Sign In

Vehicle 55032 / 977842

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

Dec-60	New to	82B (Bristol Marsh Junction)
circa Jun-64	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
Nov-70	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
May-71	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
03/10/82	Transferred to	CF (Cardiff Canton)
29/09/85	Transferred to	LA (Laira)
11/05/86	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
18/12/92	To departmental stock
Feb-94	Withdrawn
circa Jun-06	Reinstated	CF (Cardiff Canton)
circa Mar-12	Withdrawn from	CF (Cardiff Canton)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55032 - original number
977842 - from Dec-92 (departmental stock)

Department Use as ADB977842

Sandite, later preserved then returned to passenger use From 12/92 to 2/94. Carried set number T007

Modifications

3w/e 01/07/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 25/06/77 - WR AWS removed
p/e 29/03/80 - Leyland engines fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 10/09/1981 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

LA105	55032				Listed at Laira - circa Apr-71
B132	55032				Noted 03/09/74 - in Bristol Temple Meads¹
B132	55032				Listed at BR - 01/05/1976
B132	55032				Listed at BR - 31st December 1977
B132	55032				Listed at BR - 03/03/80
B132	55032				Noted 03/04/1982 - BLS Bristol & Gloucestershire Railtour C812 and 55032
B132	55032				Listed at CF - 15/12/1982
C132	55032				Noted 05/09/1983²
	55032				Noted 28/04/1984 - 1017 Cardiff to Gloucester
C132	55032				Listed at CF - 01/01/85
132	55032				Transfer to LA - Sep-85 - from CF
TS082	55032				Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986
TS082	55032				Noted circa 06/1986²
T082	55032				Listed at TS - Jul-87
	55032				Noted 24/10/1987 - Severn Valley Railway Association Nosepoker 1 Railtour TS624 with 55032
T132	55032				Listed at Tyseley - 7th April 1988
T132	55032				Noted circa 05/1988²
T132	55032				Listed at TS - 01/09/89
T012	55032				Listed at TS - 01/12/89
012	55032				Noted circa 05/1990²
T012	55032				Listed at TS - mid May-90
T012	55032				Listed at TS - Jul-91
T012	55032				Listed at TS - Aug-91
T012	55032				Listed at TS - Dec-91
T012	55032				Noted circa 01/1992²
T012	55032				Listed at TS - 02/07/92
T406	51131	59609	53891	55032	Listed at TS - 24/09/92
T406	55032	51131	59609	53891	Listed at TS - November 1992
T009	977842	977843			Listed at TS - 08/11/93 - sandite

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Eddie Knorn

Images:

18th April 1966

W55032 sits in Clevedon Halt ready to work the 11.38am SX service to Yatton on 18 April 1966. Robert Thomas.

18th April 1966

W55032 sits in Clevedon Halt ready to work the 11.38am SX service to Yatton on 18 April 1966. Robert Thomas.

16th August 1972

Set number: B132

Severn Beach station on August 16 1972, and a diesel railcar (W55032, set no B132) awaits departure with the 16.08 to Bristol Temple Meads. It looks as if the GWR-style nameboard has just been removed, but some GWR platform benches survive. Tom Burnham.

16th August 1972

Set number: B132

Railcar W55032 (set B132) awaits departure from Bristol Temple Meads on 16 August 1972 with the 15.18 to Severn Beach. Tom Burnham.

November 1974

Set number: B132

W55032 in the Bridport platform at Maiden Newton in November 1974. Stuart Mackay Collection.

21st January 1975

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 vehicle W55032 in Bridport station on 21 January 1975. Doug Nicholls.

21st January 1975

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 vehicle W55032 in Bridport station ready for the journey back to Maiden Newton on 21 January 1975. Doug Nicholls.

21st January 1975

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 vehicle W55032 in Bridport station on 21 January 1975. Doug Nicholls.

21st January 1975

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 vehicle W55032 in the Bridport platform at Maiden Newton on 21 January 1975. Doug Nicholls.

3rd April 1975

Set number: B132

3rd of April 1975 at Taunton and with a Western in the background Pressed Steel single car DMU W55032 is showing special in the destination box. The KDH Archive.

