Caerwent

In December 2003 about a dozen Class101 cars were moved from Longsight to part of the MOD site at Caerwent where a private firm, JT landscapes, was cutting up scrap vehicles. All were gone by the end of January 2004, except for late arrival set 101692 which eventually left for preservation.

4th January 2004

51253 from 101691 being stripped of parts by preservationists at Caerwent on 4th January 2004. Peter Wreford.

A row of 101s awaiting their fate at Caerwent on 4th January 2004. Peter Wreford.

51230, ex-101656 at Caerwent on 4th January 2004. Peter Wreford.

51533 awaiting the chop at Caerwent on 4th January 2004. Peter Wreford.

51533 at Caerwent on 4th January 2004. Peter Wreford.

A line of 101s for scrapping at Caerwent on 4/1/04, with 51533 stripped of many parts. Peter Wreford.

10th January 2004

53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. Part of the MOD site was being used by the firm JT Landscapes to scrap Class 101 vehicles (as well as other rolling stock). The vehicle more relatively intact, all the others behind had had all their bodyside windows removed. Stuart Mackay.

The front saloon of 53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The upper left formica panel on the cab bulkhead seems to have been replaced at some point with a blue panel rather than green. Stuart Mackay.

The centre saloon of 53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. Stuart Mackay.

The van of 53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. As far as I can remember the vehicle arrived with the parts in the van. Note the end window on the left is painted over, the one on the right beside the guards seat is not. Stuart Mackay.

The van in 53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The two black boxes in the bulkhead are the start relays for the two engines. Stuart Mackay.

The van in 53253 at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. This is the non-driver-side, looking towards the front. In the corner is a heater duct / vent. The side walls are plywood. Stuart Mackay.

Van details, 53253 taken at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. This is above the doors on the no.1 (drivers) side with the buzzer, a fuse and the light switch on a small panel. On the right is the emergency brake and a vacuum gauge. Stuart Mackay.

Van details, 53253, after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The is the doors on the no.2 (non-drivers) side. Manchester guards seemed to have named many of the 101s in the final years, this one seems to be 'The Jockinator', seen beside the 'E'. Stuart Mackay.

The drivers compartment in 53253 after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. Being an early vehicle it has the larger heater control panels, rather than the smaller style which allowed through train controls via relays. Stuart Mackay.

Drivers compartment details, taken in 53253 after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The red valve to the right of the door is connected to the emergency chain, allowing air into the vacuum system when the chain is pulled. It would also be reset here. The plastic container on the right contains flags and detonators. Stuart Mackay.

Drivers compartment details, taken in 53253 after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. This was the access to the destination blind, hinged at the top and the handle on the right to turn the blind. I took this as this angle so the light would catch the layers of vehicle numbers on the back of this panel, including an early version that started 'Car No'. Stuart Mackay.

Drivers controls, 53253, after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The throttle is on the left, gears on the right. The lower black panel included the controls for the marker lights on the cab front, the two hexagonal switches had three positions (up, centre, down) as each marker light had two bulbs. The items above the switches were indicator lamps, now missing their covers, showing the marker lights were on. The silver panel to the right of the switch panel was for TPWS. Stuart Mackay.

Drivers desk details, 53253, after withdrawal at Caerwent on January 10, 2004. The brake handle would be fitted to the round valve in the centre, the parking brake is partially seen to the right. The two gauges in the centre are for vacuum (duplex gauge on left) and for air pressure. Stuart Mackay.

22nd January 2004

51177 was the last 101 vehicle to be cut up at Caerwent, on January 22nd 2004. It's cab was removed first for preservation. Stuart Mackay.

51177 during scraping at Caerwent, 22/1/04, with it's cab removed for preservation. Stuart Mackay.

The cab of 51177 is set aside after removing from the vehicle at Caerwent on 22/1/04. It would go the Midland Railway Butterley for contract restoration before moving to its new owner. Stuart Mackay.

51177 after its cab was removed at Caerwent, 22/1/04. This cutaway view shows details not normally seen, such as the details of the underframe and bodywork construction. Stuart Mackay.

51177 demolition at Caerwent, 22/1/04. The digger cuts a line down the centre of the roof to split the vehicle in two. The roof is aluminium and cuts through easily. Stuart Mackay.

51177 demolition at Caerwent. After the roof is split in two, the side was pulled down then ripped off along the bottom edge. Stuart Mackay.

51177 demolition at Caerwent, 22/1/04. With one side removed, the next step would be to drag the body off its bogies onto the ground so the other side could be ripped off. Stuart Mackay.

The cabs from 51177 and 53211 saved for preservation at Caerwent on 22/1/04. Stuart Mackay.