Vehicle 59115
Class 101
Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30277
Diagram: 624
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 50304 during the unknown period are:
| Feb-58 | New to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| Apr-58 | Transferred to | 18A (Toton) | |
| May-58 | Transferred to | 3E (Monument Lane) | |
| 20/06/60 | Depot code change | 21E | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2H | |
| w/e 07/01/67 | Transferred to | 2A (Tyseley) |
Then the allocations for 59115 are:
| 23/09/87 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) | |
| p/e 28/01/89 | Sector Change to | RG (Reading) NSBX | |
| 14/05/90 | Transferred to | CA (Cambridge) NNEX | |
| p/e 07/12/91 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| 23/02/93 | Transferred to | HA (Haymarket) RAHA | |
| 04/10/93 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX | |
| 15/10/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) RFXX |
Refurbished
At Derby Works dated 20/05/1976 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50304 | 59115 | 50322 | As delivered to 5D - February 1958 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted circa Nov-67 - in plain blue with full yellow ends | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 01/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 19/04/1969 - R.C.T.S. (West Midlands Branch) The Forester Railtour. 50338 had yellow cab doors. | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 05/11/70 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 21/11/70 - R.C.T.S. The Cotswold Edge Railtour | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 05/06/72 - in Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| 50304 | 59115 | 50338 | Noted 25/05/1974 - at Birmingham New Street2 | ||||||
| 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Noted 08/09/76 - on Tyseley depot3 | ||||||
| 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Noted 12/01/1978 - Cardiff Central4 | ||||||
| 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Noted 17/06/1978 - Unnamed Midland Railfans tour from Birmingham to Derby Doncaster York and Sheffield | ||||||
| 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Noted 01/08/79 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| TS412 | 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Listed at TS - 12/08/79 | |||||
| TS412 | 50317 | 59115 | 50327 | Noted circa 01/19815 | |||||
| TS550 | 50082 | 59115 | 50124 | Noted circa 10/19815 | |||||
| TS550 | 50082 | 59115 | 50124 | Noted circa 09/19825 | |||||
| TS550 | 50082 | 59115 | 50124 | Listed at TS - Jan-83 | |||||
| TS550 | 53082 | 59115 | 53124 | Listed at TS - 14/07/83 | |||||
| TS606 | 53082 | 59115 | 53124 | Noted circa 12/19835 | |||||
| 53093 | 59115 | 53818 | Noted 29/06/85 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| TS626 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted circa 09/19855 | |||||
| 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted 07/12/85 - on 17:28 Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury service6 | ||||||
| 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted 08/01/86 - on 16:00 Leamington - Birmingham Moor Street service6 | ||||||
| TS626 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted circa 04/19865 | |||||
| TS626 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted circa 05/19865 | |||||
| TS626 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986 | |||||
| TS626 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Noted 22/04/1987 - at Crewe7 | |||||
| 53093 | 59115 | 53898 | Noted 20/06/87 - at Norwich3 | ||||||
| T323 | 53818 | 59115 | 53093 | Listed at TS - Jul-87 | |||||
| L837 | 51437 | 59115 | 53751 | Listed at RG - circa Jan-88 | |||||
| L574 | 51056 | 59115 | 51095 | Formation change - RG - w/e 07/02/88 - 59115 added | |||||
| L831 | 51211 | 59115 | 53265 | Formation change - OO - 2w/e 13/03/88 - 59115 (ex-L574) replaced 59526 (to L574) | |||||
| L831 | 51211 | 59115 | 53265 | Noted circa 06/19885 | |||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted 07/08/1988 - At Moreton in Marsh on train to Oxford | |||||
| L831 | 51211 | 59115 | 53265 | Listed at - 15/05/89 | |||||
| L831 | 51211 | 59115 | 59072 | 53265 | Noted 10/05/90 - at Ely with 51207 + 54405 | ||||
| L700 | 53207 | 59115 | 53296 | Noted circa 08/19905 | |||||
| L700 | 53207 | 59115 | 53296 | Listed at CA - 21/01/91 | |||||
| L700 | 53207 | 59115 | 53296 | Noted 20/07/1991 - Branch Line Society The Humber Navigator 3 Railtour | |||||
| L700 | 53207 | 59115 | 53296 | Noted 02/11/1991 - Badger Railtours The Fletton Avoider L700+L830 | |||||
| 53477 | 59115 | Noted 25/02/92 - at Royal Oak, third vehicle not recorded 3 | |||||||
| 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted 06/03/92 - on 11:40 Reading - Paddington8 | ||||||
| 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted 09/04/92 - on 10:35 Reading - Newbury8 | ||||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool | |||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted 20/05/1992 - 1735 Reading to Bicester Town | |||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted circa 08/19925 | |||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Listed at RG - 12/08/92 | |||||
| L408 | 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Listed at RG - November 1992 - Sector NWRX | |||||
| 53477 | 59115 | 51385 | Noted 09/11/92 - on 10:26 Gatwick - Reading8 | ||||||
| 874 | 53315 | 59115 | 53330 | Noted 21/06/93 - at Perth |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Martin Baumann
7: Robert Chilton
8: David Bellamy
Images:
1st October 1961
A three-car Met-Camm DMU (the centre car seems to be M59115) is seen arriving into Kenilworth station with the 5.35pm Birmingham New Street-Rugby(M) service where it will reverse to reach Coventry, diverted as electrification works. The two-car set on the right forms the 6pm Leamington-Coventry. Sunday 1st October 1961. Michael Mensing.
