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<- 56269 | 56270 | 56271 ->

Vehicle 56270 / 54270

Class 108

BR Diagram 640

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 50987 during the unknown period are:

24/10/59 New to 14E (Bedford) - on loan
4w/e 30/01/60 Transferred to 14A (Cricklewood)
Jun-60 Transferred to 18A (Toton)
4w/e 31/12/60 Transferred to 9A (Longsight)
4w/e 01/07/61 Transferred to 6A (Chester)
w/e 07/01/67 Transferred to 10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56270 are:

4w/e 31/10/70 Transferred to 6A (Chester)
06/05/73Depot code changeCH
w/e 11/05/74 Transferred to NH (Newton Heath)
13/09/81 Transferred to KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
11/05/86 Transferred to NH (Newton Heath)
15/05/88 Transferred to CH (Chester)
14/05/89 Transferred to NL (Neville Hill) PNLX
29/09/91 Transferred to LO (Longsight) PLOX
24/05/93 Transferred to HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
23/06/93 Withdrawn from HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

Notes

1988 - No interior luggage racks - suspected metal theft from NH
May 1989 - Seen with all luggage racks removed

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56270 - original number
54270 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


50987 56270 As delivered to 14E - 24th October 1959 - on loan
50987 56270 Transfer to 9A - 4w/e 31/12/60
50987 56270 Noted 20/12/661
50987 56270 Transfer to NH - w/e 11/05/74
50987 56270 Noted 14/09/1975 - at Reddish MPD2
50987 56270 Noted 09/04/1977 - at Preston 3
50987 56270 Noted 21/08/1979 - coupled to 50960 and 56245 on 09:45 Carlisle to Lancaster at Barrow3
53987 54270 Noted circa 06/19834
53987 54270 Noted circa 07/19834
53987 54270 Noted 06/08/1983 - 1012 Maryport - Barrow in Furness (ex Carlisle) 1617 St bees - Carlisle (ex Barrow in Furness)5
53987 54270 Listed at KD - 01/01/85
53987 54270 Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
53987 54270 Noted circa 10/19864
53987 54270 Listed at NH - 10/05/87
N614 53987 54270 Listed at NH - March 1988
CH281 53987 54270 Listed at CH - May 1988
CH281 53987 54270 Noted circa May-88
CH281 53987 54270 Noted circa Jul-88
NL256 53987 54270 Listed at NL - 05/09/89
281 53987 54270 Noted 14/05/1990 - on 15:34 Leeds-Sheffield service
NL264 53987 54270 Listed at NL - Jul-91
NL264 53987 54270 Listed at NL - Aug-91
LO290 53987 54270 Listed at LO - Dec-91
LO290 53987 54270 Listed at LO - 02/07/92
53987 54270 Noted 03/08/92 - on 20:38 Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield via Bredbury6
LO290 53987 54270 Noted circa 09/19924
LO290 53987 54270 Listed at LO - 24/09/92
LO290 53987 54270 Listed at LO - November 1992
53987 54270 Noted 04/12/92 - on 11:18 Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield via Hyde6
LO290 53987 54270 Listed at LO - 10/12/92
LO244 53291 54270 Noted 03/05/93 - on Helsby - Chester service

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: MidlandDeltic
6: David Bellamy

Images:

Class 108 DMU at Trent Junction

circa late 1980s

A two-car Class 108 DMU (54270 and presumably 53987) at Trent Junction. Date unknown, circa late 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 108 DMU at Farington

5th January 1988

Returning to its old stamping ground, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of DTSL 54270 & DMBS 53987 was passing Lodge Lane Crossing as it topped the gradient from Farington Curve Junction whilst working a lunchtime Preston to Ormskirk service on January 5th 1988. The former Moss Lane Junction which once enabled trains to run direct from East Lancashire to Ormskirk and Liverpool without running via Preston, is visible to the right of the 108. In the foreground is the part dismantled former Up Line that was taken out of use in 1983. In the 1970's and up to the early 1980's, Class 108's were regular performers on the Ormskirk Line, and then made sporadic appearances following ongoing issues with the then almost new Class 142 Pacer fleet. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 108 DMU at Scarborough

August 1989

Set number: 281

2-car Class 108 set 281 (presumably 54270 + 53987) is keeping company with an HST set in Scarborough station in August 1989. Ian Francis.

Class 108 DMU at Wakefield Kirkgate

14th May 1990

Set number: 281

54270 + 53987 at Wakefield Kirkgate with the 15:34 Leeds-Sheffield service on May 14, 1990. John Carter.

Class 108 DMU at Bingley

19th July 1991

Set number: 281

A six-car formation passes Bingley signalbox with a Leeds to Carlisle service on July 19th, 1991. The closest set 281 is presumably formed of 54270 + 53987, the middle aet are retro-green 53964 + 54247. Rex Holt.

Class 108 DMU at Chester

3rd May 1993

Set number: LO244

LO244 (Class 108 54270 + Class 101 53291) on the 19:19 to Helsby departs Chester, 3-5-93. Kevin Dowd.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: 15th June 1980

With the former Midland Railway route to Wennington and Settle Junction curving away to the right, a four-car Class 108 DMU formation was running over former the Furness Railway route from Barrow as they approached Carnforth Station Junction with a Barrow-in-Furness to Preston service on June 15th 1980. The leading car complete with its first class saloon was Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL) M56239 coupled to Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M50958, with M56270 & M50987 behind. The large footbridge spanning all the tracks was once the pedestrian entrance to Carnforth MPD. At the time, Newton Heath & Carlisle Kingmoor allocated Class 108's were synonymous on stopping services along the former Furness Railway route from Carnforth to Barrow and along the Cumbrian Coast to Carlisle. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 2nd November 1986

Stabled on oil soaked trackwork, a Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M53987 & M54270 were stabled with other DMUs in the Up Sidings at Wigan Wallgate on November 2nd 1986. A shot obtained in more-relaxed BR days when the local P.Way gang let me though a trackside access gate. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 29th August 1992

Set number: LO290

Seeing out its final stint of operation before withdrawal, and having an extended life due to errant Class 142's, a Longsight allocated Derby Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars M53987 & M54270 (LO290), was climbing Farington Curve with the 08.31 Preston to Colne service on August 29th 1992. The DMBS M53987 was officially stored in December 1992 and finally withdrawn in January 1993. The trailer M54270 went on to be paired with a Class 101 DMBS (M53291) and was not withdrawn until June 1993. Following withdrawal, both M53987 & M54270 passed into preservation. M54270 is now at the Mid Norfolk Railway, whilst M53987 went to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, where it was used for spare parts and was eventually scrapped in 1998. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 3rd May 1993

Set number: LO244

LO244 (Class 101 53291 + Class 108 54270) arrives at Chester at 19:07 from Helsby, 3-5-93. Kevin Dowd.

                                                                                                                                                                             


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