Vehicle 55027 / 977975

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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	81C (Southall)
by Jun-62	Transferred to	81D (Reading)
May-69	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
w/e 08/07/72	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
May-73	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
2w/e 29/12/79	Transferred to	LA (Laira)
w/e 03/03/80	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
Jun-87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
01/02/93	Transferred to	BY (Bletchley) NNDX	- as L127
Dec-02	To departmental stock
Apr-08	Withdrawn

Notes

8th April 1989 - Seen in ex-works NSE livery after Doncaster Works overhaul
17/11/98 - Named 'Bletchley TMD' at Bletchley TMD, the nameplate carried at waist level on the white band of the Silverlink livery at the guards van end.

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55027 - original number
977975 - from Dec-02 (departmental stock)

Department Use as 977975

Severn Tunnel Emergency Unit From 12/02 to 4/08. Carried set number 960302

Modifications

p/e 29/12/73 - Dual AWS fitted
Jun-75 - WR AWS removed
p/e 26/11/77 - Leyland engines fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 03/03/1981 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

LA103	55027								Listed at Laira - circa Apr-71
L127	55027								Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L127	55027								Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area1
L127	55027								Noted 26/05/1977 - Oxford Station1
L127	55027								Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L127	55027								Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L127	55027								Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L127	55027								Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L127	55027								Noted circa 11/19852
	55027	54287							Noted 05/04/19862
L127	55027								Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
	55027	54283							Noted 13/09/19862
L127	55027								Noted 25/02/1987 - at Old Oak Common3
L127	55027								Noted circa 08/19872
L127	55027								Listed at OO - Aug-87
L127	55027	53539							Noted 04/03/1988 - London Paddington-Reading service, observed at Taplow. Set number on 53539 end not noted. Information from Nigel Mack.4
L127	55027								Listed at - 15/05/89
L127	55027								Noted circa 11/19892
L127	55027								Listed at OO - 21/01/91
	55027	55030							Noted 09/04/92 - on 13:47 Paddington - Reading5
	55027	59514	55031						Listed at - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L127	55027								Listed at - 12/08/92
L127	55027								Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
	55027	59501	51391						Noted 09/11/92 - on 13:12 Reading - Paddington5
L127	55027								Listed at BY - November 1993 - Sector NNDX
	55023	55027							Noted 17/07/1996 - 1940 Bedford to Bletchley
	55027	55029							Noted 10/10/98 - on 2N17 13:50 Bletchley - Bedford5
	55027	55031							Noted 12/05/99 - on 2N16 14:40 Bedford - Bletchley5
	55027	55029							Noted 11/06/99 - on 2N24 18:46 Bedford - Bletchley5

Formation Sources
1: Shayne Lewis
2: Eddie Knorn
3: Robert Chilton
4: Chris Moxon
5: David Bellamy

Images:

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22nd September 1961

W55027 is working the 3.36pm Didcot - Newbury when seen on the Newbury line at Didcot, September 22nd 1961. Michael Mensing.

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22nd September 1961

Pressed Steel "double-ender" W55027 on the Newbury line at Didcot with a Didcot-Newbury service on 22nd September 1961. Michael Mensing.

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22nd September 1961

Pressed Steel double-ender W55027 arrives at Didcot on September 22nd, 1961 with the 1.57pm Newbury - Didcot working. Michael Mensing.

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circa mid-1960s

W55027 at Wargrave on the Henley branch line. Date unknown, circa mid-1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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circa mid-1960s

A scan from a damaged print showing W55027 in Wargrave station on the Henley branch line. Date unknown, circa mid-1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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17th August 1969

W55027 is seen in Bourne End station with the 13:16 (SO) to Marlow on 17 August 1969. Robert Thomas.

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September 1970

Set number: 127

Pressed Steel Company class 121 single car diesel unit W55027 is seen at Exeter St Davids in September 1970. Paul Braybrook.

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1971

Set number: 127

55027 at North Tawton, near Okehampton, Devon, in 1971 Graeme Phillips Collection.

