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Vehicle 56274 / 54274

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 51419 during the unknown period are:

27/02/60	New to	3E (Monument Lane)
w/e 02/04/60	Transferred to	3C (Ryecroft)
Jun-60	Depot code change	21F
4w/e 03/06/61	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
3w/e 02/07/66	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)

Then the allocations for 56274 are:

circa 1984	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
28/09/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
07/01/87	Transferred to	ME (Marylebone)
Oct-88	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
21/01/92	Sector Change to	BY (Bletchley) NXXZ
18/02/92	Withdrawn from	BY (Bletchley) NNHZ

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56274 - original number
54274 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Aug-73 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 12/09/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51419	56274			As delivered to 3E - 27th February 1960
	51419	56274			Noted 09/11/69 - at Doncaster inbetween 51416 / 56278 + 52039 / 51922¹
	51917	56274			Noted 19/09/71 - at Crewe with 51904 + 56487 / 51906 + 56489 / 51913 + 56493 possibly subbing for a Class 304 if the current was switched off between Liverpool and Crewe¹
AN270	56274				Noted 04/09/74 - in Liverpool Lime Street, partner unrecorded²
	51421	56274			Noted circa 08/1982³
	51928	56274			Noted circa 11/1982³
	51928	56274			Noted 30/11/1982 - Noted at Manchester Picc.³
	51422	56274			Noted circa 02/1983³
	51912	56274			Noted circa 04/1983³
	51422	54274			Noted circa 08/1983³
	53476	54274			Formation change - NH - Aug-85
	53476	54274			Noted 08/01/86 - at Norwich²
	53476	54274			Noted 11/01/86 - at Leicester
Spare	54274				Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
	51849	54274			Noted 24/02/1987 - at Marylebone - as 6 car set with 51659 + 59727 + 59671 + 51889⁴
	51849	54274			Noted 23/03/87 - on 16.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone, 18.25 Marylebone – Aylesbury and 19.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone all with 51669 + 59675 + 59731 + 51877⁵
	51849	54274			Noted 25/03/87 - on 16.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone, 18.25 Marylebone – Aylesbury and 19.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone all with 51656 + 59733 + 59759 + 51671⁵
	51849	54274			Noted 26/03/87 - on 16.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone, 18.25 Marylebone – Aylesbury and 19.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone all with 51656 + 59733 + 59759 + 51671⁵
	51849	54274			Noted 27/03/87 - on 15.10 Marylebone – Aylesbury with 51654 + 54222⁵
	51849	54274			Noted 27/03/87 - on 16.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone, 18.25 Marylebone – Aylesbury and 19.40 Aylesbury – Marylebone all with 51656 + 59733 + 59759 + 51671⁵
	51849	54274			Noted 20/04/87 - on Quaintonian with 51654 + 54222
	51849	54274			Noted 15/07/1987³
	51866	54274			Noted circa 11/1987³
	51866	54274			Noted 28/11/1987 - Hertfordshire Railtours Wymondham Willows 51679-54257 + 54274-51866 + 54491-51855 + 54222-51654
	51673	51866	54274		Noted circa 02/1988³
	51676	54274			Noted circa 04/1989³
	51676	54274			Noted circa 09/1989³
	51676	54274	59654	51894	Noted 19/02/90 - on services to Marylebone⁶
	51676	54274			Noted circa 05/1990³
	51676	54274			Noted 20/06/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51875 + 59754 + 59734 + 51888⁶
	51676	54274			Noted 27/06/90 - on services from Marylebone with 51668 + 59755 + 59751 + 51678⁶

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Robert Chilton
5: Phil Shatford
6: Aaron Calder

Images:

circa 1978

Plain blue DTC M56274 is working with a refurbished liveried DMBS when seen in Manchester Oxford Road circa 1978. John Law.

20th April 1987

54274 with 51849, 51654 and 54222 working the Quaintonian on 20/4/87 and seen at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.

20th April 1987

54274 with 51849, 51654 and 54222 form the Quaintonian on 20/4/87 and seen at Quainton Road. Robert Frise.

20th October 1989

The 12.55 To Aylesbury arrives at Great Missenden on 20 October 1989 formed of a Class 115 and Class 108 hybrid rake. 54274 leads 51676, 59749, 51879, 54257 and 51893. Dave Warby.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 11th January 1986

Class 104 53476 twinned with Class 108 54274 at Leicester on the 11th January 1986. Dennis Taylor.

Date: 20th April 1987

51849 is paired with 54274 and working with 51654 (on left) and 54222 (not seen) working The Quaintonian at Quainton Road on 20/4/87. Robert Frise.

Date: 20th April 1987

The Quaintonian formed 54222 - 51654 - 51849 - 54274 at Quainton Road on 20/4/87. Robert Frise.

Date: 20th April 1987

51654 is paired with 54222 and coupled to 51849 (on right) and 54274 when seen at Quainton Road on the Quaintonian on 20/4/87 Robert Frise.

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: 12th November 1988

The exhausts from three 2 car class 115 units (the leading pair are 51895 + 54274) add to the murkiness at Quainton Road on 12 November 1988 as it leaves the station with one of the annual Aylesbury to Milton Keynes "Shopper Specials" which ran along the freight line via Claydon LN & E Junction to Bletchley. Peter Tandy.

Date: 23rd April 1989

The 11.39 to Marylebone departs from Aylesbury on 23 April 1989. The Class 115 set was recorded as 51886 + 59737 + 59763 + 51893 (order of power cars uncertain), the 108/115 at the front was 54274 + 51676. Lewis Bevan.

Date: 20th October 1989

The 12.55 To Aylesbury in Great Missenden station on 20 October 1989 formed of a Class 115 and Class 108 hybrid rake. The vehicles are 51893, 54257, 51879, 59749, 51676 and 54274. Dave Warby.

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