Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30466
Diagram: 640
The London Midland Region didn't publish trailer car details until late in 1968. Although not 100% reliable, if it is assumed that the trailers remained with the same power cars, the allocations for 50955 during the unknown period are:
14/03/59 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
Jun-59 | Transferred to | 9E (Trafford Park) | |
4w/e 01/06/63 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
3w/e 31/10/65 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
3w/e 30/04/67 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) |
Then the allocations for 56238 are:
4w/e 05/04/69 | Transferred to | 12A (Carlisle Kingmoor) | |
06/05/73 | Depot code change | KM | |
Jan-75 | Depot code change | KD | |
15/05/88 | Transferred to | HT (Heaton) | |
29/09/91 | Transferred to | LO (Longsight) PLOX | |
05/10/92 | Withdrawn from | LO (Longsight) RFXX |
56238 - original number
54238 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham
50955 | 56238 | As delivered to 5B - March 1959 | |||||||
50960 | 56238 | Noted 14/08/70 - at Carlisle1 | |||||||
50956 | 56238 | Noted 25/08/1973 - at Kingmoor2 | |||||||
56238 | Noted 01/09/74 - on Kingmoor depot, loose vehicle1 | ||||||||
50957 | 56238 | Noted 24/08/75 - on Carlisle Kingmoor depot1 | |||||||
50957 | 56238 | Noted 24/04/1976 - at Barrow 3 | |||||||
50957 | 56238 | Noted 06/09/76 - in Carlisle Citadel1 | |||||||
50956 | 56238 | Noted 31/07/78 - at Windermere working with 50965 + 56248 / 50968 + 56251 | |||||||
50954 | 56238 | Listed at KD - circa Aug-80 | |||||||
50956 | 56238 | Noted circa 03/19824 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Listed at KD - 01/01/85 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 01/11/19864 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 02/12/87 - at Morecambe | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Listed at KD - circa Jan-88 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 16/07/88 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 03/08/885 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 10/09/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Listed at HT - Feb-89 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/03/89 - on 15:04 Gateshead Metro Centre - Sunderland service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/03/89 - on 16:45 Newcastle - Sunderland - service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 25/03/89 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 17/04/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 15/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 20/05/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 31/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/06/89 - on 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/06/89 - on 19:00 Middlesbrough - Newcastle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 19/07/89 - on 16:47 Hexham - Sunderland service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 20/07/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 12/08/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 21/08/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53953 + 54262 and 53957 + 542365 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 09/09/89 - on 06:59 Carlisle - Newcastle service with 53954 + 542445 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 13/10/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 26/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 29/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/04/90 - on 06:50 Seaham - Newcastle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/06/90 - on 10:23 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle5 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 18/06/90 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53950 + 542395 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted 24/10/90 - on 09:10 Newcastle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53974 + 545045 | |||||||
53956 | 54238 | Noted circa 02/19914 | |||||||
HT56 | 53956 | 54238 | Listed at HT - Jul-91 | ||||||
HT56 | 53956 | 54238 | Listed at HT - Aug-91 | ||||||
LO296 | 53956 | 54238 | Listed at LO - Dec-91 | ||||||
LO296 | 53956 | 54238 | Listed at LO - 02/07/92 | ||||||
LO296 | 53956 | 54238 | Listed at LO - 24/09/92 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips
M54238 and M53956 at Morecambe on 02-12-87. Vincent Haworth.
A Class 108 formed of 54238 and 53956 seen at Seaham with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/06/89. Graeme Phillips.
Class 108 DTS 54238 in Carlisle station on August 21, 1990. Rex Holt.
On possibly the last occasion that a first generation DMU worked along the Preston to Ormskirk line, a Class 108 with car 54238 trailing and DMBS 53956 leading has just collected the token from the signalman at Midge Hall, whilst working from Preston to Ormskirk on May 16th 1992. The unit was deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer. Martyn Hilbert.
Deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order is restored probably for the last time on May 16th 1992, as a worn-looking Class 108 was working the Preston to Ormskirk services. Set LO296 formed of cars 54238 & 53956 is seen here approaching the token exchange at Midge Hall with the 09.38 Ormskirk to Preston. In the foreground are the remains of the pointwork where the double line, kept in use from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until 1983, ended. The turnout onto the single line had by this date been replaced with plain rail. The worn-out disused line back towards Farington was kept in-situ for a number of years but was progressively recovered between 1988 & 1992. Martyn Hilbert.
Substituting for the non-availablity of a class 142, a Class 108 2-Car DMU returned to its old stamping ground on 16th May 1992. With car 54238 leading, 53956 behing, the 08.21 Ormskirk to Preston Service has just returned the single-line token at Midge Hall signalbox. The unit is about to pass through the derelict platforms of the former station, closed in 1961. This was possibly the last occasion when a Class 108 worked along here - possibly also the last visit of a first generation DMU. Martyn Hilbert.
M50956 at the head of M56238, M50965, M56248, M50968 and M56251 at Windermere on the 31st July 1978. Robert Frise.
Class 108 DMU (54238 and presumably 53956) is standing alongside a Pacer unit at Barrow in Furness on 20 October 1990 just before it leaves the station via the crossover in the foreground. Another Class 108 is on the left. The day was marked by a number of unusual locomotive-hauled services run in connection with a Network North-West day and 26 025 + 31 434 had just left the station and 20 057 + 20 140 + 31 461 were next to visit on a return trip from Manchester Victoria. Peter Tandy.
A two-car Class 108 DMU arrives at Attenborough sometime in 1988. The condition on the DMBS cab front and the unusual sizes/locations of the the warning flashes suggests it is 53956 - presumably with 54238. Andrew Walker.
53956 and 54238 are seen approaching Seaham station with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/6/89. Graeme Phillips.
A Class 108 at Moss Lane Junction, Farington (Ormskirk Line). It was a return to the old order on Preston to Ormskirk services on May 16th 1992, as a Class 108 returned to its former stamping ground due to the non-availability of a Class 142 Pacer. LO296, (53956 + 54238) is seen topping the climb from the WCML at Farington Curve Junction as it approaches the site of the former Moss Lane Junction. To the right of the unit a double track connection ran towards Lostock Hall enabling trains from East Lancashire to access Ormskirk and Liverpool. It was closed in 1972. Martyn Hilbert.
With the former Jubilee Mill in the background, Class 108 set LO296 (53956 & 54238) departs from Croston whilst working the 15.08 Ormskirk to Preston on May 16th 1992. Once a familiar sight on these services, this was probably the last visit of a Derby built class 108 to the line. In the intervening years Jubilee Mill has been demolished and a housing development now covers the site. Martyn Hilbert.
With Midge Hall in the far distance, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars 53956 & 54238, was passing the Oil Seed Rape at Cocker Bar with the 16.03 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 16th 1992. Martyn Hilbert.
Standing-in for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order returned to the Ormskirk line for possibly the last time on May 16th 1992. A scabby looking Class 108 formed of cars 53956 & 54238 (LO296) was passing through the long-closed platforms at Midge Hall whilst working the 12.23 Preston to Ormskirk service. Martyn Hilbert.