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Unknown date

Set number: 127

Double bubble at Liskeard. Set number 127 means this should be 55027, the other is 129 (55029). Date unknown, but both were allocated to Plymouth 1968/69-72. Stuart Rankin.

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summer 1971

Set number: 127

Class 121 55027 in the Looe platform of Liskeard station, Cornwall, Summer 1971. Bryan Jeyes.

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30th March 1974

Set number: L127

Class 121 L127 is seen at Newbury 30/3/74. Adrian Vaughan.

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1975

Set number: L127

55027 in the bay platform in Greenford in 1975. John Law.

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1976

Set number: L127

55027 is seen at Ealing Broadway on a wet day in 1976. John Law.

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9th May 1979

Set number: L127

Class 121 DMU W55027 alongside 33 001 in Oxford station on 9 May 1979. Brian Daniels.

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16th October 1979

Set number: L127

55027 calls at Castlebar Park on the 16th October 1979. Ian Buck.

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circa 1981

Set number: L127

55027 is seen being used to drag saloon 999506 about, circa 1981. It is seen during a breakfast stop in Park Royal yard. Richard Himson.

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15th August 1981

Set number: L127

55027 sits in the bay platform at Greenford on the 15th August 1981. Chris Lings.

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21st April 1982

Set number: L127

W55027 and a trailer on a Oxford - Banbury local passes the delightful signalbox at Aynho junction on the 21st April 1982. Andy Hoare.

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10th September 1982

Set number: L127

55027 and a trailer seen at Clink Road on the 10th September 1982. Steve Davies Collection.

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11th June 1983

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027 in the bay platform at Greenford on 11 June 1983. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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11th June 1983

Set number: L127

Class 121 DMU W55027 seen in the bay platform at Greenford on 11 June 1983. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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9th July 1984

Set number: L127

Class 121 Pressed Steel DMBS 55027 and DTS 54286 at Windsor & Eton Central with the 20:40 to Slough, 9-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

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30th July 1984

Set number: L127

The Greenford branch shuttle 'Bubble car' is seen in platform 3 at Ealing Broadway station waiting to work the 15.25 to Greenford. The branch proper leaves the West of England mainline at West Ealing Junction but West Ealing station was never a suitable location to reverse the train at. Instead it ran through to the busier Ealing Broadway station where London Underground connections were also available and there was a turn back siding at the east end of the station between the relief and fast lines. Adrian Nicholls.

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14th April 1985

Set number: L127

The 11.22 Reading - Paddington service, comprising Class 121 55027 and a Class 117 unit, approaches Twyford West on the up main on 14 April 1985. Robert28194.

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1986

Set number: L127

A Class 121 DMU in Oxford station circa summer 1986. Although unidentified, the faint L in the set number suggests in is 55027. Brian Ward.

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21st February 1987

Set number: L127

W55027 at Ealing Broadway, 21/2/87. Malcolm Clements.

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21st February 1987

Set number: L127

W55027 arrives into Ealing Broadway as a Class 117 deports. Malcolm Clements.

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25th February 1987

Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55027 of Reading is seen smoking away quietly to itself, in front of Class 117 DMS no. 51383 also from Reading, in the carriage sidings at Old Oak Common on 25 February 1987. Robert Chilton.

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circa summer 1987

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027 seen arriving at Oxford circa summer 1987. Brian Ward.

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23rd January 1988

Set number: L127

On the 23rd January 1988 triple bubble formation W55027, 55020 and 55021 are seen at Oxford. Ian McDonald.

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15th March 1988

Set number: L127

Class 121 bubble 55027 hauls DTS 54280 through Ealing Broadway on 15/3/88. Malcolm Clements.

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1988

Set number: L127

Bubble car 55027 waits time at Oxford with the Bicester shuttle in 1988. Robert Chilton Collection.

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8th April 1989

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027, set number L127, is seen stabled on Tyseley depot carrying Network South East livery on 08.04.1989. Andy Cole.

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1990

Set number: L127

Pressd Steal class 121 "bubblecar" unit L127 (55027) seen in the bay platform at Slough forming a service to Windsor on a summer's evening in 1990. Bob Belcher.

