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<- 51580 | 51581 | 51582 ->

Vehicle 51581 / 55937


Class 120

Builder: BR Swindon Works
Layout: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30515
Diagram: 636

Allocations

Feb-61 New to 84E (Tyseley)
by Jun-62 Transferred to 83D (Laira)
Sep-63Depot code change84A
4w/e 04/05/68 Transferred to 82A (Bristol Bath Road)
2w/e 28/02/71 Transferred to 84A (Laira)
2w/e 31/10/71 Transferred to 82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73Depot code changeBR
30/06/74 Transferred to CF (Cardiff Canton)
29/11/81 Transferred to NH (Newton Heath)
13/04/86 To Parcels Sector at CA (Cambridge)
18/05/86 Transferred to NL (Neville Hill)
02/11/86 Stored U. NL (Neville Hill)
03/05/87 Withdrawn from NL (Neville Hill)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

51581 - original number
55937 - from 28/03/87 (parcels conversion)

Modifications

3w/e 29/05/71 - Dual AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


51579 59582 51581 Noted 20/05/61 - in Birmingham Snow Hill. Two DMBCs.
BL514 51581 59587 51585 Noted circa Dec-69 - in blue grey livery
51581 59587 51585 Transfer to 84A - 2w/e 28/02/71
LA503 51581 59587 51585 Noted March 1971
LA503 51581 59587 51585 Listed at Laira - circa Apr-71 - ex-BL514
51581 59587 51585 Noted 13/11/71 - at Bristol1
B560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 18/03/1972 - R.C.T.S. Rhymney Railtour 51581-59587-51585 + 51094-59425-51066
51581 59587 51585 Noted 05/10/72 - at Pritchatts Rd, Edgbaston1
51581 59587 51585 Noted 01/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads2
51581 59587 51585 Noted 05/07/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads2
51581 59587 51585 Noted 16/08/1973 - at Gloucester3
B560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 31/08/74 - on 2C14 0725 Hereford-Swansea
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 02/09/74 - at Gloucester Eastgate4
B560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 12/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven with C516
B560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 17/09/74 - on 2C06 0650 Chepstow-Milford Haven with C506
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 04/03/75 - on 2C09 1430 Swansea-Newport with C557
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 28/04/75 - on 2C09 1420 Swansea-Cardiff with C505
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 26/08/75 - On Cardiff Canton depot4
B560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 09/01/76 - on 2C10 0654 Weston Super Mare-Cardiff
C560 51581 59587 51585 Listed at CF - 01/05/1976
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 10/06/76 - on 2C53 1945 Pembroke Dock-Swansea
C560 51581 59587 50674 Noted 08/09/76 - in Birmingham New Street4
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 20/01/77 - on 2C38 1630 Weston Super Mare-Cardiff
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 09/05/77 - on 2B50 1600 Cardiff-Bristol TM
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 15/07/77 - on 0539 Newport-Chepstow with C515
C560 51581 59587 51585 Listed at CF - 31st December 1977
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 23/08/1978 - Cardiff Central5
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 13/09/78 - on 2C71 0520 Carmarthen-Swansea
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 24/03/1979 - at Swansea5
C560 51581 59587 51585 Noted 13/04/1979 - at Cardiff Central5
C560 51581 59587 51585 Listed at CF - 03/03/80
51585 59587 51581 Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 07.15 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool with 51127-564536
51581 59587 51585 Noted circa 02/1983 - operating from Newton Heath, previously C5606
51581 59587 51585 Noted circa 06/19856
51581 59587 51585 Listed at NH - circa Jan-86
51573 51581 Formation change - CA - 2w/e 14/05/86 - Parcels
51581 51585 Noted circa 09/1986 - Parcels set6

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Gerald Brown
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn

Images:

Class 120 DMU at Hatton Bank

20th September 1961

W51581 leads the 11.35am Stratford-upon-Avon - Leamington Spa as it begins the descent of Hatton Bank on 20/09/61. Note the 'markings' on the cab dome. Most green DMUs that had white domes were self-coloured glass-fibre, these Swindon vehicles had steel cab domes painted to emulate the others. Michael Mensing.

Class 120 DMU at Halwill Junction

1st October 1966

The Great Western Society's special train leaves Halwill Junction for Bude on 1 October 1966, shortly before the closure of the North Cornwall line. Closest is thought to be W51581, the far power car is W51590. David Hawkings.

Class 120 DMU at Nelson and Llancaiach

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour at Nelson and Llancaiach on 18 March 1972. It was formed of Class 120 set B560 (presumably 51581 + 59587 + 51585) and a Class 119 (presumably 51094 + 59425 + 51066). Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 120 DMU at McLaren Colliery

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour on 18th March 1972, with D6998 and the failed DMUs (51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066) at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at McLaren Colliery

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour on 18th March 1972, with D6998 and the failed DMUs (51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066) at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at McLaren Colliery

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour on 18th March 1972, with D6998 and the failed DMUs (51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066) at McLaren Colliery. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at Bargoed

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour at Bargoed on 18th March 1972. Class 37 D6998 is on the front of the failed DMUs (51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066). The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at Nelson and Llancaiach

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour on 18th of March 1972 at Nelson and Llancaiach (closed in 1964). The formation was 51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at Nantgarw

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

The RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour at Nantgarw on the 18th of March 1972, presumably with 51581 closest. To the left is D6934 on coal empties. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at Ocean and Taff Merthyr Colliery

18th March 1972

Set number: B560

RCTS Rhymney Rail Tour on the 18th of March 1972 at Ocean and Taff Merthyr Colliery. The formation was 51581/59587/51585 + 51094/59425/51066. The KDH Archive.

