Vehicle 55001 / 975023

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Class 122

Builder: GRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30419
Diagram: 539

Allocations

4w/e 17/05/58	New to	81D (Reading)	- or Tyseley?
by Jun-61	Transferred to	83D (Laira)
Sep-63	Depot code change	84A
Oct-67	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
2w/e 14/06/69	To departmental stock	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
by Dec-75	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
by 07/11/87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)	- but seems to have moved to the LMR at this time
by 08/11/93	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
1996	Withdrawn from	LO (Longsight)

Notes

Nov/Dec 1969 - on driver-training duties at Exeter carrying DB975073.
27/01/83 - TDB975023 worked a special to Torrington and back conveying the Devon Euro MP Lord O'Hagan, members of the Committee of the North Devon Railway Line Development Group and local government officials.
26th June 1988 - Seen in Vic Berry's yard
September 1989 - On route-learning runs from Stockport to Kidsgrove and also to Stoke

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55001 - original number
975023 - from Jun-69 (departmental stock)

Department Use as TDB975023

Route Learner. Erroneously carried number DB975073 until April 1971. From 6/69 to 5/98. Carried set number 01

Department Use as TDB975073

This number was not allocated to this vehicle, but carried on 975023 by mistake. From ? to ?.

Modifications

circa mid-1979 - Leyland engines fitted

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

LA101	55001								Listed at 84A - mid-Oct-65
B101	975023								Noted 01/07/1973 - at Bristol1
B101	975023								Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot2
B101	975023								Noted 05/09/74 - in Birmingham New Street2
L101	975023								Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L101	975023								Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L101	975023								Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L101	975023								Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L101	975023								Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L101	975023								Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
L101	975023								Listed at OO - Aug-87
01	975023								Noted 11th September 1989

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown

Images:

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1970

975073 at Newport. This was a number carried erroneously by 975023, which dates this image as circa 1970. Tony Wilkins.

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circa 1970

Gloucester Class 122 "Bubblecar" (formerly W55001) in use as route learning car DB975073 at Westbury - c.1970. The railcar erroneously carried the departmental number DB975073 from June 1969 until April 1971. It had beem allocated number TDB975023 and this was eventually applied around the latter date. 53A Models of Hull Collection.

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1971

975023 about to pass Hinksey South signalbox, Oxford in 1971. Adrian Vaughan.

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30th May 1972

Set number: B101

Seen at Reading, 30/5/72. Through the cab windows you can see the partition to the van has been altered and there is some conventional seating in the van area for the crews that are route learning. David Mant.

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13th June 1973

Departmental Class 122 DB975023 at Cardiff Central on 13 June 1973 on route learning duties. Robert Thomas.

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1974

975023 is standing at Clink Rd up starter, and the guard is walking back to the box. 1974. Adrian Vaughan.

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circa 1974

Set number: B101

TDB975023 - a visiting Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company Limited Class 122 Suburban diesel-mechanical railcar seen stabled in my then local shed at Southall. The unit was once W55001 but was transferred to departmental service after early withdrawal in 1969. The B101 code indicates the vehicle was based at Bristol Bath Road. Another "bubble car" sits behind. I would have been on one of my frequent 'after school' visits to Southall footbridge to do a bit of train-spotting. Sometimes I would venture down to the trackside, as in this shot, and even bunk round the shed as on this occasion. At this time, in the early to mid 1970s, Southall shed still had the ambience of an old steam shed, with the old smoke extractors still in place on the roof. Chris McKee.

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10th August 1978

Set number: L101

TDB975023 is seen in Reading depot on August 10th, 1978. Rex Holt.

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28th June 1979

Class 122 975023 was converted from 55001 for route learning duties and is seen at Exeter St Davids on 28.06.1979 in all over BR blue livery. Andy Cole.

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6th August 1979

Set number: L101

At least nine of these Class 122 single units saw service as route learners (note the wiper on the centre cab window). TDB975023, the former W55001, was still looking very smart when I photographed it on 6th August 1979 passing through Cardiff at 13.25 on a route learning exercise. Gerard Fletcher.

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April 1980

1958-built class 122 Gloucester RC&W Co "bubble car" TDB975023 (ex-W55001) had been transferred to departmental stock as a training unit as early as 1969 and was allocated to Reading, although used from other Western Region depots also. On an unrecorded April date in 1980 it was photographed just south of East Croydon. This was conceivably in connection with the introduction of the Manchester to Brighton inter-regional service which may have started with the summer timetable this year. Jeremy Chapter.

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14th April 1980

Set number: L101

Class 122 route learner TDB975023 on Reading Depot on 14 April 1980. Class 117 DMS W51378 is to the left. Brian Daniels.

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28th April 1980

Set number: L101

Class 122 route learner TDB975023 at Kensington Olympia on 28 April 1980. Brian Daniels.

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1982

Set number: L101

975023 (ex-55001) at Bristol Temple Meads in 1982. Robert Tarling.

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25th April 1982

TDB 975023 at Laira depot during an open day on the 25th April 1982. Chris Lings.

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5th August 1983

Set number: L101

Departmental class 122 single car TDB975023/L101 (ex 55001) stands in Reading's country end bay platform, Friday 5th August 1983 Iain Reid.

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5th August 1983

Set number: L101

Departmental class 122 single car TDB975023/L101 (ex 55001) departs Reading westward, Friday 5th August 1983 Iain Reid.

