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Vehicle 79901

Derby Lightweight

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Yellow Diamond
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30387
Diagram: 515

Allocations

11/08/56	New to	1E (Bletchley)
4w/e 02/01/65	Transferred to	1C (Watford)
3w/e 31/01/65	Transferred to	1E (Bletchley)
31/12/66	Withdrawn from	1E (Bletchley)

Notes

18/08/1956 - M79901 was noted working the Banbury line services.

Disposal

Scrapped by BR, Bletchley Depot

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

79901		Noted 08/1956 - Working Buckingham to Banbury branch
79900	79901	Noted 15/09/1956 - At Brackley Town on Banbury-Buckingham branch
79901	79634	Noted 22/06/65 - on Bletchley-Cambridge services¹
79901	79634	Noted 23/10/65 - on Bletchley-Cambridge services as 7-car with 79190 + 79656 + 79136 and 79132 + 79672¹
79901	79653	Noted 30/12/65 - on Bletchley-Cambridge services¹

Formation Sources
1: Roy Endersby

Images:

1960

Derby Lightweight "Double-Ender" 79901, thought to be at Buckingham. The photographer notes "it must be returning to Verney Junction and if it is only shuttling over that short length of the Banbury branch the rest must have already had its passenger service withdrawn." Taken in 1960. Adrian Vaughan.

1960

6th August 1960

Double bubble, M79901 and M79900 at Brackley with the 3.45pm Banbury - Buckingham service on August 6th, 1960. Michael Mensing.

6th August 1960

The two Derby Lightweight "double-enders" M79901 and M79900 are seen near Brackley with the 5.50pm Banbury-Buckingham service on 6 August 1960. Michael Mensing.

Unknown date

The driver of M79901 hands the signalman the token as his train comes of the branch from Banbury at Verney Junction onto the Oxford - Cambridge line. Date unknown. Image by former Bletchley driver Arthur Grigg. Stuart Mackay Collection.

11th May 1964

The 4.35pm Buckingham - Bletchley is seen south of Padbury (near Buckingham) worked by Derby Lightweight double-ender M79901 on May 11, 1964. Michael Mensing.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: circa 1956

This image appeared on the rear cover of issue two of the 'Transport Age' magazine and shows both the single car Derby Lightweight vehicles (M79900 + M79901) in Buckingham station, circa 1956. British Railways.

Date: 6th August 1960

The two "double-ender" Derby Lightweights (M79900 and M79901) arrive into Brackley station with the 6.30pm Buckingham - Banbury service on 6 August 1960. Michael Mensing.

Date: 27th July 1966

A Bletchley to Cambridge service descending from the ECML flyover at Sandy on 27th July 1966. Leading is a trailer car from a lightweight set attached to M79901, one of the single units from the same stable which were used on the Buckingham branch until its closure in September 1964. Copyright Chris Burton. Gerard Fletcher.

Date: 19th March 1993

A truly remarkable survivor ..... This is RDB 975010 Test Car 'Iris' part of the RTC departmental fleet, based at Derby. It started life in 1956 as one of a pair of single car Derby Lightweight vehicles built for use on the Banbury-Buckingham-Bletchley route. When this route closed, the sister vehicle M79901 was withdrawn at the end of 1966 and scrapped at its home depot of Bletchley. However this vehicle M79900 was transferred to departmental 'Crew Road Learning' duties and moved to York, where it remained until being reallocated to the Research Centre at Derby in 1974. Operating from here it travelled all over the network and was latterly involved in radio communications. Repainted into BR Green livery in 1994 It remained at Derby until mid 1999 before being withdrawn and snapped up for preservation. Here it is seen trundling through Cholsey, on the approach to Didcot, whilst on a transit move back to the RTC ..... 19th March 1993. Nigel Mack.

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