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Vehicle 56261 / 54261

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30466
Diagram: 640

Allocations

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 50978 during the unknown period are:

22/08/59	New to	26A (Newton Heath)
4w/e 28/11/59	Transferred to	14E (Bedford)
5w/e 04/02/61	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 01/07/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
3w/e 02/07/66	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)
3w/e 01/07/67	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56261 are:

Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
4w/e 11/11/78	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
Nov-80	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
circa Sep-82	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
14/05/89	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley) PTSX
01/10/89	Transferred to	CH (Chester) PCHX
14/05/90	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
30/10/91	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) PLOX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56261 - original number
54261 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 18/08/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50978	56261	As delivered to 26A - 22nd August 1959
	50978	56261	Transfer to 18A - Feb-61
	50978	56261	Noted 19/12/67 - at Manchester Victoria¹
	50974	56261	Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Victoria¹
	50978	56261	Transfer to LO - 4w/e 11/11/78
	50978	56261	Noted 21/08/1979 - at Manchester Piccadilly ²
	50978	56261	Noted 24/05/80
LO309	50978	56261	Noted circa 05/1982³
LO309	50978	56261	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc³
	50978	56261	Noted circa 02/1983³
	53978	56261	Noted 27/08/83 - on 7.24 Chester to Manchester Oxford Road
	53978	54261	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	53978	54261	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	53978	54261	Listed at NH - 10/05/87
N608	53978	54261	Listed at NH - March 1988
N608	53978	54261	Listed at NH - May 1988
N608	53978	54261	Noted circa Jul-88
N608	53978	54261	Noted circa 04/1989³
T210	53978	54261	Listed at TS - 01/09/89
CH274	53978	54261	Listed at CH - 14/10/89
CH274	53978	54261	Noted circa 12/1989³
LO274	53978	54261	Listed at LO - mid May-90
LO274	53978	54261	Listed at LO - Jul-91
LO274	53978	54261	Listed at LO - Aug-91
	53978	54261	Noted 07/08/91⁴
LO274	53978	54261	Noted circa 09/1991³

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Graeme Phillips

Images:

8th March 1986

With Globe Mill at Midge Hall in the background, a 2-Car Class 108 with M54261 leading, passes over Narrow Lane Crossing whilst forming the 10.09 Preston to Ormskirk service on March 8th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

11th June 1988

Set number: N608

DTS(L) M54261 (presumably with M53978) leads a four-car formation calling at Kent's Bank (Cumbria) with the 12:07 Lancaster-Barrow, 11/6/88. The Class 108s allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor (KD) depot were the mainstay of local services in Cumbria and North Lancashire for many years. In May 1988, shortly before this image was taken, KD closed, and the fleet was split between Heaton (HT) depot at Newcastle for Cumbian Coast / Windermere routes, and Chester (CH) for north Lancashire routes, such as the service illustrated. Graeme Phillips Collection.

7th September 1988

Set number: N608

Class 108 Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) car M54261 was leading the eight-car Blackpool North to Carlisle Sunday Dalesrail service, passing Lostock Hall Junction on September 7th 1988. The service was made up of three pairs of Class 108's with a Class 104 bringing up the rear. Martyn Hilbert.

circa summer 1989

Set number: T210

Class 108 set T210 (54261 and presumably 53978) in Derby station, circa summer 1989. Malcolm Clements.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 27th August 1983

Class 108 Derby 2-car DMU M53978 + M56261 at Chester with the 7.24 to Manchester Oxford Road on 27-8-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Date: 31st July 1988

Set number: 808

A gathering of first & second generation DMU's at Southport on July 31st 1988. Left to right are - Derby Class 108 formed of cars 53978 & 54261, Class 142 142047, Metro-Cammell Class 101 formed of cars 51801 & 51519, whilst in the background former Devon & Cornwall 'Skipper' Class 142 142027 was providing a shuttle service between Southport station and the Steamport Museum during a Diesel Day event. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 29th March 1989

Set number: N664

Newton Heath TMD allocated Class 104 set No. N664 formed of Class 104 DMBS M53442 and DMCL M53516 along with Class 108 set No. N608 formed of DMBS M50978 and DTCL M54261 await departure time from Manchester Victoria Station with an afternoon service to Southport on the 29th March 1989. All four vehicles would be scrapped within two and a half years. Bob Woolnough.

Date: 27th June 1990

Set number: LO274

Leaving Grindleford behind on the 27th June 1990 is a rather battered Longsight allocated Derby Class 108 DMU LO274 (53978 + 54261) on a Sheffield - Manchester local service through the Hope Valley. Andrew J Crowther.

Date: 4th October 1991

31460 drags M53977 + M59390 + M54261 as 5Z41 1011 Longsight to C.F. Booths Rotherham for scrap. New Mills South Junction 4-10-91. Kevin Dowd.

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