Vehicle 55030 / 977866

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Class 121

Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30518
Diagram: 512

Allocations

Dec-60	New to	81D (Reading)
May 1973	Depot code change	RG
June-87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
02/09/93	To departmental stock	SA

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55030 - original number
977866 - from 02/09/93 (departmental stock)

Department Use as ADB977866

Sandite / Route Learner with unofficial name Bill. From 9/93 to 2002. Carried set number 960013

Modifications

p/e 31/03/73 - Dual AWS fitted
Jul-75 - WR AWS removed
p/e 08/10/77 - Leyland engines fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 02/12/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	55030	56281							Noted 22nd October 1971
	51354	59506	55030						Noted 22/07/72 - at Royal Oak1
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L130	55030								Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area2
L409	55030	59496	51386						Noted 14/06/1977 - Oxford Station2
L130	55030	56284							Noted 06/08/77 - at Slough, set number L284 on 562841
L130	55030								Noted 06/10/1977 - Oxford Reading area2
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L130	55030								Noted 06/05/1978 - at Slough 3
	55030	56280							Noted 05/05/1979 - on Reading depot 3
L130	55030								Noted 28/08/1979 - At Ealing Broadway2
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L130	55030								Noted 02/09/1980 - in Old Oak Common CS 3
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 01/03/81
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 28/11/81
L130	55030								Noted circa 04/19824
L130	55030								Noted 14/08/1982 - Slough with 17.00 & 17.30 SO to Windsor & Eton Central & 17.11 & 17.41 SO return workings attached to set L289 W562895
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L130	55030								Noted circa 08/19834
L130	55030								Noted circa 09/19834
L130	55030								Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L130	55030								Noted circa 04/19864
L130	55030								Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
	55030	54289							Noted circa 06/19864
L130	55030								Listed at OO - Aug-87
L130	55030								Noted 21/12/19874
L130	55030								Noted circa 03/19894
L130	55030								Listed at OO - 15/05/89
L130	55030								Noted 05/1990 - West Ealing with Greenford (LT) branch train5
L130	55030								Listed at OO - 21/01/91
L130	55030								Noted 01/04/91 - at Royal Oak1
	55027	55030							Noted 09/04/92 - on 13:47 Paddington - Reading6
	55028	59514	55030						Noted 14/04/92 - on 07:39 Slough - Paddington6
L130	55030								Listed at OO - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L130	55030								Listed at OO - 12/08/92
	55030	59496	51386						Noted circa 09/19924
L130	55030								Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
960013	977866								Noted 31/03/96 - at Norwich1
	977866								Noted 20/04/2003 - at Derby RTC 3

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Shayne Lewis
3: Martin Lumley
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Alan N Walker
6: David Bellamy

Images:

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circa early 1970s

Set number: 130

Pressed Steel bubble car 55030 with DTS 56287 at Windsor and Eton Central, circa early 1970s. Graham Clark.

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August 1971

Set number: 130

The very first railway photo I took, not good quality but included through pure nostalgia. 55030 is seen at Drayton Green in August 1971. Ian Buck.

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circa 1972

Set number: L130

Single DMU car W55030 seen at Oxford thought to be around 1971-3. Brian Daniels.

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circa 1972

Set number: L130

W55030 in Oxford station, thought to be taken around 1971-3. Brian Daniels.

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circa early 1970s

Set number: L130

No details came with this slide showing W55030. As the destination blind suggests this appears to be Twyford station, probably on a Henley-on-Thames service circa early 1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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17th November 1973

Set number: L130

Class 121 "bubble car" W55030 in Ealing Broadway station with the 09:33 (SO) from Greenford on 17 November 1973. Robert Thomas.

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1st April 1974

Class 121 W55030 approaching Paddington on 1 April 1974. It looks like it is standing in for a suburban set power car, the centre car to the left is 59481 or 59491. Phil Bevan.