9th April 1977
Set number: TS412
Refurbished Class 101 set TS412, with 59115 and 50317 visible, at Stourbridge Junction on 9 April 1977. Michael Mensing.
29th May 1994
Already withdrawn for eight months and awaiting eventual removal for scrapping at Springburn, 59115 sits in the depot yard at Haymarket on the evening of 29/5/94. Hiding behind the fuel tank on the right is 59302 in RR (Scotrail) livery. This latter vehicle had been removed from set 101 693 the previous August when the two power cars were transferred to Corkerhill. After spending some months as part of an unrefurbished unit, it was now surplus to requirements but would not be officially withdrawn until Jan. 1995, probably because it had only been refurbished in Summer 1992. Leonard Rogers.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 19th April 1969
A Met-Camm DMU formed M50304 + 59115 + 50338 with RCTS “The Forester" railtour at Drakelow on the Leicester Goods Line on 19 April 1969. The headboard notes it was the 200th RCTS tour, which ran from Coventry to the Nottingham / Leicester area. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 9th April 1977
Set number: TS412
Refurbished Class 101 DMU set TS412 comes of the Stourbridge Town branch at Stourbridge Junction on 9 April 1977. The two furthest vehicles are 59115 and 50317. Michael Mensing.
Date: 9th April 1977
Set number: TS412
Refurbished Met-Camm set TS412 (presumably 50327 + 59115 + 50317) in Stourbridge Junction station on 9 April 1977. Note the closest vehicle has the BR logo on the side and not the WM logo. Michael Mensing.
Date: 9th April 1977
Set number: TS412
Class 101 DMU set TS412 in Stourbridge Junction station on 9 April 1977. The closest two vehicles are 50317 and 59115. Michael Mensing.
Date: 17th June 1978
Class 101 50327 + 59115 + 50317 at Doncaster on 17/6/78 while working a Midlands Railfans charter. Chris Lings.
Date: circa 1981
Set number: TS550
Class 116 set TS550 in Spring Road station, undated. Closest is presumably 50082 which was painted into blue/grey in September 1980. The centre car, the the white/blue stripe refurbished livery, is probably 59366. It was replaced in the set sometime in 1981 by Class 101 59115. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
Date: July 1985
Set number: TS626
Hybrid 116/101/116 3-car dmu set TS626 (53093 and presumably 59115 + 53818) in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front ends, with another pair of 3-car units (9 cars altogether!) at Newport on a Cardiff - Leicester service, 07/85. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: 8th December 1989
Set number: L831
With the temperature well below freezing in the small hours and frost on the windows Metro-Cammell DMU set L831 (51211 + 59115 + 53265) has just been started by the pre-heat man. It is seen on December 8, 1989 standing on Reading depot poking out of the loco servicing shed. In recent years this whole site has been swept away by the remodeling of the junction onto the Basingstoke/Berks & Hants line. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 1990
NSE liveried 53296 + 59115 +53207 at Ely sometime in 1990. Nicholas Youngman.
Date: 10th May 1990
Set number: L831
A 4-car Class 101 set ran for a few weeks in May 1990. Seen here L831 53265 + 59072 + 59115 + 51211 and 2 car 51207 + 54405 with 2H25. Seen from Ely North box, 10.05.90. Nicholas Youngman.
Date: 10th October 1990
Set number: L700
This NSE-liveried 3-car DMU (set L700, 53207 and presumably 59115 + 53296) had just arrived in one of Cambridge station's bay platforms when photographed on 10th October 1990. Andrew Walker.
Date: 19th January 1991
Set number: L700
Class 101 set L700 53296 + 59115 + 53207 at Kings Lynn bound for Cambridge on 19th January 1991. Before it's use on the Lynn line L700 had been on Barking to Gospel Oak duties but only as a 2 car set. Nicholas Youngman.
Date: 18th August 1991
Set number: L700
Set L700 (53296 + 59115 + 53207) a 3 car Network South East liveried Class 101 Metro-Cammell dmu is seen at Kings Lynn, on a hot Saturday afternoon, 18th August 1991. Andrew J Crowther.
