Class 104 BRC&W 2, 3 & 4-car DMUs
Non-passenger use
Some members of the class found themselves involved in Departmental duties following their withdrawal from passenger service. These vehicles were allocated new numbers:
| Original | Prefix | New | Type | Details | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50422 | ADB | 977344 | DMBS | RTC use - M&EE Test Unit | 11/85 | 11/86 |
| 50475 | ADB | 977342 | DMBS | Carriage Washing Test Coach | 11/85 | 1988 |
| 50506 | ADB | 977343 | DMC | M&EE Test Unit | 11/85 | 11/86 |
| 56182 | ADB | 977554 | DTC | Sandite | 6/89 | 12/92 |
| 56183 | ADB | 977555 | DTC | Sandite | 12/87 | 12/92 |
Sandite
M54182 was converted to sandite car ADB977554 during early 1988 at Gorton Road C&W Works (Manchester) and at the end of 1987. Buxton TMD converted M54183 to sandite car ADB977555.
The gangway end of both vehicles was adapted having marker lights and horns fitted and painted yellow so they could be propelled. Both vehicles had the gangway removed, 977554 had the end door plated over with a window added with a wiper fitted, 977555 kept the sliding gangway door and had a wiper fitted to the window. The image shows 977554 at Buxton on 17th February 1991, the white containers for the sandite clearly visible. Kevin Dowd.
Three power cars in Scotland ('Mexican Bean' 53434 / 53424 and 53430) lingered for some time between withdrawal and disposal and it has been hinted they may have been intended to become Sandite cars[1].
Railway Technical Centre
The Derby RTC has also used various other 104s in addition to those in the table above, including 53451/454/475/499/528/529, although none were used for any period of time.
53451/529 had been used as part of the DMU Auto-gear and carriage washing experiments. They left the RTC as 9X14 for Mayer Parry at Snailwell on 12/2/91 accompanied by Class 103 DB975089/90 and Class 116 53063/119. They are seen in the photograph at Etches Park on 3/2/91, days before leaving for Snailwell. Kevin Dowd.
References
- ⋏ "A New Dawn" by Jim McVicar, p11 Issue 5, April 1989 Ten Four, journal of the 104 DMU Preservation Society