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
Feb-61 | New to | 81D (Reading) | |
Nov-64 | Transferred to | 86A (Cardiff Canton) | |
Oct-67 | Transferred to | 82A (Bristol Bath Road) | |
06/05/73 | Depot code change | BR | |
3w/e 09/10/76 | Stored | ||
w/e 05/11/76 | Reinstated | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
3w/e 07/05/77 | Stored | ||
2w/e 09/07/77 | Reinstated | LA (Laira) | |
w/e 17/12/77 | Stored | ||
Jul-78 | To departmental stock | RG (Reading) | - route learning car |
by Aug-87 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) | |
Apr-92 | Withdrawn from | OO (Old Oak Common) |
55035 - original number
975659 - from Jul-78 (departmental stock)
Route Learner From 7/78 to 4/92. Carried set number L103 / L135
5w/e 06/10/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 08/10/77 - WR AWS removed
p/e 29/07/78 - Leyland engines fitted
Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham
CAT104 | 55035 | Listed at 86A - mid-Oct-65 | |||||||
55035 | Noted 24/08/1971 - at Bristol1 | ||||||||
B135 | 55035 | Noted 26/08/75 - in Bristol Temple Meads2 | |||||||
B135 | 55035 | Listed at BR - 01/05/1976 | |||||||
B135 | 55035 | Noted 07/09/76 - in Bristol Temple Meads2 | |||||||
P135 | 55035 | Listed at LA - 31st December 1977 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Noted 20/09/1978 - Bristol Temple Meads3 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Noted 11/10/1978 - passing Barry Station3 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Noted 12/10/1978 - passing Barry Station3 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Noted 25/01/1980 - Cardiff Canton CF3 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Listed at RG - 15/12/1982 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Listed at RG - 01/01/85 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Listed at Reading - Summer 1986 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Listed at OO - Aug-87 | |||||||
L103 | 975659 | Disbanded circa 10/87 - renumbered as L135 | |||||||
L135 | 975659 | Formed at OO circa 10/87 - renumbered from L103 |
Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown
3: Shayne Lewis
W55035 at Tenby on the 7th April 1964. Tim Stubbs.
Class 121 55035 at Bridport in 1975. John Law.
55035 on a service from Bridport arriving in the bay platform at Maiden Newton in 1975. John Law.
Class 121 "bubble" W55035 seen at Stapleton Road with the 15:13 Bristol Temple Meads-Severn Beach service on 26 May 1975. Robert Thomas.
Class 121 route learner 975659 at Chippenham on 24 January 1979. Nicholas T Smith.
975659 (ex-55035) at Portsmouth & Southsea. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.
Former Class 121 unit 55035, renumbered into Departmental stock as ADB 975659, pictured at an unknown location in the 1980s. Curly42.
Route learning car ADB975659 (formerly W55035), Exeter St Davids, circa 1985. Robert28194.
On a wet day 11 April 1985 I photographed Pressed Steel class 121 sun, also known as 55035 and ADB 975659 leaving a signal stop at Newport. Since 1978 the unit had been operated as a route-learning train based on the Western Region, finally being withdrawn from Old Oak Common in April 1992. Peter Tandy.
Class 121 route learner ADB975659 (ex-55035) leaving Didcot on 31 May 1985. In the background are 31296 and 08803. Keith Miller.
975659 is seen at Westbury, 9/2/86. Carl Watson.
ADB975659 in the snow at Westbury, 17th February 1986. Carl Watson.
TDB 975659, Westbury, 8 March 1986. A former Class 121 DMU, in use as a route learning car. Nigel Menzies.
Class 121 Route learner 975659 is seen on the Merehead line approaching the site of Wanstrow station on 11 March 1986. Michael Mensing.
Route learner 975659 (ex-55035) at Westbury Yard on 22 March 1986. Note one oval buffer, the other cut (clipped). Shayne Lewis.
Route learner Class 121 unit L103 (975659), formerly W55035 seen at Moreton in Marsh in September 1986. I am not sure of the exact circumstances of the working, but had seen it passing through the station alone on the same day. It's seen here standing outside the station propelling an inspection saloon Bob Belcher.
Route learner Class 121 unit L103 (975659), formerly W55035, seen at Moreton-in-Marsh in September 1986. Bob Belcher.
Class 121 single unit railcar and an inspection saloon are seen arriving at Moreton in Marsh in 1987. The unit is L103, departmental car number ADB975659 (formerly 55035). Bob Belcher.
Reading Depot's Route Learning Class 121 DMU TDB975659 (ex-W55035) receives attention at Doncaster Works on 3rd October 1987. AndrewHA.
Route Learner set L135, ADB 975659 (ex 55035), at Portsmouth & Southsea on 27 April 1988. Rob Paterson.
Route learner ADB975659 at Westbury on 28 April 1988. Keith Miller.
975659 (ex-55035) is seen at Bristol Temple Meads. Undated. John Stewart.
Route learning Pressed Steel "bubble" ADB975659 seen at Newport on 20 February 1989. Robert Thomas.
Route learner 975659 on Bristol Bath Road depot on 10/03/89, with other DMUs visible. Roddy MacPhee.
Route learner 975659 in Bristol Bath Road circa May 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.
TDB 975659 (ex- 55035) is seen passing Clapham Junction on a route-learning trip on 19/4/90. It is coming off the Balham line and proceeding towards the West London Line. Leonard Rogers.
Route learner ADB975659 at Reading on 12 May 1990. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 121 975659, set number L135, is seen at Derby on 01.11.1990 being hauled by 31272. This was converted from 55035. Andy Cole.
975659 at Doncaster Works on the 17th February 1991. S Gaskell.
The route-learning vehicle ADB975659 which was converted from class 121 55035 was passing through platform 9 at Reading station when I photographed it on 29 October 1991. The overall blue paintwork was fading badly and the unit didn't have long to go being withdrawn the following April. The former headcode panel has "Old Oak on Tour" chalked onto it. Peter Tandy.
Route-learning vehicle ADB975659 (L135) at Reading on 29 October 1991 as it ran non-stop through Reading station on 29 October 1991. Although the paintwork of the route-learning vehicle was badly faded it looked as if Old Oak Common staff had made some effort to keep the former 55035 reasonably clean. Peter Tandy.
RDB975659 (55035) Southampton 10th March 1988 Kevin Watson.