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
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1996 | Withdrawn from | LO (Longsight) |
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
55001 - original number
975023 - from Jun-69 (departmental stock)
Route Learner. Erroneously carried number DB975073 until April 1971. From 6/69 to 5/98. Carried set number 01
This number was not allocated to this vehicle, but carried on 975023 by mistake. From ? to ?.
circa mid-1979 - Leyland engines fitted
Preserved - more details.
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
975073 at Newport. This was a number carried erroneously by 975023, which dates this image as circa 1970. Tony Wilkins.
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.
975023 about to pass Hinksey South signalbox, Oxford in 1971. Adrian Vaughan.
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.
Departmental Class 122 DB975023 at Cardiff Central on 13 June 1973 on route learning duties. Robert Thomas.
975023 is standing at Clink Rd up starter, and the guard is walking back to the box. 1974. Adrian Vaughan.
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.
TDB975023 is seen in Reading depot on August 10th, 1978. Rex Holt.
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.
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.
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.
Class 122 route learner TDB975023 on Reading Depot on 14 April 1980. Class 117 DMS W51378 is to the left. Brian Daniels.
Class 122 route learner TDB975023 at Kensington Olympia on 28 April 1980. Brian Daniels.
975023 (ex-55001) at Bristol Temple Meads in 1982. Robert Tarling.
TDB 975023 at Laira depot during an open day on the 25th April 1982. Chris Lings.
Departmental class 122 single car TDB975023/L101 (ex 55001) stands in Reading's country end bay platform, Friday 5th August 1983 Iain Reid.
Departmental class 122 single car TDB975023/L101 (ex 55001) departs Reading westward, Friday 5th August 1983 Iain Reid.
TDB972023 at Lockeaze in 1984. Robert Tarling.
TDB975023 stands at Clapham Junction's platform 2 in 1984. Ian Docwra.
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.
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.
TDB975023 with DB999508 at Banbury Road GF on 13 February 1986. Brian Daniels.
GRC&W route learner TDB975023 (ex-55001) passes Barking on 13 July 1986. Brian Creasey.
975023 at St Georges on August 8, 1986, probably on route learning duties. Steve Davies Collection.
975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.
TDB975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.
TDB975023 in Vic Berrys yard in Leicester, circa late 1987 / early 1988. Malcolm Clements.
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.
TDB975023 at Horbury & Ossett on the Wakefield to Huddersfield line. Unknown date. Malcolm Clements.
TDB975023 at Leeds Holbeck, unknown date. Malcolm Clements.
975023 (ex-55001) is seen at Liverpool Lime Street on the 25th July 1989. Gazza Prescott.
Route learner TDB975023 at Leicester, date unknown. David Page.
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.
TDB 975023 (55001) on 2T46 Peterborough to Longsight route learner at New Mills South Junction, 29/8/90. Kevin Dowd.
Class 122 975023 (ex-55001), set number 01, is seen at Peterborough on route learning duties on 27.03.1991. Andy Cole.
Class 122 975023, set number 01, passes Washwood Heath on route learning duty in April 1991. Andy Cole.
TDB975023 near Ely with a Tyseley to Cambridge training trip on April 12, 1991. Nicholas Youngman.
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.
TDB975023 at Sheffield on July 4, 1991. John Carter.
TDB975023 seen stabled at Longsight TMD beside Class 108 set LO276. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.
TDB975023 (ex 55001) on Thornaby - Lynemouth route learning at Bedlington Station, February 13, 1992. John Carter.
975023 at Longsight TMD, 26th April 1992. S Gaskell.
975023 at Holbeck Shed No 6 Road where it had been in use it for road/route learning, 7/5/92. Michael Kaye 55A.
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.
975023 On 5K23 Longsight to Crewe (Via Macc, Stoke, Stafford) at Cheadle Hulme, 19-9-93. Kevin Dowd.
975023 at Stockport. Note the windscreen wiper on the center window. The text after the BR Arrow was its unofficial name, 'Thunderbird'. Paul Moxon.
975023 at Stockport. Note the windscreen wiper on the center window. The text after the BR Arrow was its unofficial name, 'Thunderbird'. Paul Moxon.
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.
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.