16th June 1976

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel 'Bubble car' railcar No W55032 (Set B132) at Severn Beach on Wednesday 16 June 1976. I used to call these 1-DOOMs as I thought any branch that was worked by these was 'doomed'. Fortunately that proved not to be the case for this particular branch. Mr Deltic.

4th July 1976

Set number: B132

W55032 in Bath Spa station on the 4th July, 1976. Arnie Furniss.

Unknown date

Set number: B132

Class 121 W55032 at Bristol Temple Meads, date unknown. Paul Redmond.

Unknown date

Set number: B132

Taken in the late 1970s 55032 leaves Bristol Temple Meads for Severn Beach. Ian Buck.

Unknown date

Set number: B132

On a day in the late 1970s 55032 arrives at Avonmouth. Ian Buck.

2nd September 1979

Set number: B132

"Bubble Car" W55032 leaves Westbury on 2nd September 1979 with a service for Bristol. Semaphores are still in use at the east end of the station and the depot, seen in the background, is healthily stocked with classes 08, 37, 47 and 50. Syd Young.

August 1980

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 railcar Set No.B132, Car No.W55032 (even though set is one car!) in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends at Severn Beach awaiting to depart for Bristol (Temple Meads), 08/80. Hugh Llewelyn.

August 1980

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 railcar Set No.B132, Car No.W55032 (even though set is one car!) in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends at Severn Beach awaiting to depart to Bristol Temple Meads, 08/80. Hugh Llewelyn.

August 1980

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 set No.B132, Car No.W55032 in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends at Severn Beach awaiting to depart for Bristol (Temple Meads), 08/80. Hugh Llewelyn.

August 1980

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 set No.B132, Car No.W55032 in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends at Severn Beach awaiting to depart for Bristol (Temple Meads), 08/80. Hugh Llewelyn.

August 1980

Set number: B132

Pressed Steel Class 121 railcar Set No.B132, Car No.W55032 at Bristol Temple Meads while on Severn Beach duties, 08/80. Hugh Llewelyn.

12th February 1981

Set number: B132

55032 in platform 8 of Bristol Temple Meads on 12 February 1981. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

28th March 1981

Set number: B132

W55032 waits at Severn Beach to return to Bristol Temple Meads on 28th March 1981. Murray Liston.

3rd December 1981

Set number: B132

A snowy scene at Stapleton Road with 55032 on the 3rd December 1981. Steve Davies Collection.

1982

Set number: B132

Class 121 W55032 in Bristol Temple Meads, presumably on a Severn Beach working sometime in 1982. Mark Etstall.

6th August 1983

Set number: C132

Class 121 DMU, W55032, (Set C132), sits in platform 2 at Newport having arrived with a service from Gloucester. 6th August 1983. John Crooks.

8th October 1983

Set number: C132

Class 121 Pressed Steel DMU 55032 (Canton set C132) after arrival at Gloucester on 8-10-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

28th June 1984

Set number: C132

55032 at the front of a high density set leaving Cardiff Central with the 16:25 Barry Island - Ystrad - Mynach service on 28 June 1984. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

1st September 1984

Set number: C132

Class 121 "Bubble Car" W55032 seen at Newport with the 12:25 from Chepstow on 1 September 1984. Robert Thomas.

March 1985

Set number: P132

Class 121 55032 in Looe station in March 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

14th June 1985

Set number: P132

Class 121 55032 at Newport on 14 June 1985. It carries a Plymouth set number yet it is still recorded as being a Cardiff vehicle until moving to Laira that September. It had been working from Plymouth earlier in the year - see image 24392. Rob Paterson.

17th February 1986

Set number: P132

Class 121 Pressed Steel DMU 55032 (set P132) with Welsh dragon at Looe, 17-2-86. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

17th February 1986

Set number: P132

Class 121 Pressed Steel DMU 55032 (set P132) at Liskeard 17-2-86. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

19th March 1986

Set number: P132

Class 121 W55032 next to a Met-Camm centre car on Plymouth Laira depot, 19 March 1986. Keith Miller.

21st June 1986

Set number: TS032

55032 previously allocated to Canton and now transferred to Tyseley finds itself on Stourbridge Town shuttle services as it approaches Stourbridge Junction, 21/6/1986. Note the Welsh Dragon in the cab. Stephen Burdett.

