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Vehicle 50472 / 53472

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: 30293
Diagram: 556

Allocations

w/e 31/01/58	New to	5B (Crewe South)
Apr-63	Transferred to	5D (Cockshute)
3w/e 31/10/64	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
29/11/87	Transferred to	HA (Haymarket)
Dec-87	Transferred to	ED (Eastfield)
22/04/89	Transferred to	CH (Chester) PCHX
07/06/89	Withdrawn from	CH (Chester) PCHX

Notes

16th July 1988 - Has window bars and roofed exhausts
18th February 1989 - Seen at Haymarket depot
1st July 1989 - Listed as withdrawn at Thornton Yard
24th September 1989 - Seen withdrawn in Chester station sidings
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
22nd December 1989 - Hauled from Chester station sidings to Vic Berry's yard

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50472 - original number
53472 - from Mar-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

Oct-86 - Window Bars Fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50472	59180	50524	As delivered to 5B - w/e 31/01/58
	50472	59180	50524	Transfer to 9D - 3w/e 31/10/64
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 05/01/66 - in Manchester Victoria station¹
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 20/12/66 - at Leeds City with 50478 + 59186 + 50530¹
	50472	59180	50510	Noted 21/08/68 - at Manchester Victoria¹
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Victoria¹
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 10/04/76 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 09/09/76 - at Preston²
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 09/04/1977 - at Preston ³
	50472	59180	50524	Noted 04/01/78
	50472	59206	50522	Noted 27th March 1982 - part of 8-car Bury Bolton St - Rawtenstall 'East Lancashire Phoenix' services
	53472	52064		Noted circa 01/1984⁴
	53472	54200		Noted 05/09/85
	53472	54200		Noted circa 12/1985⁴
	53472	53425		Listed at NH - Summer 1986 - Pending arrival withdrawn vehicle 54200 retained.
	53472	53500		Formation change - NH - circa Oct-86
	53472	53500		Noted 24/04/1987 - at Leeds⁵
	53472	53500		Listed at NH - 10/05/87
	53472	53500		Noted circa 07/1987⁴
	53472	52042		Transfer to HA - 29/11/87 - from NH
104459	53472	59195	52042	Listed at ED - Jan-88
459	53472	59097	52042	Noted April 1988
104459	53472	59195	52042	Noted circa 07/1988 - listed at Eastfield⁴
459	53472	59097	52042	Listed at ED - 16th July 1988
104459	53472	59195	52042	Listed at ED - circa August 1988
459	53472	59097	52042	Noted 01/10/88 - at Perth
759	53472	59097	52042	Noted 29th November 1988
	53472	53645		Noted 3rd January 1989 - at Eastfield depot

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Robert Chilton

Images:

13th July 1958

M50472 leads a BRC&W DMU formation into Derby station on 13 July 1958. Stuart Mackay Collection.

circa July 1966

A BRCW DMU with DMBS M50472 leading leaving Hull Paragon circa July 1966. John Grey Turner.

26th August 1977

In the fading-light of an Summer evening, a six-car BRCW Class 104 'White Line' DMU formation was arriving at Wigan Wallgate with a Manchester Victoria to Southport service on August 26th 1977. The leading car was Driving Motor Brake Second M50472. The Newton Heath allocated white-liners were normally associated with the Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North services, but also had peak-time workings on the Southport line. Martyn Hilbert.

1st July 1978

The English Summer! This is 1 July 1978 and the weather's so bad, you can't see the top of the Blackpool Tower. White stripe M50472 sits in Balckpool North, and on the left a 108 (closest) and 104. Jeremy Chapter.

25th March 1979

With a Blackpool service white stripe Class 104 DMBS is seen nearing the end of an overhaul in Swindon Works on 25 March 1979. Brian Daniels.

18th September 1979

The Newton Heath based Class 104 3-Car DMU sets embellished with a white stripe were the mainstay of services between Blackpool North & Manchester Victoria in the 1970's. In a scene that was repeated daily, M50472 brings up the rear of Manchester Victoria bound service as it calls at Chorley on a warm afternoon on September 18th 1979. The station buildings in this view were swept away in the 1980's when the station was reconstructed. Beyond the now-removed Signalbox is the former Goods Yard, now part of the the station car park. Martyn Hilbert.

13th September 1980

Newton Heath Class 104 'White Line' Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M50472, was lead car of a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service, awaiting custom at Layton on September 13th 1980. These 3-car Class 104 sets were the mainstay of such services in the 1970's and early 1980's. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 104 DMU at Farington Curve Junction

3rd May 1987

Having taken the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53472 & M53500 was accelerating to climb the gradient to nearby Farington Curve, whilst working a Preston to Colne service on May 3rd 1987. Both cars were withdrawn in 1989 and subsequently scrapped by Berry's of Leicester. Martyn Hilbert.

7th May 1987

Complete with bars fitted to the door droplights due to tight clearances inside Holme Tunnel on the Copy Pit route that connects Lancashire with West Yorkshire, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53472 & M53500 was passing Lostock Hall Junction with a Preston to Leeds service on May 7th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.

1st October 1988

Set number: 459

Class 104/101/108 hybrid set 459 at Perth on October 1, 1988. It is formed of 53472 + 59097 + 52042. John Carter.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 23rd July 1985

A BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53524 & M53451 was passing over Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled late afternoon Preston to Ormskirk service on July 23rd 1985. The Newton Heath allocated set was a reform, with M53524 still wearing its white bodyside stripe from the days when it was part of a Manchester-Blackpool 'White Line' three-car set that included cars M59180 & M50472. M53524 was the last Class 104 car to retain the white stripe in service. The Newton Heath fleet of 'White Line' three-car 104's were a common sight in the 1970's along the busy Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North route which carried heavy commuter and leisure traffic. Six-car formations were the norm for weekday peak-time services and weekend workings in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 16th October 1986

Coupled to a Class 108, a two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53500 + M53472 was awaiting custom at Leyland whilst working a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service on October 16th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 17th October 1989

Withdrawn Class 104 and 101 DMU vehicles alongside Chester station, Class 104 DMBS 53468 second from right 17-10-89ish. The line on 9/12/89 was: 53520, 53468, 53306, 53472, 53195, 59207, 53466, 53263, 53425, 59155, 59183, 59148 and 53541. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Date: 9th December 1989

Set number: CH609

M53520, M53468, M53306, 53472, E53195, M59207, M53466, E53263, M53425, M59155, M59183, M59148, 53541 withdrawn at Chester station sidings, 9/12/89. Kevin Dowd.

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