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August 1974

Set number: L130

A Class 121 DMU, which appears to be L130 / W55030, at West Ealing in August 1974. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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Unknown date

Set number: L130

Class 121 DMU set L130 - W55030 - at Southall, date unknown. The destination blind shows Ealing Broadway, both the driver and tail lamp seen are at this end, so it may be changing platforms before departure. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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May 1976

Set number: L130

W55030 and a DTS depart from Slough with a Windsor service in May 1976. The set just glimpsed on the left seems to be L340, a Class 130 parcel set. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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28th August 1979

Set number: L130

Single railcar 55030 at West Ealing on the Greenford shuttle, 28th August 1979.. David Scott.

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circa early 1980s

Set number: L130

All aboard. Two passengers climb - although the old lady might struggle - into Class 121 "bubble" W55030 in Ealing Broadway station circa early 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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4th August 1981

Set number: L130

Single "Bubble" car, class 121 DMU, W55030, (L130) and Driving Trailer Second, Class 149, W56285, (L285) at Maidenhead, 4th August 1981. Paul James.

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Unknown date

Set number: L130

Heading off of the GW Brentford branch, 55030 is seen arriving at Southall. Ian Buck.

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Unknown date

Set number: L130

55030 is seen passing under the Piccadilly Line on the GW Brentford branch. Ian Buck.

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Unknown date

Set number: L130

Seen on the GW Brentford branch near Southall is 55030. Ian Buck.

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29th January 1983

Set number: L130

Class 121 Pressed Steel DMUs DMBS 55030 + DTS 56280 Oxford 29-1-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

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circa December 1983

Set number: L130

Pressed Steel single car W55030 on Southall depot. The slide process date was December 1983. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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1984

Set number: L130

A dramatically smoky departure for a one car train! L130 / 55030 on a Greenford to Paddington leaves Ealing Broadway in 1984. Ian Docwra.

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1985

Set number: L130

Sometime in 1985 55030 is seen arriving at Bourne End from Marlow. Ian Buck.

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February 1985

Set number: L130

Class 121 DMU W55030 on the Windsor shuttle with a driver trailer, sits in the bay at Slough station. February 1985. Paul James.

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18th April 1985

Set number: L130

Single unit W55030 (L130) had just passed through Reading on 18 April 1985 when I photographed it running as empty stock in the Didcot direction. The weather was very dull and misty with a light drizzle falling but the lack of sun on the nose (or tail) doesn't matter in 2025 when scenes like this can never be repeated. Peter Tandy.

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15th April 1986

Set number: L130

55030 at Reading on 15th April 1986. Gazza Prescott.

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6th June 1987

Set number: L130

Class 121 unit No. W55030 terminates at Ealing Broadway working a service from Greenford on 6 June 1987. Brian Creasey.

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19th September 1989

Set number: L130

A bubble in a very different environment with L130, class 121 single car 55030, approaching Acton with a London Paddington to Greenford train in the late afternoon of 19 September 1989. The building work would soon obscure the view of the bridge over the North London Line and much of the capital's infrastructure. Peter Tandy.

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31st March 1990

Set number: L130

Pressed Steel Class 121 DMBS 55030, BR Derby Class 115 TCL 59764, DMBS 51671 and Class 108 54499 outside Doncaster Works on 31 March 1990. Dave Warby.

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30th April 1990

Set number: L130

Class 121 single-unit 55030, carrying the set number L130, at South Tottenham on 30 April 1990 on a Gospel Oak-Barking service. Lewis Bevan.

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circa 1991

Set number: L130

Class 121 Pressed Steel bubble car 55030 leads a Class 116/101 hybrid set on the approach to Southall station circa 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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September 1991

Set number: L130

Class 121 set L130 55030, working with L131 55031, in Network Southeast livery in Gospel Oak with a Barking service in September 1991. Doug Pritchard Collection.

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7th August 1992

Set number: 130

55030 after arriving at Greenford on the 13:57 from Ealing Broadway, 7/8/92. Gazza Prescott.

