 2w/e 02/05/78 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| 23/09/87 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 12/07/93 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX | |
| 20/09/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX |
Disposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50852 | 59360 | 56292 | 55009 | Noted mid-1958 | |||||
| TY054 | 55009 | Listed at 2A - 16/08/70 | |||||||
| 55009 | Noted 08/06/75 - on Bletchley depot1 | ||||||||
| 55009 | 56295 | Noted 27/07/1975 - Seen at Watford Junction2 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55009 | Noted circa 10/19812 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55009 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||||
| TS053 | 55009 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||||
| TS059 | 55009 | Noted circa 02/19852 | |||||||
| TS059 | 55009 | Noted circa 03/19852 | |||||||
| 55009 | Noted 08/01/86 - on 14:10 Stratford-on-Avon - Leamington service3 | ||||||||
| TS059 | 55009 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| TS059 | 55009 | Noted circa 06/19872 | |||||||
| T059 | 55009 | Listed at TS - Jul-87 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Formed at LA circa 10/87 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - 08/08/88 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - 15/05/89 | |||||||
| 109 | 55009 | Noted circa 03/19912 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - Jul-91 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - Aug-91 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - Dec-91 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - 02/07/92 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - 24/09/92 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - November 1992 | |||||||
| P109 | 55009 | Listed at LA - 10/12/92 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Eddie Knorn
3: Martin Baumann
Images:
20th July 1961
Gloucester RC&W 'double-ender' W55009 on one the centre roads at Birmingham Snow Hill on 20 July 1961. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd May 1964
Set number: 107
GRC&W "double-ender" M55009 (carrying set number 107) leads a Derby suburban triple set through the platforms for Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse. They are working the 5.50pm Worcester Shrub Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon service on 23 May 1964. Michael Mensing.
circa 1971
Set number: TY054
Two GRC&W bubble cars in Birmingham Snow Hill circa 1971. On the left is set TY054 - presumably M55009 - with Stratford-Upon-Avon on the destination blind, on the right is set TY056 - presumably M55012 - with Oldbury And Langley Green on the destination blind. Graham Clark.
circa 1971
Set number: TY054
With one oval and one 'cut' buffer, a GRC&W single car DMU is seen in the original Redditch station circa 1971. It is presumably M55009 based on the set number TY054. Graham Clark.
circa 1971
Set number: TY054
A GRC&W bubble car at Swan Village station circa 1971, probably on a Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level service. It is displaying set number TY054 and so is presumably M55009. Graham Clark.
circa 1971
Set number: TY054
Tyseley set TY054, a GRC&W 'double-ender' which based on the set number is presumably M55009, after arrival at Swan Village station circa 1971. Graham Clark.
circa 1971
Set number: TY054
An oval-buffered GRC&W single-car DMU entering Swan Village station circa 1971. Displaying set number TY054, it is presumably M55009. Graham Clark.
November 1971
Set number: TY054
An oval-buffered GRC&W bubble car in Birmingham Snow Hill station in November 1971. Carrying set number TY054, this is presumably M55009. Mel Smith.
25th July 1972
Set number: TY054
Class 122 M55009 New Street 25 July 1972. This is most unusual as it has a correct destination blind but is working on it’s own and not strengthening another set. There can’t have been a diagram for a single unit to work a timetabled train into New Street surely and I’ve never seen this happen before. Possibly a working to Moor Street from Stratford that was diverted for some reason. The line from Wolverhampton Low Level to Snow Hill closed in March 1972 so it can't have been a diversion from that either. I don’t think it’s an ECS from Tyseley as there seems to be a member of the public leaning out behind the guard. Alistair Ness.
29th July 1972
Set number: TY054
Class 122 'Bubble Car' M55009 seen with a busy drivers compartment and Birmingham New Street on the destination blind at Barnt Green on 29 July 1972. A Tyseley vehicle since new, it's first allocation change would be several weeks later when it moved to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
30th May 1978
Bubble car 55009 is seen at Warrington Bank Quay on May 30th, 1978. Fitted with oval buffers, it was allocated to Tyseley at this time. Rex Holt.
September 1979
Bubble car M55009 at Carlisle in September 1979. Karel 1999.
5th February 1980
Set number: TS053
Two brands of bubbles at Oxford on 5 February 1980. On the right is Tyseley allocated M55009, a GRC&W Class 122, on the left is set L134 - presumably Pressed Steel Class 121 55034. Brian Daniels.
27th May 1980
Class 122 M55009 stabled at Leamington Spa on Tuesday 27 May 1980. David Russon.
