Vehicle 55008 / 975309
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
| May-58 | New to | 84E (Tyseley) | |
| 01/01/63 | Boundary change | 84E | transferred from WR to LMR stock |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 2A | |
| 21/05/72 | Transferred to | 55B (York) | |
| w/e 08/07/72 | Withdrawn from | 55B (York) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | YK | |
| May-74 | To departmental stock | ||
| by 01/03/81 | Stored U. | LN (Lincoln) | |
| Aug-82 | Withdrawn |
Notes
23rd May 1958 - Seen on test.
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
55008 - original number
975309 - from May-74 (departmental stock)
Department Use as TDB975309
Route Learner From 5/74 to 8/82.
Disposal
Scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| TY053 | 55008 | Noted circa Jun-69 | |||||||
| TY053 | 55008 | Listed at Tyseley - circa Dec-69 | |||||||
| TY053 | 55008 | Listed at 2A - 16/08/70 | |||||||
| 975309 | Noted 07/01/75 - at York in green1 | ||||||||
| 975309 | Noted 12/02/77 - at York2 |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
Images:
29th August 1962
Set number: 106
GRC&W "double-ender" W55008 is seen passing over the water troughs at Aynho on 29 August 1962. Banbury is on the destination blind, and only one passenger can be seen. Michael Mensing.
29th August 1962
Set number: 106
Gloucester double-ender W55008 on a Princes Risborough - Banbury working at Aynho on 29 August 1962. Michael Mensing.
May 1963
Set number: 106
A Gloucester "double-ender" - probably W55008 given the set number - with trailer is seen at Wood End heading for Birmingham Moor Street in mid-May 1963. Michael Mensing.
2nd July 1964
Set number: 106
Two GRC&W 'double-enders' lead a Derby suburban triple on the 7.30am Leamington Spa (General) - Birmingham Snow Hill service at Lapworth on 2 July 1964. At the front is M55008 carrying set number 106. Michael Mensing.
28th August 1964
Set number: 106
The 7:30am Leamington Spa (General) - Birmingham Snow Hill is seen at Solihull on the 28th August 1964. It is formed of M55008 with a DTS (carrying a crest) and a Class 116 set. Michael Mensing.
circa September 1969
Set number: TY053
Birmingham Snow Hill in Autumn 1969. A single diesel multiple unit (W55008) was sufficient for the weekend traffic to Wolverhampton Low Level. It was in blue livery with a small yellow warning panel & here with exhaust billowing from its two cab roof pipes it is ticking over in bay platform 4 prior to departure. Pete LG99.
circa September 1969
Set number: TY053
The beautiful old Great Western Railway Birmingham Snow Hill station with single car GRC&W dmu 55008 forming the shuttle train to Wolverhampton Low Level, Autumn 1969. Pete LG99.
circa September 1969
Set number: TY053
Wolverhampton Low Level station in Autumn 1969. Single car diesel multiple unit dmu W55008, in rail blue with yellow end panels, stands in the only rail connected platform as the late afternoon light is fading. The very last gasp for passenger services on this one-time Great Western Railway trunk route from London to Merseyside. Pete LG99.
circa September 1969
Set number: TY053
Taken at Birmingham Snow Hill in Autumn 1969, the days when at least a shuttle service ran to Wolverhampton Low Level. This single car dmu (55008) sitting in bay platfom 4 looks a bit lost in the grandeur of the setting but was sufficient for the expected custom. The disused Great Charles Street exit is ringed by the delicate Edwardian wrought iron fencing & gate between bay platform 4 & the Down Main platform 5. The tracks are still in the platform lines but the through lines have been severed at this point. Pete LG99.
circa 1971
Set number: TY059
Class 122 GRC&W bubble car M55008 at Langley Green station circa 1971, probably working between here and Birmingham Snow Hill. The set number in the cab window seems to read TY059. Note that "Oldbury &" is no longer picked out in white on the signal box name. Graham Clark.
circa 1971
Set number: TY053
A GRC&W bubble car at Langley Green circa early 1970s. Carrying set number TY053 it is presumably M55008 which would be transferred to the Eastern Region in May 1972. Graham Clark.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) running into a rundown looking Birmingham Snow Hill. 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
Passengers approach a Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) in Birmingham Snow Hill station on 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) sits in Birmingham Snow Hill station on 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) in a rundown looking Birmingham Snow Hill. 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) in a rundown looking Birmingham Snow Hill. 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
31st July 1971
Set number: TY053
A Class 122 (set TY053, and so presumably 55008) running into a rundown looking Birmingham Snow Hill. 31st July 1971. Steve Davies Collection.
3rd September 1974
Eastern Region route learner 975309 heading south past the site of Copmanthorpe station on York - Leeds line. Taken at 3.32pm on September 3rd, 1974. Michael Mensing.
circa September 1976
GRC&W route learner TB975309 (ex-55008) arrives into York. Date unknown, the slide process date was September 1976. Stuart Mackay Collection.
February 1977
'Drab Olive' liveried Route Learning Car TDB975309 at York in February 1977. Rex Holt.
1979
Route learner TDB975309 in Huddersfield station in 1979. John Law.
10th April 1979
A young spotter writes down the number of route learner TDB975309 sitting next to a Class 114 at Leeds on 10 April 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
10th April 1979
Route learner TDB975309 (note the periods after the letters) at Leeds on 10 April 1979. Through the windows staff can be seen sitting in seats fitted in the formed guard's van. Stuart Mackay Collection.
10th April 1979
Eastern Region route learner TDB975309 (allocated to York) waiting to depart from Leeds on 10 April 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
5th June 1979
One of the drab olive liveried departmental Class 122s - TDB975309 - at Hartlepool on 5 June 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
October 1979
Drab olive coloured departmental Class 122 975309 sits outside Doncaster Works, October 1979. Malcolm Clements.
Unknown date
Class 122 Eastern Region route learner TDB975309 stabled at Doncaster, date unknown. The formed 55008 was in departmental use from 1974 to 1982. It has had a gas cylinder box added to the right of the left hand bogie, probably to allow a cooker or boiler on board. Tiered seating has been added to both ends, rising towards the centre of the vehicle. The seats are in the style of that used on the Derby Lightweights with the grabrail behind the headrolls, possibly reclaimed from withdrawn vehicles. Almost all the doors have had the handles removed, and the destination boxes have been removed from the roof domes. Stuart Mackay Collection.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 30th July 1977
Set number: L120
55020 calls at South Greenford on 30th July 1977. I was born next to this "station" in the adjacent maternity hospital in 1958 - I have been told W55008 was working the Greenford Loop "push & pull" on this day. Ian Buck.