Vehicle 55026 / 977824

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Class 121

Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30518
Diagram: 512

Allocations

Nov-60	New to	81D (Reading)
Jul-64	Transferred to	86A (Cardiff Canton)	- noted working in the Cardiff area in Feb-64
by mid-Oct-65	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
Oct-66	Transferred to	86A (Cardiff Canton)
06/05/73	Depot code change	CF
2w/e 30/11/74	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
2w/e 08/03/75	Transferred to	LA (Laira)
03/10/82	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
09/06/85	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
12/05/86	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
04/10/87	Transferred to	LA (Laira)
10/05/92	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley) RDTS
30/09/92	To departmental stock	TS (Tyseley)
4w/e 27/05/95	Withdrawn

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55026 - original number
977824 - from Oct-92 (departmental stock)

Department Use as TDB977824

Sandite From 10/92 to 2/94. Carried set number T005

Modifications

Jul-71 - Leyland engines fitted
p/e 31/03/73 - Dual AWS fitted
-
p/e 25/06/77 - WR AWS removed
p/e 25/06/79 - Leyland engines fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 23/07/1981 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	55026								Noted 20/08/1971 - working with class 120 at Abergavenny1
	55026								Noted 06/09/73 - on Cardiff Canton depot2
C126	55026								Noted 14/10/73 - on 0900 Cardiff-Cheltenham with C502 50658 + 59282 + 50711
C126	55026								Noted 22/06/74 - at Crewe, thought to be attached to C533 + C6052
	55026								Noted 07/09/74 - on 2V67 1600 Crewe-Cardiff with C516 + P556
P126	55026								Listed at LA - 01/05/1976
P126	55026								Noted 07/09/76 - on Laira depot2
P126	55026								Listed at LA - 31st December 1977
P126	55026								Listed at LA - 03/03/80
P126	55026								Noted 30/07/80 - at Par3
P126	55026								Listed at BR - 15/12/1982
P126	55026								Noted circa 03/19844
B126	55026								Listed at BR - 01/01/85
126	55026								Transfer to RG - 09/06/85 - from BR, prefix changed B to L
B126	55026								Noted circa 11/19854
	55026								Noted 05/04/86 - on 05.15 Bristol TM – Severn Beach and 05.58 Severn Beach – Bristol TM5
B126	55026								Listed at Bristol (Bath Road) - Summer 1986
B126	55026								Noted 10/01/19874
	55026								Noted 16/03/87 - on 13.45 Bristol TM – Bristol Parkway5
B126	55026								Listed at BR - Aug-87
P126	55026								Formed at LA circa 10/87
P126	55026								Listed at LA - Nov-87
P126	55026								Listed at LA - 15/05/89
P126	55026								Noted circa 12/19904
P126	55026								Listed at LA - Jul-91
P126	55026								Listed at LA - Aug-91
P126	55026								Listed at LA - Dec-91
T011	55026								Listed at TS - 02/07/92
T005	977824	977825							Listed at TS - 08/11/93 - sandite

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown
3: Shayne Lewis
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Phil Shatford

Images:

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August 1966

An unusual combination of Pressed Steel suburban railcar (later Class 121) No.W55026 and the driving motor second from a BR (Derby) 3-car suburban dmu (later Class 116/1) No.W50901 (116/1), all in BR green with small yellow warning panel, at Newton Abbot, 08/66. Hugh Llewelyn.

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March 1969

Pressed Steel Class 121 railcar No.W55026 at Cymmer Afon Station, 03/69 on a Bridgend (General) - Treherbert service, which was withdrawn in 1970. The station is the Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway station; the GWR one (on the Abergwynfi branch) is the other side of the hoppers, the footbridge on the right connecting the two. Hugh Llewelyn.

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September 1969

A Class 121 DMU at Bridgend, South Wales, in September 1969. Photography by John Wiltshire. Cardiff Canton had two of these vehicles on this date, 25 and 26. The former has 'cut' buffers, the latter had oval buffers, so this vehicle should be 55026. Peter Brabham Collection.

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7th February 1976

On Saturday 7 February 1976 at 13:00 single unit railcar No W55026 stands in the newly re-opened Falmouth station on [2B95]. Mr Deltic.

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15th August 1976

Set number: P126

With some damage to the lower left cab corner and missing the destination blind box in the middle window, Class 121 W55026 is seen near Eggesford on 15 August 1976. David Mant.

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6th May 1978

Set number: P126

55026 waits to depart Plymouth for Liskeard and the Looe branch early on the 6th May 1978. Ian Buck.

