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<- 55008 | 55009 | 55010 ->

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)
01/01/63Boundary change84Etransferred from WR to LMR stock
Sep-63Depot code change2A
Sep-72 Transferred to 1E (Bletchley)
06/05/73Depot code changeBY
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20/09/93 Withdrawn from HQ (Headquarters) RFXX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:

Class 122 DMU at Birmingham Snow Hill

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse

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.

Class 122 DMU at Swan Village

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.

Class 122 DMU at Birmingham New Street

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.

Class 122 DMU at Redditch

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.

Class 122 DMU at Swan Village

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.

Class 122 DMU at Swan Village

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.

Class 122 DMU at Birmingham Snow Hill

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.

Class 122 DMU at Birmingham New Street

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.

Class 122 DMU at Barnt Green

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.

Class 122 DMU at Warrington

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.

Class 122 DMU at Carlisle

September 1979

Bubble car M55009 at Carlisle in September 1979. Karel 1999.

Class 122 DMU at Oxford

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.

Class 122 DMU at Wilmcote

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.

Class 122 DMU at Swindon Works

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge

29th August 1983

Class 122 55009 at Stourbridge Junction on 29 August 1983. Jerry Glover.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Junction

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.

Class 122 DMU at Leamington Spa

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.

Class 122 DMU at Leamington Spa

8th January 1986

55009 Leamington Spa after working 1410 from Stratford on Avon on 8/1/86. Martin Baumann.

Class 122 DMU at Wilmote

8th January 1986

View from the front of 55009 near Wilmcote on the 1410 Stratford on Avon to Leamington, 8/1/86. Martin Baumann.

Class 122 DMU at Tyseley

21st June 1986

Class 122 55009 is seen stabled at Tyseley carriage sidings on 21.06.1986. Andy Cole.

Class 122 DMU at Worcester Shrub Hill

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.

Class 122 DMU at Bishopton

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.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

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.

Class 122 DMU at Vic Berrys

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.

Class 122 DMU at Penzance

24th April 1989

Set number: 109

Class 122 No 55009 waiting departure from Penzance with the 1600 to Truro 24th April 1989. Keith Long.

Class 122 DMU at Penzance

24th April 1989

Set number: 109

Class 122 No 55009 waiting departure from Penzance with the 1600 to Truro 24th April 1989. Keith Long.

Class 122 DMU at Laira depot

9th June 1989

M55009 stabled at Laira on the 9th June 1989. Hamish Stevenson.

Class 122 DMU at Penzance

1990

Set number: 109

No exact date, but 55009 sits at Penzance, probably late 80s early 90s James Bradley.

Class 122 DMU at Laira

29th March 1990

Set number: 109

Class 122 DMU 55009 passing Laira depot on 29 March 1990. Keith Miller.

Class 122 DMU at Looe

06/04/91

Set number: 109

060491 55009 at Looe with the 0633 departure from Liskeard Jason Hall.

Class 122 DMU at Coombe Junction

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.

Class 122 DMU at Liskeard

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.

Class 122 DMU at Doncaster Works

15th December 1991

Set number: 109

Class 122 55009 on Doncaster Works on 15 December 1991. Andrew Bond.

Class 122 DMU at St Blazey

14th October 1992

Set number: 109

55009 stabled at St Blazey on 14 October 1992. Sparegang.

Class 122 DMU at Blackpool North

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:

DMU

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.

DMU

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.

DMU

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.

DMU

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.

DMU

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.

DMU

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.

DMU

Date: 16th September 1987

116 DMS 53126 at Vic Berrys on 16/9/87, with 55009 behind. Malcolm Clements.

DMU

Date: 7th February 1988

Set number: P861

53157, 55000 and 55009 stabled on Laira depot on 7 February 1988. Keith Miller.

DMU

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.