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Vehicle 56271 / 54271

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30499
Diagram: 646

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 51416 during the unknown period are:

20/02/60	New to	3C (Ryecroft)
Jun-60	Depot code change	21F
4w/e 01/07/61	Transferred to	24F (Fleetwood)
w/e 08/09/62	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 29/12/62	Transferred to	15C (Leicester Midland)
Sep-63	Depot code change	15A
3w/e 03/07/65	Transferred to	9L (Buxton)
3w/e 31/10/65	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
3w/e 02/07/66	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)

Then the allocations for 56271 are:

circa 1984	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
19/01/86	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
04/05/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
02/11/86	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
14/05/90	Sector Change to	BY (Bletchley) NNDX
22/07/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) NNDX
28/07/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) NNDX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56271 - original number
54271 - from Aug-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Aug-72 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51416	56271			As delivered to 3C - 20th February 1960
	51420	56271			Noted 03/05/69 - at Manchester Exchange¹
	51422	56271			Noted 04/06/71 - at Liverpool Lime Street¹
	50625	56271			Noted 03/05/1972 - 13.40 Chester-Allerton²
	51416	56271			Noted 19/05/72 - at Crewe¹
	51917	56271			Noted 27/08/73 - at Liverpool Lime Street¹
	51912	56271			Noted 22/06/74 - at Llandudno Junction³
	50625	56271			Noted 03/05/1975 - Worked 13.40 (SO) Chester to Allerton, the last day of this service.⁴
	51908	56271			Noted 28/08/75 - at Edge Hill³
	51416	56271			Noted 22/06/1977 - 21.50 Lime Street to Wigan NW with 50771-50804⁴
	51916	56271			Noted circa 08/1982⁴
	51417	56271			Noted circa 01/1983⁴
	51911	54271			Noted circa 08/1983⁴
	51909	54271			Noted circa 01/1984⁴
	51909	54271			Noted 28/12/1985 - 53940-54273 + 54271-51909 LCGB Moorsider Railtour failure replacement (see 53812)
	51909	54271			Transfer to CH - 19/01/86 - from NH
TS200	51909	54271			Formation change - TS - 2w/e 14/05/86
TS200	51909	54271			Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986
TS200	51909	54271			Noted 30/07/1986 - at Derby - as 8 car set with TS204, TS203 and TS207⁵
	51909	54271			Transfer to BY - 02/11/86 - from TS
	51909	54271			Noted 11/01/1987⁴
	51909	54271			Noted circa 11/1987⁴
	51909	54271			Noted circa 03/1988⁴
	51909	54271			Noted circa 04/1988⁴
	51909	54271			Noted 21/05/88 - on 10.45 Bletchley - Bedford⁶
	51909	54271			Noted circa 11/1989⁴
	51676	51879	53628	54271	Noted 08/03/90 - at Stratford⁷
	51909	54271			Noted circa 06/1990⁴
	51916	54271			Noted circa 10/1991⁴
L231	51909	54271			Listed at BY - 24/02/92 - NSE NNDX pool
L231	51909	54271			Listed at BY - 12/08/92
L231	51909	54271			Listed at BY - November 1992 - Sector NNDX
	51909	54271			Noted 07/02/93 - on 10:27 Queens Park - Euston⁸

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Chris Moxon
3: Gerald Brown
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Robert Chilton
6: Phil Shatford
7: Aaron Calder
8: David Bellamy

Images:

Unknown date

Class 108 DTCL M56271 in Swindon Works, date unknown. Paul Redmond.

14th May 1986

54271 and 51909 stabled at very misty and damp Blaenau Ffestiniog 14th March 1986. Keith Long.

3rd December 1988

Class 108 DTSL 54271 seen on Ridgmont Crossing on 3 December 1988. Another Class 108 is behind it. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: circa February 1960

An official image (Derby Works negative 60/53) showing a new (blue square) Derby Lightweight set in the yard at Derby Works. The DMBS is M51416, its partner is presumably M56271, the pair were delivered new to Ryecroft depot in February 1960. British Railways.

Date: 3rd May 1972

On the last day of 'local' services between Frodsham Jn and Halton Jn, Class 108 twin 50625 & 56271 is at Helsby on the 13.40 Chester-Allerton, 3/5/72 Anthony Griffiths.

Date: 23rd April 1987

Photographed from the Signal Box at West Ruislip, the 1538 Marylebone - High Wycombe service approaches West Ruislip station formed of two Class 115 DMBS/Class 108 DTC units M51849+M54274+M54271+M51878. The first two vehicles had arrived at ME in January, from TS. 23rd April 1987 Nigel Mack.

Date: 24th October 1987

A Class 108 DMU formed of 51909 + 54271 awaits departure at Watford Junction with the 12:48 Watford Junction - St Albans Abbey service on 24 October 1987 which was an Ian Allan Network Day. Colin Brooks.

Date: 24th October 1987

A Class 108 DMU formed of 51909 + 54271 with the 12:48 Watford Junction - St Albans Abbey service after arrival at St Albans Abbey on Saturday 24 October 1987. Colin Brooks.

Date: 24th October 1987

51909 + 54271 with the 13:08 St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction service waiting to depart St Albans Abbey on Saturday 24 October 1987. Colin Brooks.

Date: 24th October 1987

51909 + 54271 depart St Albans Abbey with the 13:08 St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction service on Saturday 24 October 1987. Colin Brooks.

Date: 24th October 1987

51909 + 54271 depart St Albans Abbey with the 13:08 St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction service on Saturday 24 October 1987. Colin Brooks.

Date: 24th October 1987

A picture from the "Ian Allan Network Day" on 24 October 1987. 2-car Derby DMU nos. 51909 + 54271 at St Albans Abbey, having arrived on the 14.55 ex-Watford Junction. We had gone to Watford Junction as the St Albans branch trains were supposed to be worked on this day by a Class 33/1 and 4-TC trailer, but we found that 33102 had failed earlier the same afternoon, and was dumped in a siding at Watford Junction. Lewis Bevan.

Date: 24th October 1987

51909 + 54271 t St Albans Abbey, having arrived on the 14.55 ex-Watford Junction during the "Ian Allan Network Day" on 24 October 1987. Lewis Bevan.

Date: June 1988

M51909 (and probably 54271) stabled at the sidings to the south of Watford Junction station in June 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 21st December 1988

Passing trains at Ridgmont station on 21 December 1988. Class 108 DTSL 54271 is in the platform, the incoming four-car is an interesting mix of a Class 108 DMSL (51572), a Class 104 TSL (possibly 59206), a 115 TS (possibly 59735), and a Class 101 DMBS. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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