Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Lot Number: 30519
Diagram: 513
Feb-61 | New to | 81C (Southall) | |
09/07/62 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
circa Nov-64 | Transferred to | 81C (Southall) | |
Apr-68 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
May 1973 | Depot code change | RG | |
Jul-73 | On loan to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
Dec-73 | Ex-loan back to | RG (Reading) | |
16/05/85 | Stored | SZ (Southall) | |
p/e 02/08/87 | To departmental stock | ||
Oct-87 | Transferred to | LA (Laira) | |
by 04/11/89 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
by 08/11/93 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | - set T006 |
56285 - original number
54285 - from Mar-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
977486 - from 1987 (departmental stock)
Sandite From 12/86 to 1996. Carried set number 960006
circa Jul-70 - Dual AWS fitted
Jul-75 - WR AWS removed
Preserved - more details.
L285 | 56285 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Noted 10/03/1978 - At Oxford Station1 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Noted 25/05/1978 - at Oxford Station1 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Noted 28/08/1979 - At Maidenhead 1611 working to Marlow with L1291 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||||
55028 | 56285 | Noted circa 04/19822 | |||||||
L285 | 56285 | Listed at RG - 15/12/1982 | |||||||
L285 | 54285 | Listed at RG - 01/01/85 | |||||||
285 | 54285 | Listed at WR - Summer 1986 - stored SZ | |||||||
L285 | 54285 | Noted 25/02/1987 - at Old Oak Common3 |
Formation Sources
1: Shayne Lewis
2: Eddie Knorn
3: Robert Chilton
W56285 and W55020 are working the 4.25pm Oxford - Reading (G) when seen at Goring triangle (troughs) on the 16th April 1965. Michael Mensing.
Class 121 DTS 56285 at Windsor on the 27th April 1974. Hamish Stevenson.
A train from Windsor arrives at Slough on the 27th April 1974 headed by 56285. Hamish Stevenson.
W56285 and W55030 at Slough on April 2nd, 1977. Rex Holt.
Class 121 DTS W56285 on the end of a Class 117 at Paddington, circa early 1980s. Paul Redmond.
Class 121 trailer 56285 at Windsor on the 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.
A Class 121 DTS (56285) and DMBS in the Bourne End / Marlow platform of Maidenhead station circa early 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A Class 121 DTS (56285) and DMBS at Bourne End circa early 1980s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Pressed Steel 2-car dmu set made up of Class 149 Driving Trailer (designed to work with Class 121 & 122 railcars) No.L285 (W56285) & Class 121 railcar L120 (No.W55020) in Rail Blue & Grey with all-yellow front ends leaving Paddington on a service from Greenford, 09/82. Hugh Llewelyn.
Sandite car TDB977486 alongside 43143 + 43131 on Laira depot on 4 October 1987. Keith Miller.
Sandite Class 121 trailer TDB977486 in the sidings at the west end of Cardiff Canton TMD on 09-07-1989. AndrewHA.
Class 121 977486, set number T006, is seen stabled at Tyseley on 29.12.1991. Andy Cole.
Sandite car TDB977486, formerly class 121 driving trailer 54285, standing at Tyseley depot on 15/Jul/1992. Curiously almost every single window has been plated over, including two of the windscreens, leaving a rather more restricted view than usual ahead, although the headcode panel, long disused, remains unplated. Unfortunately the vehicle could only be viewed by peering through a fence making a photo of the complete vehicle impossible. Robert Chilton.
Sandite vehicle TDB977486 inside Tyseley TMD on 26 September 1992. Formerly Class 121 DTS 56285, it now has many windows plated over, and the cab door is a different shade of blue suggesting a replacement. S Gaskell.
Class 121 sandite vehicle 977486, set number T006, is seen stabled at Tyseley on 26.12.1993 from the non-cab end. Andy Cole.
On April 16, 1965, W55020 heads the 5.55pm Reading - Oxford service with DTS W56285 in tow, seen at South Moreton, Didcot. Michael Mensing.
Marlow station on September 22 1972. Already rationalised, although a GWR platform seat survives. Unit L360 (W50083 with W56285 locked out of use) awaits departure with the branch train to Maidenhead. Tom Burnham.
Unit L360 (W50083 with W56285 locked out of use) at Bourne End station on 22 September 1972. The footbridge is in process of being removed. Tom Burnham.
Unit L360 on a Marlow branch train in platform 5 of Maidenhead on September 22 1972. It comprised W50083 and driving trailer W56285, the latter being non-gangwayed and locked out of use. Tom Burnham.
Leaving Llandrindod in the mid-1970s is a Class 121 DTS attached to a Class 120 set. Cardiff had two of these DTSs in this era, 56285 and 56289, the former only on loan for a few months. David Rowe.
Single "Bubble" car, class 121 DMU, W55030, (L130) and Driving Trailer Second, Class 149, W56285, (L285) at Maidenhead, 4th August 1981. Paul James.
Class 117 power cars 51390 and 51348 stabled on Laira depot on 17 January 1988. They were transferred to Tyselely a few days later. Behind is Class 121 sandite TDB977486. Keith Miller.