Class 121 Pressed Steel Single / 2-car DMUs

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Non-Passenger Use

Early Route Learner

55035 was transferred to departmental stock in 1978 after a period a year in store. It passed through Swindon Works for overhaul, which included fitting Leyland engines, and become a route learner at Reading renumbered as ADB975659.

It is seen in the image at Portsmouth & Southsea. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.

It would be scrapped at Booths in Rotherham in 1992, carrying its plain blue livery to the end.

Sandite Trailers

In 1986 two trailers (56285/6) which had spent some time in store were converted to sandite vehicles, these were the first Western Region sandite DMU vehicles. Prior to this date the only Sandite DMU conversions had been Class 103 and Class 105 driver trailers for the London Midland Region in 1981/2. The 121 conversions were similar in that they a window added to the non-cab end, with wiper and marker lights, presumably for propelling. They also had two of the cab windows and some bodyside windows plated over.

The first image shows TDB 977466 at Laira TMD on the 20th July 1991. S Gaskell.

Initially 977466 was based at Old Oak Common, 977486 at Laira. By November 1987 977466 had moved to Cardiff. By November 1989 the two vehicles swapped places. 977466 would remain at Laira until withdrawn in 1996, 9777486 would move to Tyseley by November 1993 becoming set T006, it would also be withdrawn in 1996. The image shows 977486, with set number T006, stabled at Tyseley on 26.12.1993 from the non-cab end. Andy Cole.

A third trailer, 54281, was noted in 1988 as pending conversion to a Sandite for Laira. Although the vehicle was renumbered as 977615, it seems the conversion never happened.

It is seen at Vic Berrys, Leicester, on 11-11-90. Most, but not all, of the doors have been removed, and the new number has been painted on. Kevin Dowd.

Sandite / Route Learner bubbles

The DMBSs proved to be useful as route learning / sandite vehicles. Eleven were converted for that use: 55020/1/2/4/5/6/8/30/2/3/4.

The first was 55021, to departmental stock on 19/11/91 as 977723. Retaining Network South East (NSE) livery, it would be based at Bletchley. The image shows it there on 16th May 1995. Ian Buck.

1992 saw five vehicles converted, dates to departmental stock were: 14/01/92 - 55020 as 977722; 30/9/92 - 55026 as 977824, 55033 as 977826 and 55034 as 977828; 18/12/92: 55032 as 977842. The first vehicle, 977722, would be in NSE livery at Old Oak Common. The other four would be paired with Class 116 power cars and based at Tyseley. 977826 was in Midline and the other three in blue / grey.

The image shows the forner 55034, now 977828, stabled at Tyseley Depot in February 1995 coupled to a Class 116 vehicle as sandite set T005. Ian Buck.

The final five vehicles were transferred to departmental stock on 02/09/93: 55022 as 977873, 55024 as 977858, 55025 as 977859, 55028 as 977860, 55030 as 977866. All were in NSE livery.

On all but the Tysleley vehicles, which were for sandite use only and not also for route learning, an extra full bodyside window or two half windows fitted in the guard's van area. They would have a generator fitted in the centre of the vehicles, with a grille fitted in place of a window at this location.

In 1993 977723 was transferred from Old Oak Common to Bletchley for route learning on the Bletchley to Bedford line and the other diesel powered lines then under North London Railway's control.

1994: 977824 seems to have been the first withdrawn, in February.

1995: Three vehicles were withdrawn, 977826, 977828 and 977842. All three went to preservation, the latter two would return to passenger use, 977828 for Chiltern Railways in 2010 and 977842 in 2004 for Arriva Trains Wales. That left seven of these vehicles in sandite / route learning use.

1999: By 1999 Bletchley based 977723 was in Railtrack tan, white and grey colours (as was the Class 122 975042 at the same depot). They left the following year and would end up at Aylesbury. Both had had saloon windows plated up which were otherwise in a good condition - so the plates were removed.

By the end of the year 977858 was at Aylesbury in maroon livery with 'RAILTRACK CLEARING THE WAY' lettering. The images shows it at the depot on 29 October 1999. On the right is 977722. Ian Buck.

2000: 977859 went on hire to Balfour Beatty.

2001: In September 977860 also went on hire to Balfour Beatty. That left just five of the original eleven vehicles.

2002: In September 977722 would be converted back to passenger use as 55020 for Chiltern Railways.

2003: In the summer 977866 and 977873 were collected from Derby by Chiltern Railways and moved to Aylesbury. After assessment 977873 needed less work to return it to traffic, 977866 would not do any work while at Aylesbury, and would be scrapped there in 2011.

2004: In July 977858 would have a repaint, keeping maroon but loosing the bodyside text. In September 977873 would be painted into Blue / grey and carry "Chiltern Railways - Serving Stratford from December 12th" lettering on the side. It is seen at Aylesbury on the 6th November 2004. Roger Marks.

2005: the last use of 977723 is believed to be in Autumn 2005. To the end it had partial remnants of original tripcock devices from it's previous use on the North Acton - Viaduct Junction route. Only two of the eleven sandite DMBS vehicles now remained in use.

2013: the last year of use for 977858 as a route learner.

2014: the last year of use for 977873 as a route learner, which included use by Cross Country for diversions via Sutton Park.

Balfour Beatty

By 2000 sandite / route learner 977859 went on hire to Balfour Beatty Rail as a camera unit to film the rail system. It is seem at Thornaby on 17/9/00 in it's new Railtrack Livery. On the bodyside the text read "RAILTRACK the heart of the railway" and the Balfour Beatty logo. John Carter Collection.

During its time in this role it earner the nickname 'Pandora'. After BB were finished with the vehicle it became a route learner.

The company hired another former sandite / route learner 977860 as a second camera vehicle. It moved to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley for removal of the sandite gear, a basic internal revamp, body repairs and a repaint into Railtrack Blue / Lime green during Sep. - Dec. 2001. It then moved to Ashford for the completion of the converstion work, but once there it was decided it was no longer needed. It would then become a route learner for South West Trains.

It is seen in the fading light on 20/12/01 having emerging from the C&W shed at Midland Railway Butterley ready to move to Ashford. Stuart Mackay.

Eurailscout GB / Carillion

In early 2002 55029 became a camera unit for Eurailscout GB as 977968. It carried an all over yellow livery and company branding, and most of the former passenger doors were sealed up.

The image shows the vehicle at Newton Abbot's Hackney Yard on Sunday 12th June 2005. Peter White.

By early 2006 the Eurailscout BG branding had been replace by Carillion branding.

South West Trains

977860 became a route learner for South West Trains in 2005 based at Salisbury, and painted in South West Trains colours. It is seen at Salisbury on 5th April 2006. Steve White.

Route Learner again

Once Balfour Beatty was finished with 977859 became a route learner, retaining the Railtrack Blue / lime green colours but loosing the bodyside text. At some point the name 'PANDORA' was applied on the headcode box.

It is seen stabled at Derby on June 18, 2006. John Carter.

Severn Tunnel Emergency Units

in 2002 two vehicles became 'Severn Tunnel Emergency Units' - 55027 as 977975, set 960302 - and 55031 as 977976, set 960303. They were painted in yellow and had substantial body modifications. They were withdrawn from this role in 2008 after GATOR equipment was introduced by the fire service which was much quicker at responding and arriving at site that the Emergency Train.

They are seen at Cardiff Canton on December 17, 2009, both withdrawn and are used as source of spares for the 121 unit that was running on the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay line. Alex Drennan.