Vehicle 50494 / 53494
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: 30294
Diagram: 558
Allocations
| Aug-57 | New to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| Sep-57 | Transferred to | 5A (Crewe North) | |
| Jan-58 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| 4w/e 01/07/61 | Transferred to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| 3w/e 30/04/66 | Transferred to | 2H (Monument Lane) | |
| w/e 07/01/67 | Transferred to | 2A (Tyseley) | |
| 2w/e 18/03/67 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| 2w/e 09/03/68 | Transferred to | 9D (Newton Heath) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | NH | |
| 3w/e 27/09/75 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
| w/e 24/04/76 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 14/05/89 | Transferred to | CH (Chester) PCHX | |
| 11/06/90 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) PZQZ |
Notes
1st January 1988 - Has window bars
30th April 1990 - Seen stored out of use in Chester station sidings
12th October 1990 - Listed as condemned at Chester depot
22/04/91 - withdrawn vehicles noted at Chester: 53431, 53442, 53494, 53512, 53516, 53517, 53534, 53536, 59065, 59137, 59525; also soon to be W SC59049 and SC59074
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50494 - original number
53494 - from Jun-84 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Modifications
Oct-86 - Window Bars Fitted
Disposal
Preserved - more details.
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | As delivered to 5D - August 1957 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted 04/06/71 - at Manchester Victoria1 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted 19/04/74 - in Manchester Victoria1 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted 04/09/74 - in Manchester Victoria2 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted 12/03/1976 - at Loughborough3 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted 17/07/76 - in Manchester Victoria1 | ||||||
| 50442 | 59150 | 50494 | Noted circa 04/19804 | ||||||
| 50422 | 59160 | 50494 | Noted 27th March 1982 - part of 8-car Bury Bolton St - Rawtenstall 'East Lancashire Phoenix' services | ||||||
| NH441 | 50442 | 59160 | 50494 | Noted circa 05/19824 | |||||
| NH441 | 50442 | 50494 | Noted circa 10/19824 | ||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted circa 06/19854 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted 25/10/19864 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted 01/11/19864 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Listed at NH - 10/05/87 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted 13th September 1987 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted circa 01/19884 | |||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Listed at NH - 1st January 1988 | |||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Listed at NH - May 1988 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53494 | Noted 15/05/88 | ||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Listed at NH - May-88 | ||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Listed at NH - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Noted 12th April 1989 | ||||||
| N673 | 53468 | 53494 | Noted 6th May 1989 | ||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Listed at CH - 1st July 1989 | |||||||
| CH613 | 53468 | 53494 | Noted 23/07/89 | ||||||
| 53468 | 53494 | Noted 09/08/895 | |||||||
| CH613 | 53468 | 53494 | Noted 6th September 1989 | ||||||
| CH613 | 53536 | 53494 | Noted 24th September 1989 | ||||||
| CH613 | 53536 | 53494 | Listed at CH - 14/10/89 | ||||||
| CH613 | 53536 | 53494 | Noted 22nd November 1989 | ||||||
| CH613 | 53536 | 53494 | Noted 26th February 1990 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips
Images:
circa 1981
Class 104 DMC seen on the crossing at Shaw circa 1981. The barriers were not in use yet. Richard Greenwood.
17th September 1985
A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was passing the orchard trees, as it approached Narrow Lane farm crossing with a Preston to Ormskirk service on September 17th 1985. Martyn Hilbert.
16th May 1986
Accelerating along the Up Slow, a BRCW Class 104 two-car DMU formed of cars M53494 & M53468 was about to take the East Lancashire route at Farington Curve Junction with a well-filled Preston to Colne service on May 16th 1986. Martyn Hilbert.
14th November 1987
A BRC&W Class 104 (53494 + 53468) in Manchester Victoria on November 14, 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd June 1988
Set number: N673
53494 with DMBS 53468 as set N673, at Bolton 23/6/88. Gazza Prescott.
circa 1988
Set number: N673
Two-car Class 104 DMU set N673 (M53494 and presumably M53468) at Trent Junction circa 1988. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th May 1989
Set number: N673
N673 (M53494+M53468), CH379 (M51948), N669 (M53528) on X shed Longsight TMD 6-5-89. Kevin Dowd.
July 1989
Set number: CH613
On a rainy day in July 1989 two-car Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53494 + 53468) arrives into Betws-y-coed station with a red marker lamp. George Woods.
July 1989
Set number: CH613
Class 104 DMU set CH613 in Blaenau Ffestiniog station in July 1989. George Woods.
23rd July 1989
Set number: CH613
CH613 M53494 + M53468 inside Llandudno Junction depot, 23-7-89. Kevin Dowd.
5th February 1990
Set number: CH613
BRCW 2 car Class 104 DMU, Set CH613, DMC with 1st class downgraded to 2nd, M53494 nearest with DMBS 53536, stands in Manchester Victoria station, 5th February 1990. Paul James.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 26th September 1987
A two-car BRCW Class 104 DMU formed of cars M53468 & M53494 was passing the District Civil Engineers sidings located in the former goods yard at Kirkham & Wesham, whilst working a Blackpool South to Colne service on September 26th 1987. The well-worn unit was withdrawn from service at Chester in September 1989 and was scrapped by Berry's of Leicester in 1990. The Brake Van on the left of this scene was B950136, an LMS type that had been built by BR in 1950. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 13th April 1988
Set number: N673
A Class 104 two-car DMU formed of M53468 & M53494 (N673) was departing from Rufford with the 17.25 Ormskirk to Preston service on April 13th 1988. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 5th May 1988
Set number: N673
Accelerating away from Croston, a two-car BRCW Class 104 formed of M53468 & M53494 (Newton Heath set N673) was passing over the user worked level crossing at Club Lane, as it headed towards its next station call at Rufford with a Preston to Ormskirk service on May 5th 1988. Along with other first generation DMU sets at the time, N673 had an extended period of operation due to problems with the Class 142 fleet. N673 was eventually withdrawn from service in 1989. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: 13th May 1988
Set number: N673
M53468 + M53494 form set N673, seen at Wigan Wallgate on May 13, 1988. John Carter.
Date: 15th May 1988
Set number: N666
Its 21.50 and BRC&W Class 104 Newton Heath allocated DMU set N666, comprising of 53444 + 53494, sits at the buffers on platform 3A at a very quite Sheffield on the 15th May 1988. Andrew J Crowther.
Date: 15th August 1988
Set number: N666
53444 with 53494 in the gloom of Manchester Victoria on 15/8/88. Robert Chilton.
Date: May 1989
Set number: CH613
Class 104 BR+CW DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) at Chester MPD in May 1989. Another 104 set on the left, 108 on the right. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: July 1989
Set number: CH613
Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) in Betws-y-coed station in July 1989. George Woods.
Date: July 1989
Set number: CH613
Passengers disembark from Class 104 DMU set CH613 (53468 + 53494) in Betws-y-coed station in July 1989. George Woods.
Date: 1989
Set number: CH613
Class 104 set CH613 (presumably 53536 + 53494) departing from Bidston in 1989. John Law.
Date: 3rd March 1990
Set number: CH613
M53536 + M53494 (set CH613) at Leicester on March 3, 1990. John Carter.