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30th September 1978

Set number: P126

On 30 September 1978 a return trip on the Looe branch was strengthened by adding a three-car set to the class 121 Pressed Steel "bubble car" to convey passengers from a Main Line Steam Trust loco-hauled railtour down the branch. W55026 (new 1960) is "on the stops" with most of the other three cars not visible (and indeed the full train did not fit the platform". Mercifully I recorded the bus details - this is TTP999, a Leyland Tiger Cub with Weymann body new to City of Portsmouth in 1960 as their number 25. I believe it was owned by Deeble of Upton Cross at the time. Jeremy Chapter.

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1979

Set number: L126

55026 in Looe station in 1979. John Law.

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1979

Set number: P126

W55026 in the Looe bay platform at Liskeard in 1979. John Law.

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1979

Set number: P126

55026 at Looe in 1979. John Law.

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27th July 1980

Set number: P126

In deepest Cornwall, Class 121 Single-Unit W55026 (P126) and Class 25/1 25 052 were stood in the yard at St Blazey on July 27th 1980. Martyn Hilbert.

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6th June 1981

Set number: P126

P126 / 55026 is seen at St Erth on the 6th June 1981. Shayne Lewis.

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Unknown date

Set number: B126

Class 121 55026 and what is thought to be Class 118 DMU set B472 (51330 + 59482 + 51315) departs from Cranmore station on the East Somerset Railway with a 'Cranmore Flyer' special. Undated, circa early 1985, and it seems to be one of multiple journeys possibly from Westbury. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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Unknown date

Set number: P126

55026 at Roche on the Par - Newquay line. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.

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Unknown date

Set number: P126

Class 121 DMU W55026 in St Ives station, date unknown. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.

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1983

Set number: P126

P126 W55026, then allocated to Bristol, is seen at Lawrence Hill in 1983. Robert Tarling.

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19th March 1983

Set number: P126

Class 121 Pressed Steel "bubblecar" W55026 at Bristol Redland station (on the Severn Beach line) on 19 March 1983. Nicholas T Smith.

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spring 1983

Set number: P126

W55026 in Clifton Down station on Severn Beach duties in Spring 1983. Michael Mensing.

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spring 1983

Set number: P126

Class 121 55026 at Clifton Down in Spring 1983 on Severn Beach duties. Michael Mensing.

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spring 1983

Set number: P126

W55026 departs from Clifton Down station while on Severn Beach duties in the spring of 1983. Michael Mensing.

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21st May 1983

Set number: P126

Single car class 121 W55026 / P126 arriving at Bristol Temple Meads from Severn Beach, Saturday 21st May 1983 Iain Reid.

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August 1983

Set number: B126

Class 121 55026 arrives into Lawrence Hill station whilst on Severn Beach duties in August 1983. Michael Mensing.

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6th August 1983

Set number: B126

The 10:08 Bristol Temple Meads - Severn Beach service passes Dr Days Junction on 6 August 1986 formed of Class 121 W55026. Michael Mensing.

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6th August 1983

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 departs from Lawrence Hill with a Severn Beach - Bristol service on 6 August 1983. Michael Mensing.

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early August 1983

Set number: B126

Class 121 bubble 55026 in Clifton Down station in early August 1983 while on Severn Beach duties. Michael Mensing.

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early August 1983

Set number: B126

Class 121 bubble 55026 arrives into Clifton Down station in early August 1983 while on Severn Beach duties. Michael Mensing.

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8th October 1983

Set number: B126

Single Car DMU no.W55026 (set B126) stands at the somewhat desolate branch terminus of Severn Beach north of Bristol on the Severn Estuary on October 8, 1983. The unit has just arrived with train 2B83 the 13.10 from Bristol Temple Meads and after the driver changes ends will return as train 2B83 again forming the 14.00 to Bristol Temple Meads calling all stations. Adrian Nicholls.

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1984

Set number: P126

Class 121 W55026 and Class 117 set B435, presumably 51415 visible, in Clifton Down station in early 1984. Michael Mensing.

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February 1985

Set number: B126

W55026 with the 12.17 to Bristol Temple Meads awaits departure from Severn Beach on 16 February 1985. Robert28194.

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spring 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 at Hallen Marsh, Bristol, in spring 1985. Michael Mensing.

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spring 1985

Set number: B126

Pressed Steel single car W55026 at Hallen Marsh in spring 1985. Michael Mensing.

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24th May 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 No W55026 has just arrived at Severn Beach with a train from Bristol Temple Meads on 24 May 1985. Keith Long.

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circa June 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 55026 at Bristol Temple Meads, presumably on Severn Beach duties. The slide process date is June 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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summer 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 in Montpelier station in early summer 1985. Michael Mensing.

