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Vehicle 50427 / 53427

Class 104

Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30291
Diagram: 558

Allocations

w/e 18/05/57	New to	9A (Longsight)
by Sep-67	Transferred to	9D (Buxton)	- no official date found, probably either Jun or Sep-57.
Sep-63	Depot code change	9L
06/05/73	Depot code change	BX
26/03/86	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
10/11/88	Stored S.	CP PSPX
09/03/89	Withdrawn from	CP PXXZ

Notes

1st January 1988 - Has window bars
27th December 1988 - Seen at Crewe carriage shed
January 1989 - Seen stored in Crewe carriage sidings
April 1989 - Cut up in Vic Berry's yard

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50427 - original number
53427 - from Aug-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50423	59135	50427	As delivered to 9A - w/e 18/05/57
	50423	59135	50427	Noted 17th June 1957
BN458	50423	59135	50427	Listed at Buxton - circa Dec-69
	50423	59135	50427	Noted 22/12/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50435	59137	50427	Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight¹
	50423	59133	50427	Noted 10/04/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50423	59133	50427	Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50423	59133	50427	Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly¹
	50423	59141	50427	Noted Sep-76 - at Stockport with 50425/59136/50431¹
BX488	50435	59145	50427	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc²
BX488	50435	59145	50427	Noted circa 09/1982²
BX488	50435	59145	50427	Noted circa 02/1983²
BX488	50435	59183	50427	Noted 23/02/1983²
	53459	59183	53427	Noted circa 10/1983²
BX492	53459	59183	53427	Noted circa 11/1984 - listed at BX²
BX486	53459	59183	53427	Listed at BX - circa Jul-85
BX486	53459	59183	53427	Listed at BX - circa Dec-85
	53420	53427		Formation change - NH - Mar-86
	53474	53427		Listed at NH - Summer 1986
	53474	53427		Noted 23/08/1986 - Gates Travel Charter Train Oxenholme to Whitby and return
	53474	53427		Noted 15th October 1986
	53465	53427		Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53444	53427		Noted 21/06/87
	53474	53427		Noted 3rd September 1987
	53474	53427		Noted 11th October 1987
	53474	53427		Listed at NH - 1st January 1988
N674	53474	53427		Listed at NH - March 1988
N674	53474	53427		Listed at NH - May 1988
N674	53474	53427		Listed at NH - May-88
N674	53474	53427		Noted circa Jul-88
N674	53474	53427		Noted circa Jul-88
N674	53474	53427		Listed at NH - 16th July 1988

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Eddie Knorn

Images:

circa May-1957

Official image (Derby Works negative 57/610) of a Class 104 first class compartment, presumably 50427 in May 1957. British Railways.

circa May-1957

An official image (Derby Works negative 57/612) of the centre saloon of a Class 104 DMC, presumably 50427 in May 1957. British Railways.

circa May-1957

An official image (Derby Works negative 57/613) of the rear saloon of a Class 104 DMC, presumably 50427 in May 1957. British Railways.

circa May-1957

A driver posing in the cab of M50427, an official image (Derby Works negative 57/617) circa May 1957, thought to be taken at Stourbridge station. British Railways.

circa May-1957

The cab of Class 104 DMS M50427, and official image (Derby Works negative 57/618) circa May 1957, taken in Stourbridge Junction station. British Railways.

circa October 1975

Set number: BN458

Class 104 DMU set BN458 with 50427 closest at Buxton. The slide process date was October 1975. Stuart Mackay Collection.

2nd September 1979

Buxton station on Saturday 2 September 1978 with a 6-car Class 104 formation about to depart. According to my notes these will be 50427/59138/50440, 50421/59148/50490 and 59198. There are 3 trailer cars listed here, but only 2 3-car units in my photo and I can only guess that the "extra" trailer was visible at the diesel depot. The Class 08 on the right will be 08611 and a Class 40 is also just visible; there were 4 Class 40s at Buxton on this day. Lewis Bevan.

27th September 1984

Set number: BX492

3 car BRCW class 104 DMU, set BX 492, awaiting a driver at Buxton on a service to Manchester. M53427 closest, 27-09-84. John Crooks.

21st April 1987

Class 104 53427 is seen at Leeds on 21.04.1987. Most of these units stayed in BR blue livery until withdrawal. Andy Cole.

21st June 1987

Southport station on June 21st, 1987, contains two-car Class 104 set M53427 + M53444. Hamish Stevenson.

30th January 1988

Newton Heath depot contains two Class 104s and many Pacers on January 30, 1988. Closest is M53427 + M53474, at the rear is a mixed livery set. Hamish Stevenson.

18th February 1988

BRC&W Class 104 2-car DMU, 53427 + 53474, Manchester Piccadilly on 18-2-88. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.

Class 104 DMU at Lodge Lane, Farington Moss

4th March 1988

A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53427 and presumably M53474 was topping the climb from Farington Curve Junction at Lodge Lane on Farington Moss with a Preston to Ormskirk service on March 4th 1988. The partly dismantled former Up Line, taken of use in 1983 is visible alongside the 104. To the right of the this view was the site of the former Moss Lane Junction. Until 1972 there was a useful connecting double track link from the Ormskirk Line to Lostock Hall on the East Lancashire line which once enabled trains to run direct from Liverpool to East Lancashire. The link was the also the route that most stopping Preston to Ormskirk/Liverpool Exchange services used, via the now dismantled East Lancashire 'Preston Extension' via Todd Lane Junction. With the passage of time, this once open view is now completely tree-lined. Martyn Hilbert.

circa May 1988

Set number: N674

No details came with this slide which has a process date of May 1988. It shows Newton Heath allocated set N674 with 53427 leading what looks like three 2-car Class 104s, the headboard and sign in the window read "Rail Rambler". It's passing Leyburn station on the Redmire branch and could be a BR organised excursion from Middlesbrough on May 2nd. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: circa May-1957

An official image (Derby Works negative 57/608) of M50423 + 59135 + 50427, probably at Cleobury Mortimer circa May 1957. A driver is posing in the cab. British Railways.

Date: circa May-1957

An official image (Derby Works negative 57/609) of M50423 + 59135 + 50427, presumably at Cleobury Mortimer circa May 1957. There is no driver posing in the cab. British Railways.

Date: circa May-1957

The engine and heater under a Class 104. An official image (Derby Works negative 57/619) circa May 1957, probably either 50423 or 50427 at Cleobury Mortimer on the Tenbury Wells branch. British Railways.

Date: 31st July 1975

Some serious track maintenance being examined by all and sundry as Buxton DMUs are seen crossing on Stockport viaduct July 31, 1975. On the left, M50483, M59139 & M50431 (nearest) head toward Piccadilly whilst on the right M50423 (nearest), M59135 & M50427 are bound for Whaley Bridge as they approach the platform at Stockport. Suthen Softy.

Date: 24th August 1986

Newton Heath allocated two-car Class 104 DMU 53474 + 53427 in Whitby station on 24 August 1985 with 1Z36 Yorkshire Coast Express. Robert Thomas.

Date: 3rd May 1988

Set number: N674

Newton Heath based class 104 2-car DMU set no. N674 (presumably 53474 + 53427) sits in the bay platform at Stalybridge with the local service to Stockport on May 3, 1988. This shot was taken when there was still 16 trains a day each way. It would then become a parliamentry service with one train a week on a Friday in one direction only leaving Stockport at 09.22. By running this token service the railway did not have to go through the lengthy statutory close notice period for a line closure. The route became largely obsolete when the Windsor link line opened in West Manchester. Adrian Nicholls.

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