Class 103 Park Royal 2-car DMUs
Non-Passenger Use
| Original | Prefix | New | Type | Details | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50396 | RDB | 975089 | DMBS | Rail Top 'Trim' Lab Coach 5 - Track recording Car with 975090 | 1/6/70 | 3/90 |
| 50397 | DB | 975137 | DMBS | CCE Viaduct Inspection Unit No.1. The departmental number was never carried by the vehicle. | 2/71 | 7/78 |
| 56156 | ADB | 977047 | DTC | Sandite | 12/81 | 1985 |
| 56160 | DB | 975228 | DTC | CCE Viaduct Inspection Unit | 2/71 | 7/78 |
| 56162 | RDB | 975090 | DTC | Rail Top 'Trim' Lab Coach 5 - Track recording Car with 975089 | 01/06/70 | 3/90 |
Research Department
The set at York sometime in the 1980s. Graeme Phillips Collection.
The Derby RTC Lab5 set was used by the Derby Railway Technical Centre mainly for developing new systems (though it was borrowed for operational duties from time to time). It was painted into their house colours of rail blue / red with yellow ends. Initially it retained it's route indicator box, this was later painted over. Its travels around the country included the only visit of a 103 to Scotland.
Edwin Marks notes "around 1989 someone crunched the gearbox and thereafter it had to be hauled usually by the Research Class 31 (though I think it was sometimes loco hauled before that)". After withdrawal the set left Derby on the 12th February '91 for Mayer Parry at Snailwell. The same 9X14 working also included Class 116 53063/119 and Class 104 53451/529.
Viaduct Inspection Unit
The set at Long Rock, Penzance on the 4th August, 1974. Arnie Furniss.
After 50397/56160 were withdrawn from Chester on 17/2/71 they were earmarked for service as a 'Viaduct Inspection Unit'. Strangely only the former DTC carried its new number (noted at Penzance Depot as such on 31/7/72 & 9/8/73). The power car was painted all over yellow and labelled on each side "Chief Civil Engineer's Department Universal Viaduct Inspection Unit No.1", the trailer remained in blue.
They appear to have been little used, if at all, and were stored at places such as Penzance, Plymouth, Harwich, Didcot and Old Oak Common before withdrawal in 1978. They were later preserved.
The first DMU Sandite conversion
At Wigans Spring Branch in October 1983. S Gaskell.
After 56156 was withdrawn from passenger use at Chester in February 1981 it moved to Carlisle Currock where it would become a sandite vehicle as 977047, along with several Class 105 driver trailers. Externally the conversion involved removing the gangway and plating over the gangway door, adding a large window in the former doorway with wiper. That end also had two marker lights added, these changes suggested that there was intentions of propelling the vehicle. The inner end was painted yellow, 'SANDITE VEHICLE' was painted on the bodyside and it was renumbered as 977047. It would be based at Wigan Springs Branch (along with 977051).
It continued in its new role until after the 1985 sandite season, and scrapped at Vic Berry's, Leicester, in 1986.