31st January 1981
Set number: TS053
A Leamington Spa to Stratford upon Avon service leaves Wilmcote worked by a class 122 single car on 31/1/81. It's set TS053, presumably 55009. Stephen Burdett.
12th October 1981
Newly painted and overhauled, Class 122 Single-Unit M55009 was being prepared outside Swindon Works alongside the Bristol/South Wales main line, for return to it's home depot at Tyseley on October 12th 1981. Martyn Hilbert.
27th May 1983
Set number: TS053
Class 122 Gloucester RCW bubbles 55009 + 55006 at Stratford Upon Avon on 27-5-83 . On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
29th August 1983
Class 122 55009 at Stourbridge Junction on 29 August 1983. Jerry Glover.
25th July 1984
55009 + 55012 formed the 08.12 to Leamington on 25 July 1984 seen at Stratford-upon-Avon. The trailing car 55009 was one of the few remaining in the all-over blue livery. The background has completely changed in the intervening years. The football ground just visible to the left is now a Morrisons supermarket, the warehouses and chimney stacks above the train have gone although the office block, probably the ugliest building in the town, is still extant and Stratford East Signal box has been demolished. Peter Tandy.
11th August 1984
Set number: TS053
In the British Rail era the short Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town branch was worked for many years by single car class 122 DMUs. Here Tyseley based set TS053 (car no.55009) is seen exchanging passengers before forming train 2H66 the 15.59 to Stourbridge Town on 11/08/84. Unlike today where each trip is allocated a unique train number back in 1984 every train on the branch ran as 2H66. Adrian Nicholls.
11th August 1984
Set number: TS053
Long before the Stourbridge branch went over to flywheel electric units the mainstay of operations were the Tyseley allocated class 122 'Bubble Cars'. Here all over blue liveried 55009 sits at the terminus of Stourbridge Town before departure back up the hill to Stourbridge Junction with the 16.11 service on August 11, 1984. The crew keen to avoid the summer heat on the train are seen chatting in the station waiting shelter. Adrian Nicholls.
20th October 1984
Set number: TS053
This was my first transparency of diesel units and was taken at Leamington Spa on 20 October 1984. The train is the 09.50 Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa formed of 55009+55012. The leading unit was repainted into the blue and grey carried by 55012 within a few weeks of the date of this photograph. Peter Tandy.
1st July 1985
A single unit on Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa duties, Class 122 55009 pictured from the towpath of the Grand Union canal on 1 July 1985 just after leaving Hatton and having crossed over both main lines from platform 3. Peter Tandy.
8th January 1986
55009 Leamington Spa after working 1410 from Stratford on Avon on 8/1/86. Martin Baumann.
8th January 1986
View from the front of 55009 near Wilmcote on the 1410 Stratford on Avon to Leamington, 8/1/86. Martin Baumann.
21st June 1986
Class 122 55009 is seen stabled at Tyseley carriage sidings on 21.06.1986. Andy Cole.
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.
24th April 1987
Class 122 single unit 55009 was working a Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon service when I photographed it on the misty lunchtime of 24 April 1987. The picture was taken from the new bridge being built over the line near Bishopton as a new stretch of the A46 road was under construction. Behind the camera on the other side of the road is Stratford Parkway station and unusually the shot is still possible in 2023. Peter Tandy.
1st May 1987
Single unit 55009 was working on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa shuttles on 1 May 1987. This location on the canal towpath just outside Stratford Station was just the job for a bubble as the unit fitted nicely between all the poles and posts without anything appearing to grow out of its roof. This spot isn't a lot of use in 2023 as the undergrowth has flourished. Peter Tandy.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, under what is thought to be 55009: the fuel tanks are closest looking to the centre of the vehicle. Taken at Tyseley depot circa July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, under what is thought to be 55009 circa July 1987. The rectangular object looks is a spring comprising alternating layers of rubber and metal. The final drive is partially seen in the top left corner, and partially seen upper right in rusty red is the exhaust which means this is the number two end of the vehicle. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, thought to be 55009: under the No.2 end headstock, taken at Tyseley depot circa July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Set number: TS059
Class 122 55009 in Tyseley depot, circa July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Set number: TS059
Detail shot: No.2 end of 55009, Tyseley depot circa July 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, under what is thought to be 55009 circa July 1987. Looking at one of the Self Changing Gears R14 gearboxes with a Layland 680 engine behind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot of 55009, in Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is the Smiths heater on the number one side. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, under what is thought to be 55009 at Tyseley circa July 1987. We see the underside of n R14 gearbox with the Leyland 680 engine behind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, under what is thought to be 55009 at Tyseley circa July 1987. We are topside of No.2 bogie with the exhaust in a rusty red colour. The final drive is partially seen on the left. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, thought to be 55009, in Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is a Leyland 680 engine, and with the exhaust going to the right this is the number one engine. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, thought to be 55009, in Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is the number one engine, the four electric boxes just below the solebar at this end are the fire alarm panel, two tacho relays and the engine start and stop relay box. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot, thought to be 55009, in Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is the speedometer drive, it works by measuring the axle rotation. In the box on the solebar end is an adjuster for tyre diameter. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa July 1987
Detail shot of Class 122 55009, in Tyseley depot circa 1987. This is the number one side of number two bogies. The grille on the left of the frame is the heater air intake. Stuart Mackay Collection.