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Unknown date

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027 at Paddington. Date unknown, it was painted into NSE livery in 1988 and this would be between then and moving to Bedford in 1993. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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22nd March 1990

Set number: L127

Class 121, 55027, set L127, departs Oxford station. 22nd March 1990. Paul James.

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4th October 1990

Set number: L127

Bubble car 55027 at Paddington on October 4th, 1990. Rex Holt.

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16th February 1991

Set number: L127

Pressed Steel Class 121 "bubble car" 55027 departs from Paddington station on 16 February 1991. Dave Warby.

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22nd May 1991

Set number: L127

A Pressed Steel hybrid set with Class 121 bubble car 55027 working with Class 117 vehicles 59519 + 51409 (set L429). They are on the 12:10 Reading - London Paddington seen at Maidenhead on 22 May 1991. John Carter.

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27th July 1991

Set number: L127

55027 with 59519 & 51409 at Paddington on 27/7/91, working the 11:20 to Maidenhead. Sparegang.

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2nd August 1991

Set number: L127

A three coach assembly accelerating away from the then recently remodelled West Ealing station with an afternoon Paddington to Slough service. The leading part of this train is Second version NSE liveried L127 and the rear two vehicles are from Set L429. 2 August 1991. Alistair Fyffe.

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12th August 1991

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027 after arrival at Marlow with the 14:29 from Maidenhead on 12 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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12th August 1991

Set number: L127

55027 at Maidenhead with the 14:29 to Marlow on 12 August 1991. It's coupled to another (non-suburban) vehicle and a Class 117 is further back on the platform. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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17th April 1992

Set number: L127

55027 as part of a 'double bubble' set with 59519 & 55023. Seen at Paddington after arriving on the 12:48 from Slough, 17th April 1992. Gazza Prescott.

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Unknown date

Set number: L127

55027 at Ivor, heading two Class 117 vehicles. Undated. Robert Frise Collection.

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31st March 1993

Set number: L127

55027 with a Class 108 set at Bedford Midland on March 31, 1993. John Carter.

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17th April 1993

Set number: L127

Network Southeaqst Class 121 'Bubble Car' No. 55027 with retro-green 55023 stand at Bedford before working the 13:40 service to Bletchley on 17 April 1993. Brian Creasey.

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17th July 1993

Set number: L127

Pressed Steel Class 121 bubble car at Bletchley with the 10:40 from Bedford on July 17, 1993. John Carter.

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21st August 1993

Set number: L127

55027 on the 10:50 Bletchley - Bedford Midland, seen at Lidlington on 21/8/93. Gazza Prescott.

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Unknown date

Set number: L127

Class 121 55027 with a classmate at Bedford, date unknown. John Grey Turner.

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Unknown date

Set number: L127

Pressed Steel bubble car 55023 in Bedford station, date unknown. John Grey Turner.

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2nd April 1994

Set number: L127

55027 arrives into Bedford where it will terminate with the 12:50 ex-Bedford on April 2nd, 1994. John Carter.

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2nd April 1994

Set number: L127

55027 at Bletchley with the 14:50 to Bedford on 2/4/94. John Carter.

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16th April 1994

Set number: L127

Network Southeast Class 121 DMU No. 55027 stands at Bletchley working the 11:50 service to Bedford on 16 April 1994. Brian Creasey.

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17th April 1994

Set number: L127

Class 121 set no. L127 at Bletchley on Bedford - Bletchley shuttle duties. Robert Chilton.

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17th April 1994

Set number: L127

Class 121 set no. L127 at Bletchley on Bedford - Bletchley shuttle duties. Robert Chilton.

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August 1994

Set number: L127

55027 sits in the stabling sidings at Bletchley in August 1994. Ian Buck.

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circa October 1995

Set number: L127

Pressed Steel Class 121 bubble car 55027 at Clapham Junction while on Willesden Junction duties circa October 1995. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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October 1998

Set number: L127

Bubbles 55027 + 55029 at Bletchley on October 1998. David Page.

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Unknown date

55027 "Bletchley TMD" at Bletchley in the late '90s, with NSE liveried 55031. Graham Baker.