12th July 1986

Class 121 55032 is seen at Tyseley not long after transfer from Cardiff Canton via Laira. Note the Welsh dragon on the front on 12.07.1986. Andy Cole.

circa late 1986

Set number: TS082

Before the advent of the Parry People Mover single car Tyseley DMMUs were used on the shuttles between Stourbridge Town and Junction stations. Here is 55032 approaching the Junction station in about late 1986, the unit had recently arrived from South Wales as shown by the Red Dragon logo on the cab front. Peter Tandy.

1987

Set number: TS082

55032, still with Valley Trains branding, at Stourbridge Town in 1987. The ex-C132 is about to work the 13:55 to Stourbridge Junction. Gazza Prescott.

circa 1986/7

55032 sitting in Stourbridge Junction station circa 1986/7. John Grey Turner.

circa 1986/7

Class 121 55032 approaches Stourbridge Junction after the short journey from Stourbridge Town circa 1986/7. John Grey Turner.

18th April 1987

Class 122 55009 was leading class 121 55032 on the morning of 18 April 1987 when I photographed them at Hatton as they left the main line at the Station Junction while on the way to Stratford-upon-Avon. Originally a West Country vehicle, 55032 was transferred to Cardiff Canton in October 1982 where it acquired the Red Dragon which it retained after going to Laira in September 1985 and then to Tyseley in May 1986. Peter Tandy.

24th January 1988

Set number: T032

Class 121 55032, set number T132, is seen stabled at Tyseley. It still retained the Welsh Dragon in this view on 24.01.1988. Andy Cole.

16th January 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 55032 (set T132) at Stourbridge Town on 16 January 1989. Taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

15th March 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMU 55032, set T132, arriving at Stourbridge Junction from Stourbridge Town on 15-3-89. Note the WM logo in the centre of the vehicle. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

15th March 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMU 55032, set T132, after arrival at Stourbridge Junction from Stourbridge Town on 15-3-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

15th March 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMU 55032, set T132, after arrival at Stourbridge Town from Stourbridge Junction on 15-3-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

15th March 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMU 55032, set T132, sitting in Stourbridge Town station on 15-3-89. The accident damage evident to the wall by bus station was thanks to an incident with 55033 on 21-01-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

15th March 1989

Set number: T132

Class 121 Pressed Steel single car DMU 55032, set T132, at Stourbridge Junction after arrival from Stourbridge Town on 15-3-89. This end (No.1, the non-van end) still carries the Welsh dragon despite being at Tyseley for almost three years. Note the broken wiper, and in the left cab window what seems like the traditional Tyseley black set number board has been turned over and 'Billy the Bubble Car' chalked on. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

circa August 1989

Set number: T132

Tyseley based class 121 "Bubble Car" 55032 seen arriving into the bay platform at Stourbridge Junction from Stourbridge town in the summer of 1989. Bob Belcher.

circa August 1989

Set number: T132

A view from the cab of class 121 55032 as it sits in the bay platform at Stourbridge Junction in the summer of 1989 awaiting its next short trip down the hill to Stourbridge Town. Bob Belcher.

1990

Set number: 012

Tyseley allocated class 121 single unit DMU 012 (55032) seen arriving at Bromsgrove in 1990. Bob Belcher.

February 1990

55032 sits in platform 1 at Stourbridge Junction in Feb 1990 waiting it's next trip to Stourbridge Town. Stephen Burdett.

1991

Set number: 012

55032 coming of the branch at Stourbridge Junction in 1991. John Law.

23rd March 1991

Set number: 012

230391 55032 arrives at Barnt Green to form the 1341 to Worcester F St Jason Hall.

27th April 1991

Set number: 012

Tyseley allocated Pressed Steel Class 121 single car unit 55032, seen as we passed through Worcester Shrub Hill on board the the Class 20 Locomotive Society's "The Last Great Moose Hunt", 27th April 1991. Andrew J Crowther.

