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Vehicle 56218 / 54218

Class 101

Builder: Met-Camm
Layout: Low-Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30340
Diagram: 629

Allocations

03/09/57	New to	South Gosforth
Feb-64	Depot code change	52J
May-73	Depot code change	GF
w/e 23/07/78	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
w/e 20/05/79	Transferred to	NL (Neville Hill)
28/09/86	Transferred to	NC (Norwich)
p/e 14/09/91	Transferred to	IS (Inverness) PISX
09/03/92	Withdrawn from	IS (Inverness) PISX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56218 - original number
54218 - from Apr-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Doncaster Works dated 27/11/1981 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50246	56218	As delivered to South Gosforth - 3rd September 1957
	51215	56218	Noted 14/08/70 - at Carlisle¹
	51209	56218	Noted 04/09/71 - at Hull²
	50227	56218	Noted 25/08/1973 - at Carlisle³
	50227	56218	Noted 28/08/74 - at Carlisle¹
	51436	56218	Noted 28/09/79 - on 17:12 Leeds - Morecambe⁴
	51436	56218	Noted 29/06/80 - between Morecombe Carnforth Lancaster area⁵
	51549	56218	Noted 16/01/1982⁶
	51549	56218	Noted circa 04/1982⁶
	51549	54218	Noted 30/04/1983 - Leeds⁶
	51549	54218	Noted 07/01/1984⁶
	53137	54218	Listed at NL - 01/01/85
63	51428	54218	Formation change - Norwich - circa Nov-86
63	51428	54218	Noted 11/12/86 - at Norwich¹
63	51428	54218	Listed at NC - Apr-87
63	51428	54218	Noted 20/06/1987⁶
63	51428	54218	Listed at NC - Dec-87
63	51428	54218	Noted circa 09/1988⁶
63	51428	54218	Listed at NC - Feb-90
spare	54218		Listed at HA - Dec-91

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Phil Shatford
5: Shayne Lewis
6: Eddie Knorn

Images:

17th April 1976

With chickens foraging in the foreground, E56218 is the closest vehicle in this four-car Met-Camm formation in Alston station on April 17, 1976. Steve Davies Collection.

19th May 1981

A two-car Met-Camm DMU formed of E56218 + E51549 at Ilkley on 19 May 1981. Brian Daniels.

1st March 1986

With the barriers down across Midge Hall Lane, a West Yorkshire PTE Metrotrain branded Class 101 two-car DMU with Driving Trailer 54218 leading, was slowing to collect the single-line token from the signalbox at Midge Hall on March 1st 1986. The unit was working the 10.09 Preston to Ormskirk service and was running along one of the surviving platforms (complete with its derelict buildings, and rear goods shed in industrial use), that closed in 1961. With much development having taken place nearby since the 1980's, there has been an active ongoing campaign to have the station re-opened here. Martyn Hilbert.

24th January 1988

Set number: 63

Norwich set 63 at Colchester (at 15:30) on Sunday 24th January 1988. The DMBS is 51428, closest is presumably 54218. Colin Brooks.

15th April 1988

Set number: 63

Parked up in the sidings adjacent to Ipswich Station on 15th April 1988 is a Class 101 formed of 54218 + 51428. AndrewHA.

21st May 1989

Set number: 63

Set 63 E54218 + E51428 and Set 72 E51201 + E54347 seen on a Norwich to Cambridge working north of Ely around 4pm on 21st May 1989. Nicholas Youngman.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 2nd October 1985

With the former Jubilee cotton mill as a backdrop, A pair of Eastern Region two-car DMU's, a Metro-Cammell Class 101 and a BRCW Class 110 were approaching the village of Croston with a Preston to Ormskirk service on October 2nd 1985. The leading Class 101 set with it's West Yorkshire PTE 'Metro Train' branding has DTSL E54218 at the front. The pair of units had previously worked to Preston from Leeds and during their layover at Preston before returning back over the Pennines, they were utilised on an out-and-back teatime Ormskirk service. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 31st July 1988

Set number: 63

Class 101 DMBS E51428 and DTCL E54218 are stabled in Norwich Station on the 31st July 1988. Locally based at Norwich Crown Point TMD they form Set No. NC63. DTCL E54218 would be an early withdrawal victim in March 1992 while the DMBS vehicle E51428 would go on to complete nearly 42 years active service prior to withdrawl during September 2001. Bob Woolnough.

Date: 4th July 1989

Set number: 63

By 1989, the Metro-Cammell twin units had ousted the Cravens type at Norwich and here set 63 is now formed of E51428 and (I think) the anagrammatical E54218 on July 4, 1989. The location is an abandoned platelayers hut at Halvergate Marsh to get this rather nice portrait of a train from Yarmouth. Copyright Chris Burton. Gerard Fletcher.

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