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1999

Set number: 121027

Taken on 121027's first outing in passenger service in Silverlink colours, when it was paired with 121031 all day, and seen here at Bletchley. Lee Ellershaw.

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1999

Set number: 121027

Taken on 121027's first outing in passenger service in Silverlink colours. It was paired with 121031 all day, and seen here at Bletchley. Lee Ellershaw.

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Unknown date

Set number: 121027

55027 and 55029 at Bedford, undated. Robert Frise Collection.

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2nd February 1999

Set number: 121027

55027 with 55031 at Bletchley on the 11:50 to Bedford, 2/2/99. After displacement by 150 units 55027 became departmental 977860. Sparegang.

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2nd February 1999

Set number: 121027

55027 with 55031 at Bedford, 2/2/99. Sparegang.

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March 1999

Set number: 121027

121027 and another 121 pass Forders Sidings' Down Starting signal and are about to cross Wootton Broadmead Level Crossing with a Bedford-bound service in March 1999. Paul Fleet.

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17th May 1999

Pressed Steel bubble car 55027 in Silverlink livery at Bedford Midland on 17th May 1999. David Page.

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25th May 1999

Set number: 121027

Pressed Steel class 121 'Bubble Cars' Nos.55027 'Bletchley TMD' (in Silverlink livery) and 55031 'Leslie Crabbe'(in Network Southeast livery) rasp away from Stewartby station forming a Bedford to Bletchley service on 25 May 1999. This was meant to be a Fuji colour transparency, but at the end of the day when I rewound the film and opened the film back I discovered that I had been using Agfa Scala B&W transparency film for the whole of the mostly sunny day. Such were the trials and tribulations of using film cameras! Gordon Edgar.

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1st July 1999

Set number: 121027

55027 and 55031 at Millbrook on the 1st July 1999. Ian McDonald.

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3rd February 2000

Set number: 127

Stabled at the back of Bletchley Depot 55027 is seen in Silverlink livery on the 3rd February 2000. Ian Buck.

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15th April 2000

Set number: 121027

55027 and 55029 taken on the 15th April 2000 at Woburn Sands. Ian McDonald.

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Unknown date

Set number: 121027

Silverlink liveried 55027 inside Bletchley TMD. Date unknown. Graham Baker.

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Unknown date

Set number: 121027

55027 seen at Bedford. Undated. Robert Frise Collection.

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circa May 2002

Set number: 121027

121027 at the head of the line-up of stabled heritage DMUs on the Branch Siding at Aylesbury. Immediately behind is 960015 (975042). Greg Scott.

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17th December 2009

Set number: 960302

The two Severn Tunnel emergency units 977975 (set 960302, ex-55027) and 977976 (set 960303, ex-55031) at Cardiff Canton on December 17, 2009. They are both withdrawn and are used as source of spares for the 121 unit that runs on the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay line. Alex Drennan.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

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Date: 17th August 1969

Set number: 121

Two Pressed Steel 'bubble cars' in Bourne End station on 17 August 1969. Closest is W55021 with the 12:26 Marlow-Maidenhead - is the staff member attaching a red flag rather than a tail lamp? On the left is W55027 with the 11:00 from High Wycombe. Robert Thomas.

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Date: unknown

Set number: 129

55029 and 55027 at Looe. Date unknown, but in the period 1969-72. Stuart Rankin.

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Date: 19th October 1979

Set number: L124

A nocturnal scene at London Paddington on the evening of October 19th 1979. Class 121 single unit W55024 with its unpowered Driving Trailer Second (DTS) W56281 was stood with a service to Hayes & Harlington. Behind was Class 121 single unit W55027 that had been used on the Ealing Broadway to Greenford shuttle service. Martyn Hilbert.

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Date: 29th January 1988

Set number: 122

From left to right - 54070 (L201), 55022 (carrying set number 122), 55027 and 55020 at Reading on the 29th January 1988. The bubbles are each carrying a different livery. Ian McDonald.

