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Vehicle 56183 / 54183 / 977555

Class 104

Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30297
Diagram: 585

Allocations

The London Midland Region didn't publish trailer car details until late in 1968. Although not 100% reliable, if it is assumed that the trailers remained with the same power cars, the allocations for 50540 during the unknown period are:

2w/e 03/05/58	New to	5B (Crewe South)
4w/e 03/06/61	Transferred to	21F (Ryecroft)
Sep-63	Depot code change	2G
w/e 10/10/64	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
4w/e 06/02/65	Transferred to	6G (Llandudno Junction)
3w/e 02/10/65	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
4w/e 06/11/65	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)

Then the allocations for 56183 are:

circa Feb-82	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
19/01/86	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
Jun-86	Stored S.	NH (Newton Heath)	- at BY
Oct-86	Stored U.	OM	- at OC
Nov-86	Stored U.	NH (Newton Heath)
31/05/87	Withdrawn from	NH (Newton Heath)
by 05/11/88	To departmental stock	BS	- sandite vehicle
by 04/11/89	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
by 21/06/90	Transferred to	BS
by 10/11/90	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley)
by 20/11/91	Transferred to	CL (Carlisle Upperby)

Notes

14/05/84 - For the opening of the new Bedford St Johns station 53541 / 56183 were turned out in immaculate condition, including white roof domes.
29th October 1987 - Seen at Buxton depot awaiting conversion to Sandite car
3rd September 1989 - Seen at Chester depot with white cab roof dome and red buffer beams

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56183 - original number
54183 - from Jul-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
977555 - from Dec-87 (departmental stock)

Department Use as ADB977555

Sandite From 12/87 to 12/92.

Modifications

Jun-80 - AWS fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50540	56183	As delivered to 5B - 2w/e 03/05/58
	50539	56183	Noted 03/05/69 - in Manchester Central (last day)¹
	50539	56183	Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50353	56183	Noted 23/11/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
LT296	50353	56183	Listed at Longsight - circa Dec-69
LT310	50540	56183	Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70
	50540	56183	Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight¹
	50540	56183	Noted 20/04/73 - in Manchester Piccadilly²
	50540	56183	Noted 04/09/74 - at New Mills²
	50540	56183	Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot²
	50540	56183	Noted 14/09/1975 - at Stockport³
	50540	56183	Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50540	56183	Noted 10/09/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly²
	50540	56183	Noted circa 04/1982⁴
	50540	56183	Noted 03/09/82 - at Bedford St Johns²
	53540	54183	Noted circa 05/1983⁴
	53541	56183	Noted 14/05/84
	53541	54183	Noted circa 07/1984⁴
Stored	54183		Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 - at BY

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Eddie Knorn

Images:

circa 1982

A Class 104 BRCW DMU - M56183 and (most likely M50540) - at St Albans Abbey station in the early 1980s. Curly42.

5th March 1983

M56183 is at the rear of a 104 set waiting to leave Bedford St John's on 5th March 1983. 54A South Dock.

11th February 1984

The conductor guard is seen ambling up the platform closing the doors at Watford Junction on the St.Albans Abbey branch platform despite what the trains destination blind says. Platform 11 at Watford Junction is still somewhat isolated from the main part of the station and is adjacent to Watford Junction Yard. The rather shabby old class 104 DMU set is formed of Bletchley allocated vehicles M53539+M54183. It has just arrived with the 10.22 from St.Albans Abbey and will return as the 11.03 to St.Albans Abbey being a "one train working" branch line with no passing loops. February 11, 1984. Adrian Nicholls.

30th June 1984

BRCW Class 104 DTS M54183 with DMBS M53541 in Watford Junction station on 30 June 1984. Dave Warby.

15th July 1984

A two-car Class 104 DMU stabling in sidings at Leicester on 15 July 1984. The DTSL closest appears to be 54183. Robert Thomas.

26th December 1987

Sandite car 977555, formerly 56183, is seen at Bescot, 26/12/87. Robert Chilton.

26th December 1987

Class 104 977555 is seen stabled at Bescot on 26.12.1987. It was converted from 54183 and was used as a sandite car. Andy Cole.

12th March 1988

Hiding in amongst the locos (08700, 08672, and 20029) on Bescot depot on 12 March 1988 is Class 104 sandite car 977555 (ex-54183). It seems to still have the gangway fitted on the rear. Keith Miller.

3rd September 1989

Sandite Car ADB977555 (M54183) on Chester Depot, 3-9-89. Kevin Dowd.

3rd September 1989

Sandite Car ADB977555 (M54183) on Chester Depot, 3-9-89. Kevin Dowd.

17th February 1990

Class 104 Sandite conversion 977555 (ex-54183) at Bletchley on 17 February 1990 alongside Class 115 TCL M59750. Image by Janet Cottrell. Stuart Mackay Collection.

13th July 1991

977555 in store at Carlisle Upperby, 13/7/91. Paul Moxon.

30th June 1993

Class 104 sandite vehicle 977555 seen at Carlisle Yard on the 30th June 1993. S Gaskell.

30th June 1993

Class 104 sandite vehicle 977555 seen at Carlisle Yard on the 30th June 1993. S Gaskell.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 15th May 1982

A Class 104 DMU formed of M50540 + 56183 sits in Bedford St. Johns station on 15 May 1982 forming the 17:00 to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 16th March 1984

M53541 and M54183 after arriving at Bedford St Johns with the 1202 from Bletchley on 16 March 1984. Eight weeks after this photo was taken this station was closed and a replacement with the same name was opened on the 14th May 1984 which allowed trains to continue into Bedford Midland station. Keith Long.

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