Date: 26th August 1991
Set number: L700
Class 101 set L700 (53207 and presumably 59115 + 53296) being hauled by 69621 at Colchester on 26 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: October 1991
Set number: L831
A DMU formatino with set L831 (presumably 53265 + 59072 + 59115) closest departing from Littleport station in October 1991. George Woods.
Date: 2nd November 1991
Set number: L700
Badger Railtours was a niche provider operating tours in East Anglia and I believe was run by a group of BR employees at Bishops Stortford raising money for local charities. They ran several tours in the early 1990's and covered some illusive branches such as that seen here to Duxford. The "Fletton Avoider" railtour operated with 2x3-Car class 101 DMU sets with set L700 (53296+59115+53207) seen here leading at the dry chemicals reception sidings in Duxford Ciba-Geigy Works on 2 November 1991. This short branch to Duxford left to the West Anglia mainline south of Whittlesford station. Ciba-Geigy were heavily reliant on the wagon load Speedlink Network so much of their rail activity stopped when BR pulled the plug on Speedlink. The site is now owned by Huntsman Chemicals and retains a rail connection but has been disused for many years. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 2nd October 1992
Set number: L408
A classic Paddington shot. Set L408 contains 53477 (104), 59115 (101) and 51385 (117). It has arrived on the 22:42 from Reading, 2/10/92. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 21st June 1993
Set number: 874
Class 101 set 874 at Perth station on 21/6/93, just after arrival, probably from Edinburgh. The nearest vehicle is W53315, the centre car (in Network SouthEast livery) is 59115 and the furthest vehicle is W53330. Kenneth Leiper.
Date: 12th July 1993
Set number: 874
53315 leads set 874 (53315/59115/53330) as it departs from Waverley station as the 16.34 to Glenrothes with Thornton on 12/7/93. During Spring and Summer 1993, Haymarket had a handful of Laira and Reading hand-me-downs at work – others were 53308/59125/53331 and 53305/59118/51246 – along with its quartet of refurbished cl.101 triples (101 691-4), mainly on Fife peak hour workings like this. By the end of the year, they were all gone, superseded by the refurbished cl.117’s let go by Tyseley once the Cross City line electrification was finally complete. Leonard Rogers.
Date: 12th July 1993
Set number: 829
On 12/7/93, set 829 (53305/59118/51246) is seen stabled in platform 18 at Waverley station. 53305 is nearest to the camera. Behind 829 and fairly much out of sight is set 991 (53308/59125/53331). Later they will form the 17.27 to Perth via Cardenden and Ladybank. During Spring and Summer 1993, Haymarket had a handful of Laira and Reading hand-me-downs at work – another was 53315/59115/53330 – along with its quartet of refurbished cl.101 triples (101 691-4), mainly on Fife peak hour workings like this. By the end of the year, they were all gone, superseded by the refurbished cl.117’s let go by Tyseley once the Cross City line electrification was finally complete. Leonard Rogers.
Date: 12th July 1993
Set number: 991
53331 is seen at the rear of a six-car rake of 101's stabled in platform 18 at Waverley station on 12/7/93. The train comprises sets 991 (53331/59125/53308) and 829 (51246/59118/53305) and will later form the 17.27 to Perth via Cardenden and Ladybank. During Spring and Summer 1993, Haymarket had a handful of Laira and Reading hand-me-downs at work – another was 53315/59115/53330 – along with its quartet of refurbished cl.101 triples (101 691-4), mainly on Fife peak hour workings like this. By the end of the year, they were all gone, superseded by the refurbished cl.117’s let go by Tyseley once the Cross City line electrification was finally complete. Notice that 53331 still bears its yellow stripe over the first class saloon from its NSE days, even though ScotRail would have declassifed the saloon. Leonard Rogers.
Date: 27th July 1993
Set number: 991
The 17.05 Fife "Outer Circle" train (Edinburgh to Edinburgh via Dunfermline, Thornton and Kirkcaldy) leaves Waverley station on 27/7/93. It is formed of set 991 (53331/59125/53308), transferred to Haymarket five months previously from Reading, where it had been set L838 with Network South East. Its stay at Haymarket would not last much longer - it was transferred to Longsight the following month and put into departmental use there another month after that. During Spring and Summer 1993, Haymarket had a handful of Laira and Reading hand-me-downs at work – others were 53315/59115/53330 and 53305/59118/51246 – along with its quartet of refurbished cl.101 triples (101 691-4), mainly on Fife peak hour workings like this. By the end of the year, they were all gone, superseded by the refurbished cl.117’s let go by Tyseley once the Cross City line electrification was finally complete. Leonard Rogers.