Vehicle 50703 / 53703
Class 120
Builder: BR Swindon Works
Type: Cross Country
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: BR Standard
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30335
Diagram: 587
Allocations
| 4w/e 02/11/57 | New to | CDF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| by Jun-62 | Transferred to | TYS (Tyseley) | |
| 30/07/62 | Transferred to | CDF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 4w/e 31/05/69 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| Jan-86 | Withdrawn from | DY (Derby) | |
| Feb-86 | Reinstated | DY (Derby) | |
| 23/02/86 | To Parcels Sector at | CH (Chester) | |
| 3w/e 20/5/88 | Withdrawn from | CH (Chester) |
Notes
23rd October 1957 - Seen in experimental livery (light beige above waistline, blue grey below) at Swindon Carriage Works.
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50703 - original number
53703 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| EP486 | 50703 | 59301 | 50654 | Noted circa Jun-69 | |||
| EP527 | 50703 | 59281 | 50685 | Listed at DY - circa Jun-82 | |||
| 53703 | 59300 | 53665 | Noted 10/01/86 | ||||
| 53703 | 53704 | Formation change - CH - circa Mar-86 - Parcels | |||||
| 53051 | 53703 | Formation change - CH - 2w/e 14/05/86 - Parcels | |||||
| 53051 | 53703 | Listed at Chester - Summer 1986 - Parcels |
Modifications
circa Dec-72 - WR AWS removed
Aug-74 - AWS fitted
Images:
Date: 22nd December 1981
A Class 120 set races towards the camera through the snow at Duffield on 22/12/81, headed by 50703. Chris Lings.
Date: 6th June 1986
At Dewsbury on the 6th June 1986. The parcels set (53703 + 53704) is coupled to a 2-car Class 110 service train. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 1987
Set number: EP527
Parcels DMU M53703 + M53713 at Chester depot circa 1987. Surface Stock.
Date: 5th March 1988
Set number: EP527
M53703, a Chester allocated Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 DMU of set EP527, now converted to parcels use, at Crewe on the 5th March 1988. The Red Star parcels branding can just be seen down the side. Andrew J Crowther.
Date: 18th December 1988
Set number: EP527
M53703 + M53713 Vic Berrys, Leicester 18-12-88. Kevin Dowd.
Date: 18th February 1989
Set number: EP527
M53703 at Vic Berry's on 18.02.89, still with Etches Park set number, but also small set number 301 under the drivers window. Surface Stock.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 6th June 1986
53704 is paired with 53703, and they are attached to the rear or a Class 110 on a service train, seen at Dewsbury, 6/6/86. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 6th June 1986
A close up of the Red Star branding carried on 53703 when seen at Dewsbury on 6/6/86. Malcolm Clements.
Date: 13th December 1986
Class 120 53713 is seen departing Crewe coupled with 53703 on 13.12.1986. Andy Cole.
Date: 2nd April 1988
Set number: 510
Chester allocated Swindon Cross-Country Class 120 DMU set 510 comprising of cars M53713 & M53703 at Crewe on the 2nd April 1988. Now converted to parcels use, the Red Star parcels branding can just be seen down the side. By this time these units were thin on the ground and all had been withdrawn before the year was out. The new generation of DMU in the shape of 150 124 can be seen along side on a Derby service. Andrew J Crowther.