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Vehicle 55018

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

Jul-58	New to	81C (Southall)
by Jan-61	Transferred to	84E (Tyseley)
01/01/63	Boundary change	84E	transferred from WR to LMR stock
Sep-63	Depot code change	2A
2w/e 22/08/70	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
Nov-70	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
May-73	Depot code change	LA
p/e 24/07/76	Withdrawn

Notes

01/05/59 - Following a steam derailment at Slough the following formations were noted on "all-stations" trains from Paddington to Reading: W55016/56295, W55017/56294/55014, W51135/51148/55018.

Modifications

p/e 31/03/73 - Dual AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by BR, Swindon Works

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51135	51148	55018	Noted 01/05/59
TY058	55018			Listed at Tyseley - circa Dec-69
TY058	55018			Listed at 2A - 16/08/70
LA104	55018			Listed at Laira - circa Apr-71
P118	55018			Noted 3rd June 1972 - Worked the last passenger train from Okehampton with a Class 103 (possibly P201) and Class 119 set P583.
	55018			Noted 08/07/1973 - at Laira depot¹
P118	55018			Noted 27/08/75 - on Laira depot²
P118	55018			Listed at LA - 01/05/1976
P118	55018			Noted 07/09/76 - on Laira depot²

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown

Images:

20th September 1961

W55018 and W56295 at Claverdon with the 12:40pm Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa (General), 20th September 1961. Michael Mensing.

14th June 1964

Set number: 110

GRC&W single car M55018 is standing in for a Derby power car in a suburban triple set in this view at Dudley on 14 June 1964. The train is the 8.10pm Dudley to Birmingham Snow Hill, and this was the last day of passenger services here. Michael Mensing.

14th June 1964

A six-car DMU formation departs from Dudley with the 8.10pm Dudley - Birmingham Snow Hill service on 14 June 1964, the last day of passenger services. GRC&W single car M55018 leads standing in for a Derby power car in a triple set. Michael Mensing.

September 1964

Set number: 110

A GRC&W double-ender departs from Leigh Court on the Bromyard line in early September 1964. With Tyseley set number 110 in the cab window this is presumably 55018. Michael Mensing.

circa 1976

Set number: P118

Class 122 W55018 on Laira depot circa 1976. This was the year it was withdrawn, and there seems to be a missing window at the far end. Class 117 set B405 is on the right. Stuart Mackay Collection.

21st March 1976

In amongst withdrawn Westerns awaiting disposal at Laira depot on a very murky 21st March 1976 is a GRC&W bubble car. Missing doors and windows, it is almost certainly 55018 which was withdrawn a few weeks later. David Scott.

August 1976

Set number: P118

A derelict W55018 on Plymouth Laira depot in August 1976. Withdrawn not long before in period ending 24th July, it seems to have been out of use for some time, probably since the two Class 121s arrived at the depot in late 1974/early 1975. Chris McKee.

19th January 1978

Set number: P118

55018 looking very sorry for itself at Swindon Works, 19th January 1978. Neil Cannon.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 20th September 1961

56295 and 55018 at Hatton with the 11.20am Leamington Spa (General) - Stratford-upon-Avon on the 20th September 1961. Michael Mensing.

Date: 14th June 1964

The 7.25pm Birmingham Snow Hill - Dudley near Great Bridge on the last day of the service, Sunday 14 June 1964. Bubble 55018 is on the rear substituting for a Derby power car. Michael Mensing.

Date: August 1976

Set number: P125

Class 121 W55025 (P125) sits alongside Class 122 W55018 (P118) in Plymouth Laira depot in August 1976. A steam tender is on the left. Chris McKee.

Date: unknown

Laira depot circa 1976/7. DMU-wise a Class 118 is shunting a Peak (or maybe the other way around?), a Class 122 with some boarded over windows - probably 55018, and a Class 120 are visible. K F Tomes Duckwailk.

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