Vehicle 59478
Class 118
Builder: BRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Lot Number: 30544
Diagram: 601
Allocations
| Jun-60 | New to | 83D (Laira) | |
| by Dec-60 | Transferred to | 81C (Southall) | |
| Apr-66 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | RG | |
| Nov-80 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
| 11/05/86 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 10/12/86 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) | |
| 25/08/87 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 20/11/87 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | - also noted as 04/10/87 |
| 15/12/88 | Withdrawn from | TS (Tyseley) PXXX |
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 10/02/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51311 | 59478 | 51326 | As delivered to Laira - Jun-60 | ||||||
| SHL318 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at Southall - circa Dec-60 | |||||
| 422 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at Reading - Apr-68 - was R336, gangwayed set | |||||
| 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 25/08/69 - at Paddington1 | ||||||
| 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 02/09/69 - at Paddington1 | ||||||
| 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 07/03/70 - at Royal Oak2 | ||||||
| L422 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 30/04/75 - at Royal Oak2 | |||||
| L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area3 | |||||
| L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 04/02/1980 - At Oxford3 | |||||
| L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||
| 433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Transfer to LA - 3w/e 15/11/80 | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Formation change - 2w/e 15/11/80 - W59478 replaced W59509 making a mixed livery set, unrefurbished power cars in blue and refurbished TC in blue/grey. | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Listed at LA - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Noted circa 07/19834 | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Noted 20/11/1983 - British Rail Cornish Branches Railtour P465+P469+P470 | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Listed at LA - 01/01/85 | |||||
| P470 | 51313 | 59478 | 51328 | Noted 16/11/19854 | |||||
| P461 | 51303 | 59478 | 51318 | Noted 26/04/86 - on Plymouth Railway Circle Railtour with P460 | |||||
| P461 | 51303 | 59478 | 51318 | Noted 08/05/19864 | |||||
| B461 | 51303 | 59478 | 51318 | Listed at Bristol (Bath Road) - Summer 1986 | |||||
| B461 | 51303 | 59478 | 51318 | Noted 28/06/86 - at Norwich strengthening TS610 on a Birmingham - Norwich service2 | |||||
| L412 | 51347 | 59478 | 51389 | Formation change - circa Dec-86 - 59478 replaced fire damaged 59499 | |||||
| L412 | 51347 | 59478 | 51389 | Noted circa 01/19874 | |||||
| L412 | 51347 | 59478 | 51389 | Noted 24th January 1987 | |||||
| TS314 | 51348 | 59478 | 51390 | Formation change - TS - 2w/e 13/03/88 - 59478 added | |||||
| T314 | 51348 | 59478 | 51390 | Listed at Tyseley - 7th April 1988 | |||||
| 51348 | 59478 | 51390 | Noted 28/05/88 - at Newcastle with charter5 | ||||||
| T314 | 51348 | 59478 | 51390 | Noted 13/08/88 - at Norwich2 | |||||
| T315 | 51352 | 59478 | 51394 | Noted circa 12/19884 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Shayne Lewis
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips
Images:
circa June 1958
This is a crop of an image (30214) showing the full three-car, to get a better view of centre car W59478. Taken at Cleobury Mortimer circa June 1960. The vehicle is believed to have been delivered to Laira with the power cars but by the end of the year it was allocated to Southall and working in-between Pressed Steel power cars. BRCW.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: circa June 1960
This is likely a Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon image, it shows one of their new suburban triple sets at Cleobury Mortimer formed of 51311 + 59478 + 51326 which would be delivered to Plymouth Laira in June 1960. BRCW.
Date: 29th May 1977
Set number: L433
Class 117 Pressed Steel DMU set L433 (presumably 51371 + 59478 + 51413) in Oxford station on 29 May 1977. George Woods.
Date: 15th March 1979
Set number: L433
Class 117 DMU set L433 (presumably 51371 + 59478 + 51413) at Newbury on 15 March 1979. It was noted as being on a Bedwyn - Reading service, although Newbury is on the destination blind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 12th May 1979
Set number: L433
On the first day of WR dmmu operation - 12 May 1979, L433 (presumably 51413 + 59478 + 51371) arrives at Edenbridge. Despite the destination blind, it is heading for Tonbridge. Tony Watson.