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1984

Set number: L101

TDB972023 at Lockeaze in 1984. Robert Tarling.

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1984

TDB975023 stands at Clapham Junction's platform 2 in 1984. Ian Docwra.

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15th April 1984

Set number: L101

Class 122 single car DMU L101 (TDB975023) was a route learning unit based at Reading, but our tour party found it in Canton carriage sidings. It was eventually preserved following withdrawal in 1998. 15th April 1984. S Gaskell.

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19th July 1985

Set number: L101

A rare visitor to Leamington Spa on 19 July 1985 was single car set L101 operating a crew road learning run. This unit was W55001 by now in the Departmental fleet and numbered TDB 975023 and still carrying the overall blue livery from its previous days in passenger service in the London area. Peter Tandy.

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13th February 1986

TDB975023 with DB999508 at Banbury Road GF on 13 February 1986. Brian Daniels.

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31st July 1986

Set number: L101

GRC&W route learner TDB975023 (ex-55001) passes Barking on 13 July 1986. Brian Creasey.

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8th August 1986

Set number: L101

975023 at St Georges on August 8, 1986, probably on route learning duties. Steve Davies Collection.

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Unknown date

Set number: L101

975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.

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Unknown date

Set number: L101

TDB975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.

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Unknown date

TDB975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.

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22nd April 1988

Set number: L101

Gloucester RC&W Route Learning Car TDB975023, set No L101, ex-W55001, in Vic Berry's at Leicester for asbestos removal on 22nd April 1988. Paul James.

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Unknown date

Set number: 01

TDB975023 at Horbury & Ossett on the Wakefield to Huddersfield line. Unknown date. Malcolm Clements.

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Unknown date

Set number: 01

TDB975023 at Leeds Holbeck, unknown date. Malcolm Clements.

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25th July 1989

Set number: 01

975023 (ex-55001) is seen at Liverpool Lime Street on the 25th July 1989. Gazza Prescott.

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Unknown date

Set number: 01

Route learner TDB975023 at Leicester, date unknown. David Page.

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28th July 1990

Set number: 01

A number of these 1958 Gloucester built Class 122 single units saw service as route learners, this one TDB975023 ex 55001 is seen rounding the curve at Chinley East Junc, heading towards Sheffield on the Hope Valley line on the 28th July 1990. The line in the foreground is the freight only spur that leads to the quarries in the Buxton area. This unit is now preserved and resides on the East Lancs Railway at Bury. Andrew J Crowther.

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29th August 1990

Set number: 01

TDB 975023 (55001) on 2T46 Peterborough to Longsight route learner at New Mills South Junction, 29/8/90. Kevin Dowd.

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27th March 1991

Set number: 01

Class 122 975023 (ex-55001), set number 01, is seen at Peterborough on route learning duties on 27.03.1991. Andy Cole.

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April 1991

Set number: 01

Class 122 975023, set number 01, passes Washwood Heath on route learning duty in April 1991. Andy Cole.

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12th April 1991

TDB975023 near Ely with a Tyseley to Cambridge training trip on April 12, 1991. Nicholas Youngman.

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7th June 1991

Set number: 01

975023 (ex-55001) is on the rear of set T416 working the 6.53am Redditch - Lichfield when seen at Gravelly Hill. 7th June 1991. Gazza Prescott.

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4th July 1991

Set number: 01

TDB975023 at Sheffield on July 4, 1991. John Carter.

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Unknown date

Set number: 01

TDB975023 seen stabled at Longsight TMD beside Class 108 set LO276. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.

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13th February 1992

Set number: 01

TDB975023 (ex 55001) on Thornaby - Lynemouth route learning at Bedlington Station, February 13, 1992. John Carter.

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26th April 1992

Set number: 01

975023 at Longsight TMD, 26th April 1992. S Gaskell.

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7th May 1992

Set number: 01

975023 at Holbeck Shed No 6 Road where it had been in use it for road/route learning, 7/5/92. Michael Kaye 55A.

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26th July 1992

Set number: 01

A number of these 1958 Gloucester built Class 122 single units saw service as route learners, this one TDB975023 ex 55001 is seen on Longsight depot on the occasion of the open day there on the 26th July 1992. This unit is now preserved and resides on the East Lancs Railway at Bury. Andrew J Crowther.

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19th September 1993

Set number: 01

975023 On 5K23 Longsight to Crewe (Via Macc, Stoke, Stafford) at Cheadle Hulme, 19-9-93. Kevin Dowd.

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6th November 1993

Set number: 01

975023 at Stockport. Note the windscreen wiper on the center window. The text after the BR Arrow was its unofficial name, 'Thunderbird'. Paul Moxon.

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6th November 1993

Set number: 01

975023 at Stockport. Note the windscreen wiper on the center window. The text after the BR Arrow was its unofficial name, 'Thunderbird'. Paul Moxon.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

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Date: 12th July 1958

W56292 and W55001 are seen in platform four of Birmingham Snow Hill station on the 12th July 1958 with the 2pm service to Dudley. Michael Mensing.

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Date: 22nd April 1988

Gloucester Class 128 DPU 55991 at Vic Berry's, Leicester on 22nd April 1988 for asbestos removal. It would return to traffic. Behind is 975023. Paul James.