16th September 1987
55009 is seen at Vic Berry's on 16/9/87, where it was asbestos stripped before returning to traffic. Malcolm Clements.
22nd October 1988
Set number: P109
Class 122 55009 departs from Falmouth Dock station on 22 October 1988. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd October 1988
Set number: P109
Class 122 55009, set P109, in the Falmouth platform of Truro station on 22 October 1988. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
24th April 1989
Set number: 109
Class 122 No 55009 waiting departure from Penzance with the 1600 to Truro 24th April 1989. Keith Long.
24th April 1989
Set number: 109
Class 122 No 55009 waiting departure from Penzance with the 1600 to Truro 24th April 1989. Keith Long.
9th June 1989
M55009 stabled at Laira on the 9th June 1989. Hamish Stevenson.
1990
Set number: 109
No exact date, but 55009 sits at Penzance, probably late 80s early 90s James Bradley.
29th March 1990
Set number: 109
Class 122 DMU 55009 passing Laira depot on 29 March 1990. Keith Miller.
06/04/91
Set number: 109
060491 55009 at Looe with the 0633 departure from Liskeard Jason Hall.
August 1991
A Class 37 on a freight train is seen pushing failed Class 122 "bubble car" 55009 at Coombe Junction on a Liskeard service in August 1991. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
13th August 1991
Set number: 109
Two Class 122s - 55009 and 55000 - arrive into Liskeard station on a service from Looe on 13 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15th December 1991
Set number: 109
Class 122 55009 on Doncaster Works on 15 December 1991. Andrew Bond.
14th October 1992
Set number: 109
55009 stabled at St Blazey on 14 October 1992. Sparegang.
27th January 1995
Set number: 109
Stored out of use 55009 is in the snowy sidings at Blackpool North on 27th January 1995. Ian Buck.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 20th August 1982
The crowds have gathered at Doncaster to see the Deltics moved from Doncaster Works to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 20 August 1982. Surrounded by Class 101, 110 and 114 DMUs Class 37 No 37100 is about to depart from the works with 55009 ALYCIDON and 55019 ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIER. Keith Long.
Date: 25th July 1984
The two-hourly shuttles between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa were worked by single-unit DMUs for many years. Now and again a pair would turn up as is seen here when 55012 + 55009 formed the 08.12 to Leamington on 25 July 1984 seen at Stratford-upon-Avon. This picture as taken as I stood on the WW2 air-raid shelter which was a large diameter concrete pipe buried in the ground and reinforced with a couple of feet of earth on top. Peter Tandy.
Date: 18th April 1987
Class 122 55009 was leading class 121 55032 on the morning of 18 April 1987 when I photographed them at Hatton as they left the main line at the Station Junction while on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Originally a West Country vehicle, 55032 was transferred to Cardiff Canton in October 1982 where it acquired the Red Dragon which it retained after going to Laira in September 1985 and then to Tyseley in May 1986. Peter Tandy.
Date: 1st May 1987
Set number: TS062
I was a frequent visitor to Stratford-upon-Avon East signalbox when the late Mick Lloyd was on duty. This shot of class 122s 55012 + 55009 was taken looking towards the station on 1 May 1987 as the single car units were on the 12.12 to Leamington Spa. Peter Tandy.
Date: 16th May 1987
A suburban DMU formation departs from Birmingham New Street station on 16 May 1987. The closest three vehicles are bubble cars 55034 + 55009 + 55012. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 16th September 1987
Class 116 DMS 53126 off it's bogies, at Vic Berrys on 16/9/87. Class 122 55009 is behind. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 16th September 1987
116 DMS 53126 at Vic Berrys on 16/9/87, with 55009 behind. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 7th February 1988
Set number: P861
53157, 55000 and 55009 stabled on Laira depot on 7 February 1988. Keith Miller.
Date: 1st July 1989
Set number: 105
DMUs 55012 (partially seen on left), 55005, 55009 and 51530 stabled at Laira depot on 1 July 1989. Keith Miller.