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18th April 1994

Set number: L130

Two Class 121s at Wylye on a route learning run to Salisbury on 18 April 1994. 977866 (ex-55030) is closest carrying the name 'Bill' in the centre cab window, the second vehicle should be 977859 (ex-55025) 'Ben', both were allocated to Salisbury at the time. Walter Burt.

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5th May 1994

Set number: L130

Departmental unit 977866 (ex DMU 55030) up the Exe Valley on 5 May 1994. Keith Miller.

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21st October 1997

Set number: 960013

ADB977866 Maidenhead 21/10/97. Sparegang.

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7th August 1998

Set number: 960013

Class 121 977866 at Acton Yard on 7-8-98. Ian Cuthbertson.

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25th August 2003

Looking quite faded, sandite 977866 (ex-55030) at Aylesbury on 25th August 2003. Robert Frise.

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15th October 2003

Set number: 960013

Railtrack unit 960013, vehicle 977866, stabled at Aylesbury on 15th October 2003. Originally class 121 55030, it still carries Network South East livery and set number L130. Behind are 977873 and 977723, in the platform is 55020. Bob Belcher.

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31st October 2003

Set number: 960013

Stabled at the sidings at Aylesbury station on 31 October 2003 is sandite / route learner 977866. It also still carries it original number of 55030. S Gaskell.

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January 2007

Set number: 960013

977866 in the siding next to Aylesbury station January 2007. Fred Clark.

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3rd March 2007

Set number: 960013

977866 stabled at Aylesbury on 3 March 2007. John Grey Turner.

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10th March 2008

Set number: 960013

Pressed Steel Class 121 Railcar, Unit No.960 013, Car No.977866 (ex-W55030) in BR Network South East livery of Network Rail in sandite service at Aylesbury, 10/3/08. Hugh Llewelyn.

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18th April 2009

Set number: 960013

Former Class 121 No. 55030, now 977866 unit Class 960 No. 960013 is stabled at Aylesbury on 18 April 2009. Brian Creasey.

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27th July 2009

977866 Aylesbury on July 27, 2009. Nigel Walls.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

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Date: circa early 1970s

Set number: 287

Pressed Steel DTS W56287 with bubble 55030 at Windsor & Eton circa early 1970s. Graham Clark.

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Date: 2nd April 1977

Set number: L285

W56285 and W55030 at Slough on April 2nd, 1977. Rex Holt.

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Date: 11th May 1986

Pressed Steel DMUs on Southall shed, 11 May 1986. Left to right are 54287, 55030 and L422. Chris McKee.

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Date: 11th May 1986

Set number: L122

Southall shed on 11 May 1986 has 55022 + 54287, 55030 and L422 on road 6. Chris McKee.

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Date: 11th May 1986

Set number: L134

Class 121 W55034 on Southall depot, 11 May 1986. To the right are 55022, 54287, 55030 and L422. Chris McKee.

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Date: September 1991

Set number: L131

Class 121 set L131 55031, with L130 55030, in Network Southeast livery in Gospel Oak with a Barking service in September 1991. Doug Pritchard Collection.

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Date: 28th May 1994

Set number: L125

Former passenger car 55025 (withdrawn August 1993), now departmental 977859, is seen stabled at Salisbury on 28 May 1994. Behind is presumably 977866, the pair carried Bill (977866) and Ben (977859) names in the centre cab windows. Tony Walmsley.

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Date: 6th August 1994

Set number: L125

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMUs 977859 (55025) and 977866 (55030), recently made departmentals, still in NSE livery - Salisbury 6-8-94 or thereabouts. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

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Date: 6th August 1994

Set number: L125

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMUs 977859 (55025) and 977866 (55030), recently made departmentals, still in NSE livery - Salisbury 6-8-94 or thereabouts. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

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Date: 25th August 2003

Set number: 960015

975042, 977873, 977866 and 977858 stabled at Aylesbury on 25/8/03. Robert Frise.