27th April 1991

Set number: 012

In 1991 only a few trains between Birmingham and Worcester ran via and stopped at Bromsgrove which then had just one platform on the up side meaning that a line-blocking move was required. The trains were mostly operated with a single unit DMU such was the low demand for seats. On 27 April of that year 55032 was on duty and I photographed it approaching Droitwich Spa after travelling along the largely single track from Stoke Works Junction. There are 9 semaphore signals in view along with the remains of the rail-served coal depot which was in the process of closure and removal by this date. Peter Tandy.

11th May 1991

Set number: 012

Birmingham New Street on 11/5/91, 55032 has been added to the Class 108 on the 06:30 to Hereford to provide extra capacity. Gazza Prescott.

summer 1991

Set number: T012

Class 121 unit T012 (55032) seen arriving at Leamington Spa one evening in summer 1991. Bob Belcher.

Class 121 DMU at Vigo Bridge, Lickey Incline

20th August 1991

Set number: 012

Class 121 55032 descends the Lickey Incline at Vigo Bridge on Tuesday 20 August 1991 with what is likely a morning Birmingham to Worcester Shrub Hill service. Stuart Mackay Collection.

26th September 1991

55012 at Barnt Green Just as I arrived at Barnt Green on 26 September 1991 55032 was stopping at the up platform with a stopping train from Bromsgrove. My 35mm Olympus loaded with colour transparency film didn't fit into my bag with a lens attached so I took only this black & white picture of the class 121 single unit just as it pulled away. I did once ride on one of these units from Bromsgrove to Longbridge and the first part of the journey up the 1/37 gradient of the Lickey Incline from a standing start was a credit to the pair of 150bhp engines. Peter Tandy.

22nd November 1991

Set number: T012

Single units DMUs were not all that common on the Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon line by November 1991 so when I saw class 121 55032 (T012) arrive on 22 November I had a few shots. As the train left the station, platform 1 was being cleaned with a steam washer and two of the station staff, Aubrey Wheeler (left) and Roy Smith respectively were watching what was going on and taking a parcel to the Red Star office. Peter Tandy.

22nd November 1991

Set number: 012

As 55032 left Stratford for Leamington Spa I took the opportunity to take a powerfully backlit picture with some exhaust smoke as the unit passed under the GWR footbridge. I took a colour shot just before the train moved away but I think the black & white image works better. Peter Tandy.

1992

Set number: 012

55032 is working with T402 (presumably 51851 + 59614 + 59658 + 51146) when seen at Aston working the 12:28 Longbridge - Lichfield City. It was added to provide extra power, the 115 having a failed engine. Sometime in 1992. Gazza Prescott.

8th April 1992

Set number: 012

55032 in Stourbridge Town station on April 8, 1992. John Carter.

6th August 1992

Set number: 012

55032 with 55034 at Coventry with the 17:12 to Stoke, a rare working apparently, 6/8/92. Gazza Prescott.

21st August 1994

Set number: T007

977842 at Basford Hall open day, 21/8/94. Robert Frise.

21st August 1994

Set number: T007

Class 121 sandite DMU 977842 at Crewe Basford Hall open day on 21/8/94. John Grey Turner.

21st August 1994

Set number: T007

Class 121 sandite DMU 977842 at Crewe Basford Hall open day on 21/8/94. John Grey Turner.

28th August 1995

At an open day 55032 is present at Crewe Basford Hall on the 28th August 1995. Ian Buck.

30th June 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 was hauled from LNWR Crewe to Cardiff Canton (where it's pictured) on Friday 30th June 2006 behind a Class 50 (049). Alexander Guy.

30th June 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 at Canton on 30/6/06. It had been delivered that day from LNWR Crewe. Tom Clift.

30th June 2006

Set number: 121032

The guards van of 55032. The box on the right contained much of the modern gadgetry essential for its return to traffic on the Cardiff Bay line. 30th June 2006. Tom Clift.

30th June 2006

Set number: 121032

View from No.1 end towards van. 55032 on 30/6/06. Tom Clift.

30th June 2006

Set number: 121032

Inside 55032 on 30/6/06, this is the view from the van to No.1 end. Tom Clift.

3rd July 2006

Set number: 121032

A Class 50 (049) hauled 55032 to the Vale of Glamorgan Railway at Barry on Monday 3rd July 2006, where it was handed over to D9521. The bubble was then started up, and driven around to Barry Island hauling the Class 14. It was on the line for ATW driver and guard familiarisation. Martin Sprigg.

