Vehicle 51561 / 977823
Class 108
Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30461
Diagram: 609
Allocations
| 24/10/59 | New to | Wrexham Central | - pending allocation |
| w/e 02/01/60 | Transferred to | 6D (Chester Northgate) | |
| Jan-60 | Transferred to | 6A (Chester) | - Northgate closed |
| 06/05/73 | Depot code change | CH | |
| 4w/e 05/08/78 | Transferred to | AN (Allerton) | |
| 29/03/87 | Transferred to | BX (Buxton) | |
| 10/05/87 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 26/07/87 | Transferred to | LE (Swansea Landore) | |
| 15/03/92 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) PCFX | |
| 29/06/92 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) RFXX | |
| 21/09/92 | To departmental stock | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| Sep-93 | Withdrawn |
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
51561 - original number
977823 - from Oct-92 (departmental stock)
Department Use as TDB977823
Sandite / Route Learner From 21/09/92 to 9/93. Carried set number D / 924
Modifications
circa early 1975 - AWS fitted
Sep-87 - Headlamp fitted
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 22/07/1977 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50924 | 51561 | As delivered to Wrexham Central - 24th October 1959 - stored pending allocation | |||||||
| 50926 | 51561 | Noted 09/09/73 - on Chester depot1 | |||||||
| 50926 | 51561 | Noted 04/09/74 - at Crewe1 | |||||||
| 50926 | 51561 | Noted 21/02/1976 - LCGB Cheshire Wanderer Railtour 50926-51561 + 56345-51176 | |||||||
| 50924 | 51561 | Noted 30/08/1977 - 19.50 Lime Street to Wigan NW2 | |||||||
| 50924 | 51561 | Noted 30/09/1977 - 07.57 Lime Street - Wigan NW with 51929-520422 | |||||||
| 51928 | 51561 | Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc2 | |||||||
| 50924 | 51561 | Noted circa 10/19822 | |||||||
| 53935 | 51561 | Noted circa 07/19832 | |||||||
| 51924 | 51561 | Noted 05/01/1984 - on Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester service2 | |||||||
| 51422 | 51561 | Noted 05/03/1984 - at Manchester Vic2 | |||||||
| 53928 | 51561 | Noted 8th January 1987 | |||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Listed at LE - Aug-87 | ||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Listed at LE - Oct-87 - Headlight fitted | ||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Listed at LE - 15/05/89 | ||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Noted circa 12/19902 | ||||||
| S941 | 51922 | 51561 | Listed at LE - Jul-91 | ||||||
| S941 | 51922 | 51561 | Listed at LE - Aug-91 | ||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Listed at LE - Dec-91 | ||||||
| S943 | 51930 | 51561 | Noted 18/04/92 - at Cardiff | ||||||
| 924 | 977822 | 977823 | Listed at CF - 08/11/93 - sandite, set D |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Eddie Knorn
Images:
28th April 1962
M51561 leads two two-car Blue Square Derby Lighweight DMUs with the 4.05pm Chester Northgate-Wrexham (Central) service seen getting underway from Penyffordd on 28 April 1962. Michael Mensing.
3rd March 1983
M51561 ex shops awaiting release from Swindon Works, 3rd March 1983. Steve Montgomery.
4th June 1988
Set number: S943
Class 108 DMU set S943 (51561 and presumbly 51930) is running with the addition of a suburban centre car when seen at Whitland with the 13:27 (SO) Pembroke Dock-Swansea on 4 June 1988. Robert Thomas.
27th February 1989
Set number: S943
The 05:47 Portsmouth Harbour - Swansea service at Bridgend on 27 February 1989. It is being worked by a two-car Class 108 DMU - set S943 comprised of 51561 and presumably 51930. Robert Thomas.
18th April 1992
Set number: S943
Landore-based Class 108 dmu S943 (51561 + 51930) leads another Class 108 past Canton on 18 April 1992. The 2 Class 37s visible are 37800 and 37212. Lewis Bevan.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 21st February 1976
The LCGB Cheshire Wanderer railtour at Wrexham Central on 21 February 1976. Formed of a Class 101 and Class 108, closest is M51176 and the Six Bells Junction website lists the others as 56345 and 51561 + 50926. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 15th June 1980
E51951 leads a Liverpool Lime Street - Hull special into Sheffield on June 15, 1980. The complete rake was E51951, E51975, E59718, E59766, E52102, M51859, M59718, M59723 and M51561. John Carter.
Date: 7th October 1989
Set number: S945
Crossing Class 108s on a wet day at Llandrindod Wells. On the left S945 with 51925 is on the 12:22 Llandrindod-Swansea, on the right S943, 51561 visible, is working the 10:43 Shrewsbury-Llandrindod. These were normally through workings that terminated at Llandrindod Wells and returned to Swansea and Shrewsbury respectively, possibly due to one of the crews lack of route knowledge. 7 October 1989. Robert Thomas.
Date: early 1991
Set number: S943
Swansea allocated class 108 DMU S943 (vehicles 51930 and 51561) seen at Shrewsbury early in 1991. Bob Belcher.
Date: 7th April 1991
Class 108 DMU set S943 (51930 and presumably 51561) departs from Cardiff Central with a 17:20 rugex to Chepstow on 7 April 1991. Robert Thomas.