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Vehicle 56278 / 54278

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 51423 during the unknown period are:

12/03/60	New to	26A (Newton Heath)
Apr-60	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 24/09/60	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
Jan-61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J

Then the allocations for 56278 are:

29/03/87	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
14/05/90	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
11/07/91	Transferred to	HT (Heaton) PHTX
12/12/91	Withdrawn from	HT (Heaton) PHTX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56278 - original number
54278 - from Aug-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Jul-73 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 02/06/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51423	56278	As delivered to 26A - 12th March 1960
	51423	56278	Transfer to 8H - Jan-61
	51423	56278	Noted 05/01/66 - in Warrington Bank Key station¹
	51420	56278	Noted 04/09/67 - at Leeds City¹
	51423	56278	Noted 19/12/67 - at Wigan NW¹
	51416	56278	Noted 09/11/69 - at Doncaster with 51419 / 56274 + 52039 / 51922¹
	50629	56278	Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester²
	50629	56278	Noted 29/08/1974 - at Liverpool Lime Street³
	51911	56278	Noted 27/09/1976 - at Preston ³
	51424	56278	Noted 12/09/1977 - 12.07 Lime Street - Warrington Central with 51913-56491⁴
	51917	56278	Noted 25/07/79 - on 11.08 Liverpool LS – Warrington Central and 12.10 Warrington Central – Liverpool LS⁵
	51937	56278	Noted 24/05/80
	51918	56278	Noted circa 05/1982⁴
	51909	56278	Noted circa 10/1982⁴
	51909	56278	Noted 13/10/1982 - Worked 06.30 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria and 07.38 return.⁴
	51420	54278	Noted circa 06/1983⁴
	51420	54278	Noted 03/01/1984 - at Manchester Picc⁴
	51420	54278	Noted 27/03/1984 - at Liverpool Lime Street⁴
	51420	54278	Noted circa 03/1986⁴
	51424	54278	Noted circa 02/1987⁴
	51424	54278	Noted circa 07/1987⁴
	53924	54278	Noted circa 04/1988⁴
CH268	51931	54278	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH271	53931	54278	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH268	53924	54278	Listed at CH - May-88
CH268	53924	54278	Noted circa Jul-88
	53924	54278	Noted 31/05/89 - on 14:02 Warrington Central - Chester⁶
	53924	54278	Noted 30/08/89 - on 14:02 Warrington Central - Chester⁶
CH268	53924	54278	Noted 30/08/89 - at Manchester Piccadilly
CH268	53924	54278	Listed at CH - 14/10/89
LO268	53924	54278	Listed at LO - mid May-90
LO268	53924	54278	Noted circa 01/1991⁴
LO268	53924	54278	Listed at LO - Jul-91
	53924	54278	Noted 10/08/91 - on 15:15 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁶
	53924	54278	Noted 17/08/91 - on 14:28 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁶
	53924	54278	Noted 17/08/91 - on 16:05 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁶

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Phil Shatford
6: Graeme Phillips

Images:

29th June 1989

54278 leads a seven-car formation into Llandudno on June 29th 1989. It is formed of two two-car Class 108s and a three-car with two Class 108 power cars and a centre car of another type. John Carter.

30th August 1989

Set number: CH268

Chester Set CH268 (54278 + 53924) approaches Manchester Piccadilly on the 30th August 1989. Graeme Phillips.

Class 108 DMU at Manchester Piccadilly station

16th September 1989

Set number: CH268

Class 108 set CH268 (presumably 54278 + 53924) has Chester on its destination blind when seen at Manchester Piccadilly on the 16th September 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

12th February 1991

Set number: LO268

Set LO268, with leading vehicle 54278 and 53924 trailing, prepares to depart from Boston with a service heading west on 12th February 1991. Julian Barker.

circa late 1991

Set number: LO268

DTS 54278, once in set LO268, at CF Booths, Rotherham, circa late 1991. Robert Frise Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 31st August 1988

Set number: CH268

Class 108 Set CH268 (presumably 53924 + 54278) is propelled by 31 466 at the start of a journey from Llandundo Junction - Chester T.M.D., contrasting with A55 Expressway works at Llandudno Junction, (1100) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

Date: 31st August 1988

Set number: CH268

Class 108 Set CH268 (presumably 53924 + 54278) is hauled by 31 466 on a journey from Llandundo Junction - Chester T.M.D. at Llandudno Junction, (1110) Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

Date: 16th March 1989

Set number: CH268

Chester allocated 2-car class 108 DMU set CH 268 (53924+54278) is seen waiting to depart wrong road from Helsby with the 15.31 to Chester via Hooton on 16 March 1989. With Rock Ferry to Hooton electrified in 1985 BR later merged the truncated diesel service with the Hooton to Helsby shuttle thus improving the passenger service through Ellesmere Port to a 30min frequency and direct trains to Chester. Here at the Helsby end of the route trains would terminate in the down platform then run back through a crossover to gain the up line largely making platform 3 on which I am stood obsolete. Ironically this end of the lines service is now dire and pretty much unusable for a return journey after Hooton to Ellesmere Port was electrified. The eastern end of the line now only sees 3 trains a day each way between Ellesmere Port and Helsby. Adrian Nicholls.

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