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Vehicle 56497 / 54497

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30602
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 51914 during the unknown period are:

07/05/60	New to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 29/10/60	Transferred to	9G (Gorton)
4w/e 31/12/60	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J

Then the allocations for 56497 are:

16/06/83	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
14/05/90	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
30/05/91	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight) PLOX

Notes

12th September 1990 - Part of 5Z32 Longsight depot - Doncaster Works (collision-damaged cars running under own power)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56497 - original number
54497 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Derby Works dated 09/01/1981 released in blue/grey livery

56497 was involved in the following incident:

22/8/90 - Hyde North Junction, LMR

Collision involving Class 108 / Class 108

Info from Bill Read

Low speed collision of two Class 108 units. M51913-M54497 and M51418-M59688 (Met Cam 101 centre car)-M53977. 28 passengers required hospital treatment. The driver of the twin unit had passed a red signal. M51418 collapsed upon contact with M51913 and suffered extensive cab, underfloor and bogie damage. All the 108 cars suffered some damage and were criticized as being in poor structural condition. The 101 was undamaged.

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51914	56497	As delivered to 18A - 7th May 1960
	51914	56497	Transfer to 9G - Oct-60
	51916	56497	Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight¹
	50625	56497	Noted 17/08/1974 - at Chester²
	51424	56497	Noted 20/11/75 - at Brough with 51909/56496¹
	51917	56497	Noted 06/01/1978 - at Byrn with a device to Wigan³
	50627	56497	Noted 11/04/80 - at Wigan NW with 50763 + 50796
	50627	56497	Noted 24/05/80
	51913	56497	Noted circa 06/1982⁴
	51914	56497	Noted circa 11/1982⁴
	51942	56497	Noted circa 01/1983⁴
	51942	54497	Transfer to LO - 16/06/83
	51913	54497	Noted circa 07/1983⁴
	51913	54497	Noted circa 08/1983⁴
	51913	54497	Noted circa 01/1984⁴
	51913	54497	Noted 01/09/84 - at Wolverhampton as ECS with 51902 + 54485
	51913	54497	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	51913	54497	Noted 25/05/86 - on 17:47 Stalybridge - Stockport⁵
	51913	54497	Listed at Chester - Summer 1986
	51913	54497	Noted circa 06/1986⁴
	51913	54497	Noted circa 01/1987⁴
	51913	54497	Noted 13/06/1987 - Chester-Crewe ECS (6-car)⁶
	51913	54497	Noted 16/01/1988⁴
265	51913	54497	Noted circa 04/1988⁴
CH265	51913	54497	Noted Apr-88
CH265	51913	54497	Listed at CH - May 1988
CH265	51913	54497	Noted circa May-88
CH265	51913	54497	Noted circa Jul-88
CH265	51913	54497	Listed at CH - 14/10/89
LO265	51913	54497	Listed at LO - mid May-90
LO265	51913	54497	22nd August 1990 - collided with CH351 at Hyde North

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Martin Baumann
6: Chris Moxon

Images:

13th June 1981

An eight-car DMU formation, noted as going to Rhyl (but Llandudno is on the destination blind) is seen near Chester on 13 June 1981. Allerton allocated M56497 leads a 108 set, there is another 108, a 103 and a 101. Stuart Mackay Collection.

23rd December 1982

Two days before Christmas 1982 in very seasonal conditions, a two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M51942 & M56497 had just passed the down distant signal for Midge Hall as it passed the Cocker Bar at Ulnes Walton with an Ormskirk to Preston service on December 23rd 1982. Martyn Hilbert.

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.

26th December 1987

Class 108 DTS 54497 in Tyseley on December 26, 1987. Andy Cole.

31st August 1988

Set number: CH265

Class 108 Set CH265 (presumably 54497 + 51913) approaches Abergele and Pensarm (at 15XX) on Wednesday 31st August 1988. Colin Brooks.

20th February 1989

Set number: CH265

Class 108 Derby 2-car DMU 54497+51913 (DTCL+DMBS) set CH265 arrived at Manchester Oxford Road on 20-2-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

20th August 1990

Set number: LO265

Class 108 DMU LO265 cars 54497 + 51913 enter Sleaford station on the 11:39 Skegness to Nottingham service on 20 August 1990. The Met-Camm on the left is thought to be 53201. Two days later LO265 was involved in a low speed head on crash with another Class 108 at Hyde North Junction after passing a red signal. It was repaired and finally withdrawn on 30/05/91. Neil Smith.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 11th April 1980

50627 + 56497 and 50763 + 50796 at Wigan NW on 11/4/80. Chris Lings.

Date: 23rd December 1982

A two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M51942 & M56497 was passing the Cocker Bar at Ulnes Walton, whilst running between Midge Hall and Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on December 23rd 1982. The tall distant signal for Preston bound trains approaching Midge Hall has now been replaced with a reflective distant board. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 1st September 1984

A Class 108 diesel multiple unit formation passes through Wolverhampton station on what I recorded as an ecs working on 1 September 1984. The individual cars were 51902/54485 + 51913/54497. Lewis Bevan.

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