Vehicle 51551 / 78720
Class 111
Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Rolls Royce 180hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30509
Diagram: 617
Allocations
| 18/12/59 | New to | 56G (Hammerton Street) | |
| May-60 | Transferred to | 51A (Darlington) | |
| Sep-60 | Transferred to | 55H (Neville Hill) | |
| 3w/e 24/09/60 | On loan to | 66C (Hamilton) | |
| 3w/e 17/12/60 | Ex-loan back to | 55H (Neville Hill) | |
| 15/06/69 | Transferred to | 30A (Stratford) | |
| 4w/e 05/12/70 | Transferred to | 55H (Neville Hill) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | NL | |
| 28/09/86 | Withdrawn from | NL (Neville Hill) |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
51551 - original number
78720 - from circa Nov-83 (single engine conversion)
Refurbished
At Doncaster Works dated 22/12/1978 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | As delivered to 56G - 18th December 1959 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Transfer to 55H - Sep-60 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Transfer to 66C - 3w/e 24/09/60 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Transfer to 55H - 3w/e 17/12/60 | ||||||
| 51541 | 51551 | Noted 12/07/68 - in Leeds City1 | |||||||
| 51541 | 59534 | 51551 | Noted 27/07/68 - in Leeds City1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Transfer to 30A - 15/06/69 | ||||||
| 50271 | 59212 | 51551 | Noted 24/12/69 - at Southminster | ||||||
| 50280 | 59101 | 51551 | Noted 27/09/70 - at Ipswich2 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Transfer to 55H - 4w/e 05/12/70 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 18/09/1971 - at Leeds3 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 02/10/1971 - at Sheffield3 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 28/08/19724 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 28/04/73 - at Leeds1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 11/08/73 - at Doncaster1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 16/03/1974 - at Doncaster 4 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 26/08/74 - at York5 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 27/08/1974 - at York4 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 23/10/74 - at Bury St Edmunds, possibly covering for vehicle having asbestos removed at CA5 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 01/12/75 - at York1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 30/12/75 - at York1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 23/02/76 - at Leeds1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 10/04/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59569 | 51551 | Noted 17/07/76 - at Leeds1 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59535 | 51551 | Noted 28/04/1979 - R.C.T.S. North Eastern No.4 Railtour 51826-59708-51844 + 51551-59535-51541 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59535 | 51551 | Noted circa 10/19796 | ||||||
| 51541 | 59535 | 51551 | Noted circa 10/19816 | ||||||
| 51541 | 51551 | Noted circa 10/19826 | |||||||
| 51541 | 51551 | Noted circa 02/19836 | |||||||
| 51541 | 51551 | Noted 08/02/83 - on 09:19 Morecambe - Leeds | |||||||
| 51541 | 51551 | Noted circa 10/19836 | |||||||
| 78970 | 78720 | Noted 02/08/84 - at York | |||||||
| 78970 | 78720 | Listed at NL - 01/01/85 | |||||||
| 78970 | 78720 | Noted circa 02/19866 | |||||||
| 78970 | 78720 | Noted 19th August 1986 | |||||||
| 78970 | 78720 | Noted 30/08/1986 - R.C.T.S. The Mancunian Railtour 53171-51222 + 78720-78970 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Ipswich Transport Society
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Gerald Brown
6: Eddie Knorn
Images:
circa 1969
A Class 111 and a Class 31/0 at Stratford, London, in the late 1960s. More commonly associated with operations in Yorkshire, Rolls-Royce engined set 51541 + 59569 + 51551 was allocated to 30A from June 1969 till late 1970, and seen on the left in a mixture of green and blue liveries, whilst railwaymen look on at a Class 31/0 leading a short freight train - note the red circle coupling code confirming it as a Class 31/0. Graeme Phillips Collection.
27th November 1970
DMU at Stratford (Low Level) on November 27, 1970. The autumn early afternoon sun lights up the clouds of exhaust from the two power cars as a 3-car diesel set leaves the Low Level platforms at Stratford for North Woolwich. Closest is Class 111 DMCL E51551, it would be transferred from Stratford to Neville Hill very soon after. It is working with two Class 104 vehicles, a TBSL and DMCL. Tom Burnham.
circa 1971
Met-Camm and BRCW DMUs at Hull Botanic Gardens circa 1971. Note the destination blind on the BRCW unit displays Hornsea, the line having closed some 7 years previously. John Grey Turner.
14th June 1973
Class 111 DMCL E51551 leads the 08:00 Scarborough-Leeds City service into York station on 14 June 1973. Robert Thomas.
16th July 1981
A Rolls-Royce powered Class 111 Met-Cam set at Ilkley on 16/7/81. 51551 is closest to the camera. Chris Lings.
Unknown date
A three-car Class 111 DMU with a Scarborough service in Hull (Paragon) station, date unknown. DMCL E51551 is closest, allocated to Neville Hill depot. Paul Redmond.
30th August 1986
Travelling towards Buxton on the freight only on the very sharp curve at Blackwell Mills on 30th August 1986, we're travelling on the RCTS railtour "Mancunian Railtour" which was made up of 2 Metro-Cammell 2 car dmu's, the front unit being E53171 and E51222, the rear set 78720 + 78970. Andrew J Crowther.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: March 1976
Metro-Cammell Local Passenger 3-car dmu Class "111" Nos.E51541 (Class 111/2), E59569 (Class 164), E51551 (Class 111/1) of the 1959/60 batch with roof mounted 4-character headcode panel, in Rail Blue livery with all yellow front end at Leeds ready to depart on a York via Harrogate service, 03/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: March 1976
Metro-Cammell Local Passenger 3-car dmu Class "111" Nos.E51541 (Class 111/2), E59569 (Class 164), E51551 (Class 111/1) of the 1959/60 batch with roof mounted 4-character headcode panel, in Rail Blue livery with all yellow front end at Leeds ready to depart on a York via Harrogate service, 03/76. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: 28th April 1979
The RCTS "North Eastern No 4" railtour from Leeds is seen at Saltburn on 28 April 1979 before continuing to Skinningrove. The train was formed of a 3-car class 110 and a 3-car class 111 set. Six Bells lists the vehicles as 51826 + 59708 + 51844 / 51551 + 59535 + 51541. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 4th April 1980
A Class 111 set, E51541 + E59535 + E51551, coupled to a Derby set at York on Friday 4 April 1980. David Russon.
Date: 10th April 1986
Class 111 single-engined power cars 78970 + 78720 stabled in one of the centre roads at Huddersfield on 10 April 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 25th July 1986
A two-car Class 110 (E51828 + E51847) and Class 111 (E78970 + E78720) at Doncaster on 25 July 1986. Keith Miller.
Date: 30th August 1986
Approaching New Mills South Junction, we're travelling on the RCTS "Mancunian Railtour" on 30th August 1986 which was made up of 2 Metro-Cammell 2 car dmu's, (E53171 & E51222) and (E78720 & E78970), a few miles up at Chinley we will crossover and head back down through here. Andrew J Crowther.