18th August 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen St on the morning of Friday 18th August 2006, it's first day back in traffic. Tom Clift.

14th September 2006

Set number: 121032

Arriva liveried 55032 at Cardiff Queen St on 14-9-06. John Law.

16th September 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen Street on the 16th September 2006. Phil Trotter.

16th September 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Bay, 16/09/06. Phil Trotter.

16th September 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 seen departing for Cardiff Queen Street on the 16/09/06 while on Cardiff Bay duties. Phil Trotter.

16th September 2006

Set number: 121032

55032 rests in Cardiff Bay station, awaiting it's next trip to Cardiff Queen Street on 16/9/06. Phil Trotter.

May 2007

Set number: 121032

55032 crossing the Old Glamorgan Canal Link to Cardiff Bute Docks on the Cardiff Queen Street - Bay (Bute Road) line in May '07. Chris Dawe.

26th June 2007

Set number: 121032

55032 departs from Cardiff Queen Street with the 16:27 to Cardiff Bay on 26 June 2007. Robert Thomas.

26th June 2007

Set number: 121032

55032 departs from Cardiff Queen Street on June 26th 2007 with the 16:27 service to Cardiff Bay. Robert Thomas.

24th October 2007

55032 is at Cardiff Queen Street on the Cardiff Bay shuttle 24th October 2007. Ian Buck.

24th October 2007

55032 waits to leave Cardiff Queen Street for Cardiff Bay on the 24th October 2007. Ian Buck.

24th October 2007

55032 has arrived at Cardiff Bay on the 24th October 2007. Ian Buck.

1st December 2007

Set number: 121032

55032 waiting to leave Cardiff Queen Street for Cardiff Bay with the 11.42 departure on 1st December 2007. Robert Thomas.

25th January 2008

Set number: 121032

55032 arriving at Cardiff Queen Street on the 15.19 from Cardiff Bay on the 25th January 2008. Robert Thomas.

27th March 2008

Set number: 121032

Pressed Steel Class 121 Railcar, unit No.121 032, car No.55032 of Arriva Trains Wales at Cardiff Queen Street on the Cardiff Bay shuttle on 27 March 2008. Hugh Llewelyn.

27th March 2008

Set number: 121032

55032 in Cardiff Bay station on 27 March 2008. Hugh Llewelyn.

31st March 2009

Set number: 121032

121032 passes Aberthaw on 31 Mar 2009. John Grey Turner.

15th June 2009

Set number: 121032

Pressed Steel Class 121 Railcar No.121 032 (55032) of Arriva Trains Wales at Cardiff Queen Street on the Cardiff Bay shuttle, 15/6/09. Hugh Llewelyn.

18th August 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Bay on August 18, 2009. Nigel Walls.

18th August 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen St on August 18, 2009. Nigel Walls.

18th September 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 with the 14:18 ex-Cardiff Bay at Cardiff Queen Street on September 18, 2009. John Carter.

18th September 2009

Set number: 121032

The interior of 55032 on September 18, 2009. John Carter.

18th September 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Bat with the 14:30 to Cardiff Queen Street on September 18, 2009. John Carter.

18th September 2009

Set number: 121032

550320 approaching Cardiff Bay with the 14:36 ex-Cardiff Queen Street on September 18, 2009. John Carter.

18th December 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen Street on December 18, 2009. Alex Drennan.

18th December 2009

Set number: 121032

Alone at Cardiff Bay 121032 (55032) waits to return to Cardiff Queen Street on December 18, 2009. Alex Drennan.

19th December 2009

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen Street on December 19, 2009. Alex Drennan.

19th December 2009

Set number: 121032

121032 approaching Queen Street on December 19, 2009, with the Cardiff Bay Shuttle service which ran every 12 minutes. Alex Drennan.

2nd April 2010

Set number: 121032

121032 on the Heol-y-Frenhines/Cardiff-Queen-Street to Bae Caerdydd / Cardiff Bay (Bute Street) shuttle service on April 2nd, 2010. Alex Drennan.

2011

Set number: 121032

Welcome to the Capital City of Wales - have a ride on a 50 year old DMU. 55032 taken in 2011. Peter Brabham.