Class 120 DMU at Weston-Super-Mare

7th August 1972

Set number: B560

The 08:45 (SX) from Taunton is seen at Weston-Super-Mare on 7 August 1972, formed of a Cross-Country DMU. Closest is Class 120 DMBC W51581 - it is not running with its usual partners from set B560 as the other two vehicles are Class 119s, identifiable by the greater number of roof vents. Robert Thomas.

Class 120 DMU at Smethwick (W)

17th September 1976

Set number: C560

On a dreary 17th September 1976 51581 leads set C560 out of Smethwick (W) with the 4.50pm Hereford - Birmingham New Street. Michael Mensing.

Class 120 DMU at Pembroke Dock

5th May 1979

Set number: C560

Swindon Cross-Country set C560, with 51581 leading, at Pembroke Dock on May 5th, 1979. In the distance is the Pembroke Pioneer railtour. Graeme Phillips Collection.

Class 120 DMU at Pembroke Dock

5th May 1979

Set number: C560

Next to the stock of a railtour class 120 set C560 (51581, 59587 & 51585) arrives at Pembroke Dock on 5th May 1979. Ian Buck.

Class 120 DMU at Pembroke Dock

5th May 1979

Set number: C560

Swindon Cross-Country set C560 at Pembroke Dock on May 5th, 1979. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 120 DMU at Pembroke Dock

5th May 1979

Set number: C560

Swindon Cross-Country set C560 in Pembroke Station on May 5th, 1979. On the left is the Pembroke Pioneer railtour. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 120 DMU at Pembroke Dock

5th May 1979

Set number: C560

Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country set C560 arriving into Pembroke Dock station on May 5th, 1979. In the distance is the Pembroke Pioneer railtour. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 120 DMU at Blackpool North

16th March 1982

A set formed of 51581, 59587, & 51585 is caught at Blackpool North on the 16th March 1982. Note the oval buffers and the damage to the lower cab on the drivers side. Jerry Glover.

Inside a Class 120 DMU

1st June 1985

The view from M51581 approaching Preston with the 1155 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria on 1st June 1985. A Class 104 can be seen through the right cab window. Keith Long.

Class 120 DMU at Bolton

1st June 1985

M51581, M59587, M51585, M53666, M59286, M53712 awaiting departure from Bolton with the 1155 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria 1st June 1985. Keith Long.

Class 120 DMU at Manchester Victoria

17th February 1986

Class 120 unit 51581 + 59587 + 51585 has arrived at Manchester Victoria from Blackpool North on 17th February 1986. The driver making his way along the platform rubs his hands, presumably not with glee at seeing a comfortable former Western Region-allocated Swindon Cross-Country three-car unit, but most likely from the bone-biting cold of the day. The two motor coaches from this unit were converted to a parcels set just three months later. Gordon Edgar.

Class 120 DMU at Leeds

August 1986

An 'Express parcels' Class 120 DMU at Leeds in August 1986. The lack of a marker light above the destination box tells is this vehicle from the third batch, the vehicles are believed to be 51581 + 51585. Ian Docwra.

Class 120 DMU at Snailwell

24th July 1987

55937 (ex-51581) at Snailwell on July 24, 1987. Nicholas Youngman.

Class 120 DMU at Snailwell

24th July 1987

55937 (M51581) at Snailwell on 24 July 1987. The 120 parcel renumberings were done just before they were withdrawn, if the managed to be applied at all to the unit in most cases this was the furthest it got. Nicholas Youngman.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: 11th June 1977

Set number: C560

Two Class 120 DMUs at Welshpool on the 11th June 1977 . The closest set (C560, W51585 and 59587 + presumably 51581) is a three-car, the far set just a two-car. The Mid Walesman was run by the Gwili Railway Preservation Society from Swansea to Welshpool out via Hereford returning by the Central Wales Line. Robert Thomas.

DMU

Date: circa 1978

Set number: T313

Examples of products from BR's Derby and Swindon workshops at Cardiff Canton depot circa late 1978. W50863 has an interesting set number, it had been transferred to TS in mid-78 and the T possibly replaced a C. At the time Tyseley set numbers used a TY prefix and were carried in the cab windows, it would be several years until this style became common at the depot. Also, 50863 was not a regular member of C313, but seems to have been spare before the more. The 120 has orange curtains, so this should be DMBC 51581. John Law.

DMU

Date: 1979

Set number: C560

Swindon Class 120 Cross-Country set C560 (presumably 51585 + 59587 + 51581) at Avoncliff in mid-1979. Michael Mensing.

DMU

Date: 1979

Set number: C560

Class 120 DMU set C560 (presumably 51585 + 59587 + 51581) with a three-car Class 101 on the rear at Bruton on the Bristol - Weymouth line sometime in 1979. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 1979

Set number: C560

Class 120 DMU set C560 (51585 and presumably 59587 + 51581) at Castle Carry in mid-1979. Michael Mensing.

DMU

Date: 21st July 1979

Set number: C560

Swindon Cross-Country DMU set C560 (51585 and presumably 59587 + 51581) is working with a Met-Camm DMU when seen at Westbury on 21st July, 1979. Michael Mensing.

DMU

Date: 22nd August 1981

Set number: C560

Class 120 set C560 (presumably 51585 + 59587 + 51581) with a Class 119 at Swindon on 22-8-81. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 1st June 1985

M53712, M59286, M53666, M51585, M59587, M51581 depart Bolton with the 1155 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria 1st June 1985. Keith Long.

DMU

Date: 17th February 1986

There's a storm brewing over Strangeways, viewed from Manchester Victoria station looking towards the Boddington's Brewery. Birmingham R C & W Co. Class 104 unit No.53463 and Swindon Class 120 unit No.51581 face each other in the platform on 17th February 1986. Gordon Edgar.