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Date: 8th April 1989

Set number: L703

Class 104 53470, set number L703, is seen stabled on Tyseley on 08.04.1989 while en route from Doncaster Works to Old Oak Common following overhaul. It is next to Class 121 55027. Andy Cole.

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Date: 8th April 1989

Set number: L703

Class 104 53429, set number L703, is seen stabled on Tyseley on 08.04.1989 with 53470, 55027 (right) and 54289 (left), all of which carry Network South East livery. Andy Cole.

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Date: 8th April 1989

Set number: L703

Class 104, set number L703, vehicle 53470 (with 53429 out of shot), stabled at Tyseley on 8th April 1989. Class 121 set number L127, vehicle 55027 to right of shot. Andrew Slack.

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Date: 17th April 1993

Set number: L123

Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55023 and 55027 stand at Bedford before working the 13:40 service to Bletchley on 17 April 1993. Brian Creasey.

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Date: 21st December 1996

Set number: L720

Two-car Class 117 DMU set L720 (presumably 51354 + 51396) with a Class 121 on the rear (thought to be 55027) at Lidlington on 21-12-1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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Date: October 1998

Set number: 121029

Two NSE Class 121 bubbles at Bletchley in October 1998, 55029 and 55027. David Page.

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Date: October 1998

Set number: 121029

121029 (55029) and L127 (55027) at Bletchley in October 1998. David Page.

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Date: October 1998

Set number: 121029

Bubbles face to face at Bletchley in October 1998. Note 55029 (left) has round corners to the black 'mask' round the cab windows, 55027 (right) has a square corner. David Page.

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Date: 14th October 1998

Set number: 121029

Class 121 single units 55029 and 55027 at Millbrook working the 15.30 Bletchley-Bedford on Wednesday 14 October 1998. Lewis Bevan.

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Date: 1999

Set number: 121031

55031 worked all day on 55027's first outing on passenger use in Silverlink colours, and the pair are seen here at Bletchley. Lee Ellershaw.

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Date: unknown

Set number: 121029

55029 and 55027 at Bedford. Undated. Robert Frise Collection.

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Date: 1999

Set number: 121029

Three bubbles - 55029, 55031 and 55027 along with a stored Class 117 at Bletchley in 1999. Graham Baker.

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Date: 2nd February 1999

Set number: 121031

55031 with 55027 at Bletchley on the 11:50 to Bedford, 2/2/99. After displacement by 150 units 55027 became departmental 977976. Sparegang.

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Date: 1st May 1999

Four bubbles at Bletchley on the 1st May 1999. From left to right: 977723, 55031, 55027 & 55029. Note the number on Silverlink 55027 is missing the final two digits. Ian McDonald.

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Date: 23rd June 1999

Set number: 121031

55031 + 55027 at Bletchley on 23/6/99. Note the destination. Sparegang.

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Date: unknown

Set number: 121029

55029 with 55027 behind, seen at Bedford. Undated. Robert Frise Collection.

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Date: 15th April 2000

Set number: 121029

55029 and 55027 head away from the camera between Kempston and Hardwick on 15/4/2000. Ian McDonald.

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Date: 13th May 2000

Set number: 121029

Triple bubbles! 55029, 55027 & 55031 at Lidlington on 13th May 2000. Ian McDonald.

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Date: 13th May 2000

Set number: 121031

55031, 55027 and 55029 seen at Lidlington on 13/5/00. Greg Scott notes "The destination blind box shows HI. Presumably when the units were transferred to Great Eastern from Bletchley, the original blinds were removed to be replaced with Marks Tey/Sudbury. When the units were transferred back to Bletchley, the blinds weren't replaced. These units were subsequently transferred to Aylesbury Depot, where I noted that whoever left the message 'HI' did so with Panini football stickers!" Ian McDonald.

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Date: 13th May 2000

Set number: 121031

Triple bubble formation 55031, 55027 and 55029 seen at Stewartby on 13th May 2000. Ian McDonald.

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Date: 29th June 2000

Silverlink and NSE bubble cars seen on the Up Main with a Route learning special seen from the Down Tower at Bescot on 29 June 2000. Both vehicles are named, so they are either 55027, 55029 or 55031. Simon Barnes.