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
Feb-61 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
by Jun-62 | Transferred to | 83D (Laira) | |
Sep-63 | Depot code change | 84A | |
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) | |
06/05/73 | Depot code change | BR | |
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03/05/87 | Withdrawn from | NL (Neville Hill) |
51581 - original number
55937 - from 28/03/87 (parcels conversion)
3w/e 29/05/71 - Dual AWS fitted
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On a dreary 17th September 1976 51581 leads set C560 out of Smethwick (W) with the 4.50pm Hereford - Birmingham New Street. Michael Mensing.
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.
Next to the stock of a railtour class 120 set C560 (51581, 59587 & 51585) arrives at Pembroke Dock on 5th May 1979. Ian Buck.
Swindon Cross-Country set C560 at Pembroke Dock on May 5th, 1979. Steve Davies Collection.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
55937 (ex-51581) at Snailwell on July 24, 1987. Nicholas Youngman.
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.
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.
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.
Swindon Class 120 Cross-Country set C560 (presumably 51585 + 59587 + 51581) at Avoncliff in mid-1979. Michael Mensing.
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.
Class 120 DMU set C560 (51585 and presumably 59587 + 51581) at Castle Carry in mid-1979. Michael Mensing.
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.
Class 120 set C560 (presumably 51585 + 59587 + 51581) with a Class 119 at Swindon on 22-8-81. Stuart Mackay Collection.
M53712, M59286, M53666, M51585, M59587, M51581 depart Bolton with the 1155 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria 1st June 1985. Keith Long.
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.