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summer 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 in Severn Beach station in early summer 1985. Michael Mensing.

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summer 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 in Severn Beach station in early summer 1985. Michael Mensing.

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summer 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 seen at Montpelier in early summer 1985. Michael Mensing.

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30th September 1985

W55026 at Bristol TM on 30/9/85. Hamish Stevenson.

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Autumn 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 W55026 departs from Bridgwater station on the Bristol - Taunton line in Autumn 1985. Michael Mensing.

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late 1985

Set number: B126

A number of passengers disembark from Class 121 55026 at Clifton Down station in late 1985. Michael Mensing.

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23rd November 1985

Set number: B126

Class 121 55026 in Bristol Temple Meads with the 21:30 to Severn Beach on 23 November 1985. Michael Mensing.

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15th May 1986

Set number: B126

Class 121 bubble car W55026 stabled in Bristol Bath Road shed yard on 15 May 1986. Robert Thomas.

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Unknown date

Set number: B126

Highland Rail branded 55026 at Bristol TM, date unknown. Tom Clift.

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12th August 1986

Set number: B126

W55026 at Bristol TM with the 13:45 to Bristol Parkway, 12/8/86. Hamish Stevenson.

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12th August 1986

Set number: B126

W55026 at Severn Beach, having arrived with the 14:20 ex-Bristol TM on 12/8/86. Hamish Stevenson.

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23rd November 1986

Set number: B126

Recently repainted Pressed Steel Class 121 Single Car DMU 55026 stands in Doncaster Works Yard on a sunny Sunday 23rd November 1986. AndrewHA.

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28th February 1987

Set number: L126

On the Severn Beach service 55026 departs for Lawrence Hill on the 28th February 1987. Ian Buck.

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26th March 1987

Set number: B126

W55026, Bristol Temple Meads, March 26, 1987. John Carter.

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9th May 1987

Set number: B126

A casually dressed driver brings B126 / 55026 into Bristol Temple Meads on the 9th May 1987. Shayne Lewis.

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8th July 1987

Set number: B126

55026 is working with a 2-car Class 108 when seen at Cardiff Central on the 8th July, 1987. Hamish Stevenson.

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20th December 1987

Set number: L126

Class 121 DMU 55026 at Laira with 51222 and 51181 in the background on 20 December 1987. Keith Miller.

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30th July 1988

Set number: P126

A Class 121 (P126, 55026) and a Class 122 at Dawlish on 30 July 1988. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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24th August 1988

Set number: P126

Class 121 Set P126 vehicle 55026 is seen resting between duties at Penzance on 24th August 1988 Chris Barker.

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20th February 1989

Set number: B126

55026 rolls into Stapleton Road from Severn Beach on the 20th February 1989. Ian Buck.

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25th April 1989

Set number: 126

Class 121 No 55026 has just arrived at Newquay with the 1025 from Par on 25 April 1989. Keith Long.

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13th July 1990

Set number: P126

A Class 121 DMU crosses Liskeard Viaduct on 13 July 1990, possibly with a Plymouth - Penzance working. The vehicle is probably 55026 - the only one of these allocated to Laira at the time. Roger Geach.

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3rd January 1991

Set number: P126

55026 at Falmouth Docks on the 10:44 to Truro, 3rd January 1991. Gazza Prescott.

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4th May 1991

Set number: P126

Class 121 55026 with withdrawn 50 036 and 50 001 and a Class 108 on Laira depot, 4 May 1991. Keith Miller.

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circa 1993

This appears to be sandite Class 121 bubble 977824, seen at Tyseley circa 1993/4. John Grey Turner.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

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Date: August 1966

A very unusual combination of a driving motor second from a BR (Derby) 3-car Suburban dmu (later Class 116/1) No.W50901 (116/1), a Pressed Steel Suburban railcar (later Class 121) No.W55026, and a 3-car dmu composed of Derby driving motor second Class 116/1 No.W51141, an unknown suburban TCL, and a Derby Class 116/2 driving motor brake second No.W51128, all in BR green with small yellow warning panel, at Newton Abbot, 08/66. Hugh Llewelyn.

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Date: 30th July 1988

Set number: P100

Class 122 DMUs 55000 and 55026 arriving at Exeter St Davids on 30 July 1988. Keith Miller.

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Date: 30th July 1988

Set number: P100

Single Class 122 DMU cars 55000 and 55026 departing Exeter St Davids for Exeter Central on 30 July 1988. Keith Miller.

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Date: 27th November 1988

Class 122 55012 and Class 121 55026 stabled at Laira on 27 November 1988. Keith Miller.