23rd July 2011

Set number: 121032

55032 departing from Cardiff Queen Street on July 23, 2011. Alex Drennan.

September 2011

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen Street in September 2011. Peter Brabham.

17th December 2011

Set number: 121032

Riding the Cardiff Bay bubble, the view from 55032 on December 17, 2011. Alex Drennan.

17th December 2011

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Bay with the shuttle to Cardiff Queen Street on December 17 2011. Alex Drennan.

18th January 2013

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Queen Street on January 13th, 2013. Alex Drennan.

18th January 2013

Set number: 121032

55032 at Cardiff Bay on January 18th, 2013. Alex Drennan.

2nd February 2013

Set number: 121032

On February 2nd 2013 55032 is seen in Cardiff Queen Street station. Alex Drennan.

2nd February 2013

Set number: 121032

55032 in Cardiff Queen Street station on February 2, 2013. Alex Drennan.

6th February 2013

Set number: 121032

55032 in Cardiff Queen Street station with the Cardiff Bay shuttle on February 6th, 2013. Alex Drennan.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 3rd July 1986

Set number: TS083

On 3 July 1986 55033 + 55004 + 55032 were on a diagram that included the 18.30 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham Moor Street. I lived near to the line in those days and had seen the train arrive from my kitchen window so had grabbed a camera, had a quick chat with the signalman and made my way to this spot with the gasholders, still in use at the time, and the middle starter signal prominent in the picture. The leading unit, 55033, was the one selected to receive Midline livery a few months later. Peter Tandy.

Date: 15th March 1989

Set number: T316

DMU line up at Stourbridge Junction on 15-3-89. Class 121 single car 55032, 150 106 and Class 118 DMBS 51306 from set T316. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

Date: 15th July 1989

Set number: T133

One of Tyseley depot's odder combinations photographed at Northfield in Birmingham on 15 July 1989. Four-car sets were often used on the Cross City services between Four Oaks and Redditch and it seems that the depot was really struggling to find enough sets to go around as this formation was made up of class 121 single unit 55033 (in Midline livery), a 2 car class 108 and and class 121 single car 55032. In retrospect I should have stayed on for the return but moved to the other side of Birmingham to photograph some freight on the Leamington Spa line. Peter Tandy.

Date: 10th August 1992

Set number: T014

By 10 August 1992 single unit DMUs were not an everyday sight on the inadequate 2 hourly trains between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon so it was worth a walk to the station when 55034 + 55032 were working the 17.05 to Leamington. This shot was taken just as the units were leaving the station and not long after resignalling had meant that a shunt from platform 1, historically the arrivals platform, to P2 was no longer necessary. The rust on the then little used tracks on P2 can been clearly seen. Peter Tandy.

Date: 7th July 1993

Set number: 117306

A view of Tyseley carriage sidings at around 12.30 on 7/7/93. Visible from left to right are : 977752 (ex-51306 - part of former Sandite unit T007), 977842 (ex-55032 - part of the then-current T007), 117 306 (51369/59521/51411) and T317 (51314/59481/51329). T317 was soon to be disbanded but, at this stage, still retained its as-delivered formation, some 33 years after it was put into service. It was also the only complete class 118 still in service. 117 306 would be officially transferred to Haymarket, to see out its last six years of life on the likes of Fife peakhour workings, just two days later. Leonard Rogers.

Date: 4th February 2014

Set number: 121034

Three class 121 single diesel units, "bubble cars", were set for transfer from Tyseley Steam Trust to Aylesbury on Tuesday 4 February 2014. I have always had a soft spot for these as it was in one of them that I had my first-ever rail trip when a youngster when being taken by my father to Leamington Spa on an early spotting trip. I didn't know which units were being moved and was pleased when the multi-coloured cavalcade (55034, 55032 and 977873) came around the curve from Hatton North Junction. The train, 5A00, left Tyseley 51 minutes late but after being able to miss out a scheduled stop in Dorridge loop was only 18 minutes down when I pressed the shutter. The sun was fully out at the scheduled passing time of 5A00, went behind some thick cloud for a few minutes around the actual passing time and, naturally, was fully out again by the time I drove out of Hatton station's car park. Peter Tandy.

➤