Date: 2nd June 1979
Set number: L433
Class 117 DMU set L433 (presumably 51413 + 59478 + 51371) with a Bedwyn - Reading service at Newbury on 2 June 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 3rd July 1981
Set number: P470
Class 118 set P470 (51313 is presumably closest with 59478 + 51328) at Manheniot (Cornwall) on July 3, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: circa summer 1981
Set number: P470
Class 118 DMU P470 (presumably 51313 + 59478 + 51328) set in Falmouth station circa summer 1981. Brian Daniels.
Date: circa summer 1981
Set number: P470
Class 118 DMU set P470 in Truro station on Falmouth duties. Date unknown, the centre car is in blue/grey between plain blue power cars suggesting summer 1981 with the formation being 51328 + 59478 + 51313. Brian Daniels.
Date: 23rd February 1982
Set number: P470
Class 118 DMU set P470 (presumably 51328 + 59478 + 51313) emerges from Sparnick Tunnel on the Falmouth Branch, 23 February 1982. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 24th February 1982
Set number: P470
Class 118 DMU set P470 (presumably 51328 + 59478 + 51313) crosses Penadlake Viaduct on 24 February 1982. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 22nd July 1982
Set number: P470
Class 118 set P470 (presumably 51313 + 59478 + 51328) seen at Middleway on July 22nd, 1982. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 4th May 1984
Set number: P470
Class 118 DMU set P470 (presumably 51328 + 59478 + 51328) arriving at Exeter St Davids on 4 May 1984. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 29th May 1984
Set number: P470
On a fine Spring afternoon, a three-car Class 118 DMU with Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) W51313 leading (presumably with 59478 + 51328), was exiting the Down Loop at Dawlish Warren as it got underway with an Exeter St Davids to Paignton service on May 29th 1984. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 10th July 1984
Set number: P470
Class 118 BRCW 3-car DMU 51313 + 59478 + 51328 (set P470) at Par with the 9:39 to Newquay, 10-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 10th July 1984
Set number: P470
Class 118 BRCW 3-car DMU 51328 + 59478 + 51313 at Newquay with the 10:35 to Par, 10-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 10th July 1984
Set number: P470
Seen shortly after arriving at the junction at Par with the 0806 from Newquay is Plymouth Laira based class 118 3 car unit P470 (presumably 51313 + 59478 + 51328). This service connected with the 0827 Penzance to Paddington IC125 service with the unit returning to the north Cornwall coast at 0939. Bruce Galloway.
Date: 19th January 1985
Set number: P470
The 15.06 service to Exmouth departs from a snowy Exeter St Davids on 19 January 1985 formed of Class 118 set P470, presumably 51328 + 59478 + 51313. Robert28194.
Date: 7th September 1985
Set number: P470
On the day of Plymouth Laira Open Day - 7 September 1985 – DMU set P470 (51328 + 59478 + 51313) is seen at Laira Junction. Keith Miller.
Date: 26th April 1986
Set number: P461
Class 118 sets P461 + P460 at Laira depot on 26th April 1986. That day they worked the Plymouth Railway Circle 'Class 118 Farewell' railtour. Closest is P461 (51303 + 59470* + 51318), three vehicles that would be transferred to Bristol the next day. Behind is the unmistakable P460 (51302 + 59469 + 51317), they would follow to Bristol with the start of the summer timetable on 11 May. The farewell was short lived, both would be back at Laira - P460 a few weeks later, P461 at the start of August. *Keith noted the centre car in this set as 59478, another Laira vehicle that would transfer the same day and was soon noted running in the set. Keith Miller.
Date: 26th April 1986
Set number: P461
Two Class 118 DMUs - 51303 + 59478 + 51318 / 51302 + 59469 + 51317 - come off the Saltash Bridge into Plymouth on 26 April 1986. On that day they worked the Plymouth Railway Circle 'Class 118 Farewell' railtour. Keith Miller.
Date: 18th July 1986
Set number: B461
GRC&W Class 118 DMU Set B461, 51303 + 59478 + 51318, enters Newton Abbot station with the 12:40 Paignton to Exeter St Davids service on 18 July 1986. Neil Smith.
Date: 5th June 1988
Set number: T314
A Coalville-Leicester DMU shuttle, run in connection with Coalville Open Day, passes Bagworth and Ellistown on 5 June 1988. Closest is Class 117 set T314, presumably 51390 + 59478 + 51348. Lewis Bevan.