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Vehicle 56273 / 54273

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 51418 during the unknown period are:

20/02/60	New to	3E (Monument Lane)
w/e 02/04/60	Transferred to	3C (Ryecroft)
Jun-60	Depot code change	21F
w/e 03/06/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
3w/e 02/07/66	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)

Then the allocations for 56273 are:

3w/e 20/10/79	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
circa 1984	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
19/01/86	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
01/10/89	Transferred to	CF (Cardiff Canton) PCFX
p/e 22/06/91	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
28/02/92	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) PXXZ

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56273 - original number
54273 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Dec-71 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 27/07/1979 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51418	56273	As delivered to 3E - 20th February 1960
	51418	56273	Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	51917	56273	Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Victoria then later on Longsight depot¹
	51420	56273	Noted 01/09/72 - in Liverpool Lime Street¹
AN279	51911	56273	Noted 04/09/74 - in Liverpool Lime Street, 56273 displayed AN269²
	51421	56273	Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot²
	51421	56273	Noted 20/11/75 - at Brough¹
	51917	56273	Noted 05/01/77 - in Liverpool Lime Street¹
	51914	56273	Noted 22/06/1977 - ECS towards Liverpool with 51922-52044³
	51914	56273	Noted 27/08/1977 - 08.25 Lime Street to Bangor with 51916-56277 and 51918-56496³
	51914	56273	Noted 04/01/78
	51174	56273	Noted 28/08/1979 - on 04:15 Shrewsbury to Machynlleth with 50628, 56214, 50931 and 51562⁴
	50940	56273	Noted circa 08/1980³
	50940	56273	Noted 24/10/1980 - At Crewe Station⁵
	50940	56273	Noted circa 03/1981³
	50940	56273	Noted circa 10/1982³
	53940	54273	Noted circa 04/1983³
	53940	54273	Noted 28/12/1985 - 53940-54273 + 54271-51909 LCGB Moorsider Railtour failure replacement (see 53812)
	53940	54273	Transfer to CH - 19/01/86
	53940	54273	Listed at Chester - Summer 1986
	53940	54273	Noted circa 12/1986³
	53940	54273	Noted 13/06/1987 - Chester-Crewe ECS (6-car)⁶
	53940	54273	Noted circa 12/1987³
273	53940	54273	Listed at CH - March 1988
CH273	53940	54273	Noted Apr-88
CH273	53940	54273	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH273	53940	54273	Noted circa May-88
CH273	53940	54273	Noted circa Jul-88
CH273	53940	54273	Noted 14th August 1988
CH273	53940	54273	Noted 14/01/89 - on 12.28 Chester-Manchester Oxford Road with M54221 + M53986
C977	51419	54273	Noted circa 03/1991³
977	51419	54273	Noted 22/05/91 - at Cardiff⁷
LO281	51419	54273	Listed at LO - Jul-91
LO281	51419	54273	Listed at LO - Aug-91
LO281	51419	54273	Noted circa 09/1991³
LO281	51419	54273	Listed at LO - Dec-91

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Chris Moxon
7: Aaron Calder

Images:

26th November 1985

With Globe Mill at Midge Hall dominating the background, A two-car Derby built Class 108 DMU formed of cars 54273 & 53940 had returned to its old stamping ground as it approached Narrow Lane occupation crossing (Midge Hall), whilst working a Preston to Ormskirk service on November 26th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.

11th May 1988

Set number: 273

M54273 + M53940 at Stalybridge on May 11, 1988. Note the very small set number. John Carter.

14th January 1989

Set number: CH273

Class 108 twin sets with CH273 leading formed M54273 + M53940 + M54221 + M53986 at Lostock Gralam on the 14th January 1989 with the 12.28 Chester-Manchester Oxford Road. Kevin Law.

10th February 1990

Set number: C977

Two-car Class 108 DMU set C977 (54273 and presumably 51419) is seen working the 11:55 Cardiff Central-Chepstow service at Newport on 10 February 1990. Robert Thomas.

21st April 1990

Set number: C977

A DMU service from the valleys arrives into Cardiff Central on 21 April 1990 formed of two-car Class 108 set C977. DTSL 54273 leads, it had been allocated to Cardiff for six months but still had an M prefix to the vehicle number, and carries an old set number beneath. The DMBS is presumably 51419. Robert Thomas.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 10th August 1979

Where's the brake van? Ex-works from Swindon E50555 and M56273 shunting outside the station on August 10, 1979. John Carter.

Date: 17th August 1985

A two-car Class 108 formed of Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53940 & Driving Trailer Second Lavatory (DTSL) M54273, was passing the former LMS platelayers brick hut, whilst approaching Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on August 17th 1985. The small hut was one of the few pieces of lineside infrastructure that survived the rationalisation of the Preston to Ormskirk route when it was reduced to mainly single track status in 1970. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 13th June 1987

Chester, 13/6/87. The ECS to Crewe is formed of 54497, 51913, 51188, 54348, 54273 & 53940. The 150's are on the 15.36 Crewe-Llandudno. Anthony Griffiths.

Date: 20th February 1990

Set number: C977

Class 108 DMU set C977 (51419 + 54273) in Newport station on 20 February 1990. Keith Miller.

Date: 2nd August 1991

Set number: LO281

LO281 at Heysham Port (then called Heysham Sea Terminal) on the 12.40 to Stockport on 2/8/91. From photographs on this site of 51419 and 54273, the front car is neither of them. David Miller.

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