Class 108 Derby 2,3 & 4-car DMUs
Accidents
These are some of the accidents that are known to involve Class 108s.
1961 - Bradford Hammerton St depot, LMR
Derailment involving Class 108
A Class 108 derailed over points in Bradford Hammerton Street depot.
03/06/64 - Bradford (Exchange) Station, NER
Collision involving Class 108 / Steam
Info from Bill Read, Malcolm Paul Peter Mullen, p600 July 1964 Railway Magazine
The 4.25pm Manchester-Leeds DMU descended the steep gradient into the station and collided with the stationary parcels train at about 50 mph. The leading car M51944 was destroyed. Damage to the steam locomotive (class 5 4-6-0 44695) and M52059 was minimal. More Details.
circa early 1966 - Unknown location
Collision involving Class 108
Info from Vic Smith
56226 sustained collision to the cab, details of the incident unknown. It would spend some time at Patricroft (image on Flickr) before withdrawal in September. Partner 50943 sustained some rear end damage but was repaired and returned to traffic.
31/08/66 - Thornton, ScR
Collision involving Class 108
Info from Railway Observer
A DMU that included DMBS 50611 was involved in a collision at Thornton, no other details known.
Aug-68 - Unknown, ER
Collision involving Class 108
Info from p69 The Allocation History of BR Diesel Multiple Units Part 1, Roger Harris
E50615 suffered collision damage to the cab end, details unknown.
circa late 1969 - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 108
A Class 108 twin (50984 + 56255) was withdrawn in November 1969, images taken later suggest the DMBS sustained collision damage to the cab, but details of the incident are unknown. The two vehicles sat as grounded bodies on Accrington depot until cut up on site in August 1970.
17/07/70 - Kirkstall Junction, Leeds
Collision involving Class 108 / Loco-hauled freight
A Keighley to Leeds ECS working (a four-car DMU) hit the rear of the 16:57 Workington to Tinsley freight train. Leading car E50600 was extensively damaged, torn from its bogies and forced up against the underside of a road bridge. More details and accident report at http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6364.
circa 1970 - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 108
Class 108 DMBS M51921 was withdrawn for an unknown reason in October 1970.
Sanding down the drivers side of DMBS 51941 during a repaint in 2002 the first blue livery had the correct number. However further sanding revealed another set of white vinyl numbers but these comprised 51921. Further sanding found green paint next, again with 51921, and then another green layer with 51921.
It appears the drivers side was rebuilt using parts from 51921 - possibly much of the bodyside. On the bufferbeam of 51941 there were two large welds on the inside of the drivers-side buffers. Further sanding of the bodyside revealed that there had been extensive replacement of lower panels on the drivers side (there was only blue paint - no green underneath). It also carried a builders plate for lot 30660 (a DMC) on that side.
It may be that the two vehicles were in a sideswipe together and one good vehicle made from two? Any further information would be welcome.
09/05/71 - Meols Cop depot, Southport
Fire involving Class 108
Class 108 DMBS 51423 is thought to have suffered fire damage while at Meols cop depot.
08/05/72 - Chester General Station, LMR
Collision and Fire involving Class 108 / Class 24
An oil train ran away and crashed in the station. More Details.
27/09/73 - Naworth
Collision involving Class 108 / Tree
Info from Railway Observer p434 December 1973
E50642 was badly damaged when it hit a fallen tree at Naworth.
27/11/73 - Near Whitehaven, LMR
Collision involving Class 108 / Freight
Info from Peter Mullen.
Irregular blockworking allowed a DMU to run into the back of a freight train. Image shows 50961 stripped at Carlisle a few months later David Mant. More Details.
27/12/73 - Lower Darwen, LMR
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from Peter Mullen
A DMU was wrongly diverted through catch points. More Details.
Unknown - Unknown, LMR
Collision involving Class 108
M51905 was noted in Derby C&W Works with side-swipe damage to the cab end of the no.1 side. Cause/date unknown.
14/2/79 - Chinley North Junction, LMR
Collision involving Class 108 / Class 40
Info from Bill Read
Class 108 in collision with locomotive 40 055 at the head of a stationary freight train. M51930-M52047. Driver seriously injured, 5 passengers and guard required hospital treatment. M51930 was derailed and suffered extensive damage to the cab and leading end of the car. There was little damage to the trailing car or to the locomotive. The DMU had been irregularly hand-signalled past a red signal.
12/03/79 - Sheffield
Collision involving Class 108 / Class 123
8:17 Chesterfield to Sheffield formed E52102/E59826/E52093 ran away at Heeley, entered Sheffield station at speed and collided with empty DMU M52043/M51923. The brakes on the 8:17 failed due to inadequate maintenance of brake cylinders at Hull Dairycoates.
Summer 1979 - York, ER
Split Points involving Class 108
Info from Peter Mullen
E50643 slipped the points just south of York station. More Details.
15/03/81 - Sough Tunnel, Darwen
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from Railway Magazine
The 07:40 Manchester - Blackburn service, formed of 52059 and 51945, derailed outside the north portal of Sough Tunnel, Darwen, caused by a landslide.
07/03/84 - Preston
Fire involving Class 108
Info from p48 Rail Enthusiast June 1986
Class 108 DMCL M52040 caught fire at Preston on the early hours of 7 March 1984 whilst en-route empty from Blackburn. Disposal on site began a week later.
February 1985 - Approach to Hull Paragon
Collision involving Class 108 / Met-Camm
Info from Ian Fleming and Neil Mackay
An incident on the approach to Hull Paragon in February 1985. More Details.
19/10/87 - Glanrhyd Bridge, WR
Collision involving Class 108 / Bridge
Info from Bill Read
Class 108 ran onto a bridge which had previously collapsed. M51910 + M52037, 4 persons drowned. Severe flooding had caused an already-weakened support pier to collapse.
05/02/88 - Carnforth Up Furness line at Bottom End Yard
Collision involving Class 108 / Wagon
Info from Andrew Pilkington
The Class 108 DMU hit an engineers wagon. More Details.
Date unknown - Haymarket Depot, ScR
Derailment involving Class 108
Info from John Reddyhoff
Class 108 set 380 apparently hit the buffers at the south end of the depot and continued for another 60ft. Image John Reddyhoff. More Details.
22/8/90 - Hyde North Junction, LMR
Collision involving Class 108 / Class 108
Info from Bill Read
Low speed collision of two Class 108 units. M51913-M54497 and M51418-M59688 (Met Cam 101 centre car)-M53977. 28 passengers required hospital treatment. The driver of the twin unit had passed a red signal. M51418 collapsed upon contact with M51913 and suffered extensive cab, underfloor and bogie damage. All the 108 cars suffered some damage and were criticized as being in poor structural condition. The 101 was undamaged.
18/02/91 - Rattery Bank
Fire involving Class 108
W52051 caught fire travelling down Rattery Bank near Totnes, destroying the vehicle.
26/10/91 - Standedge, LMR
Fire involving Class 108
Info from Paul Moxon
977747 (ex-50924) caught fire in Standedge tunnel, while part of a Holbeck to Newton Heath consist on 26/10/91. Picture taken at Diggle 26/1/92. Paul Moxon.