close

Sign In


Not registered?
Forgot Your Password?

<- 56237 | 56238 | 56239 ->

Vehicle 56238 / 54238


Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Lot Number: 30466
Diagram: 640

Allocations

The London Midland Region didn't publish trailer car details until late in 1968. Although not 100% reliable, if it is assumed that the trailers remained with the same power cars, the allocations for 50955 during the unknown period are:

14/03/59 New to 5B (Crewe South)
Jun-59 Transferred to 9E (Trafford Park)
4w/e 01/06/63 Transferred to 9A (Longsight)
3w/e 31/10/65 Transferred to 9D (Newton Heath)
3w/e 30/04/67 Transferred to 9A (Longsight)

Then the allocations for 56238 are:

4w/e 05/04/69 Transferred to 12A (Carlisle Kingmoor)
06/05/73Depot code changeKM
Jan-75Depot code changeKD
15/05/88 Transferred to HT (Heaton)
29/09/91 Transferred to LO (Longsight) PLOX
05/10/92 Withdrawn from LO (Longsight) RFXX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56238 - original number
54238 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


50955 56238 As delivered to 5B - March 1959
50960 56238 Noted 14/08/70 - at Carlisle1
50956 56238 Noted 25/08/1973 - at Kingmoor2
56238 Noted 01/09/74 - on Kingmoor depot, loose vehicle1
50957 56238 Noted 24/08/75 - on Carlisle Kingmoor depot1
50957 56238 Noted 24/04/1976 - at Barrow 3
50957 56238 Noted 06/09/76 - in Carlisle Citadel1
50956 56238 Noted 31/07/78 - at Windermere working with 50965 + 56248 / 50968 + 56251
50954 56238 Listed at KD - circa Aug-80
50956 56238 Noted circa 03/19824
53956 54238 Listed at KD - 01/01/85
53956 54238 Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
53956 54238 Noted 01/11/19864
53956 54238 Noted 02/12/87 - at Morecambe
53956 54238 Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
53956 54238 Noted 16/07/88 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 03/08/885
53956 54238 Noted 10/09/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Listed at HT - Feb-89
53956 54238 Noted 18/03/89 - on 15:04 Gateshead Metro Centre - Sunderland service5
53956 54238 Noted 18/03/89 - on 16:45 Newcastle - Sunderland - service5
53956 54238 Noted 25/03/89 - on 16:30 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 17/04/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 15/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 20/05/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 31/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 18/06/89 - on 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough service5
53956 54238 Noted 18/06/89 - on 19:00 Middlesbrough - Newcastle service5
53956 54238 Noted 19/07/89 - on 16:47 Hexham - Sunderland service5
53956 54238 Noted 20/07/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5
53956 54238 Noted 12/08/89 - on 15:14 Newcastle - Carlisle service5
53956 54238 Noted 21/08/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53953 + 54262 and 53957 + 542365
53956 54238 Noted 09/09/89 - on 06:59 Carlisle - Newcastle service with 53954 + 542445
53956 54238 Noted 13/10/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5
53956 54238 Noted 26/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5
53956 54238 Noted 29/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle5
53956 54238 Noted 18/04/90 - on 06:50 Seaham - Newcastle5
53956 54238 Noted 18/06/90 - on 10:23 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle5
53956 54238 Noted 18/06/90 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53950 + 542395
53956 54238 Noted 24/10/90 - on 09:10 Newcastle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53974 + 545045
53956 54238 Noted circa 02/19914
HT56 53956 54238 Listed at HT - Jul-91
HT56 53956 54238 Listed at HT - Aug-91
LO296 53956 54238 Listed at LO - Dec-91
LO296 53956 54238 Listed at LO - 02/07/92
LO296 53956 54238 Listed at LO - 24/09/92

Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Peter Wallwork
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Graeme Phillips

Images:

Class 108 DMU at Morecambe

2nd December 1987

M54238 and M53956 at Morecambe on 02-12-87. Vincent Haworth.

Class 108 DMU at Seaham

18th June 1989

A Class 108 formed of 54238 and 53956 seen at Seaham with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/06/89. Graeme Phillips.

Class 108 DMU at Carlisle

21st August 1990

Class 108 DTS 54238 in Carlisle station on August 21, 1990. Rex Holt.

Class 108 DMU at Midge Hall

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

On possibly the last occasion that a first generation DMU worked along the Preston to Ormskirk line, a Class 108 with car 54238 trailing and DMBS 53956 leading has just collected the token from the signalman at Midge Hall, whilst working from Preston to Ormskirk on May 16th 1992. The unit was deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 108 DMU at Midge Hall

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Deputising for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order is restored probably for the last time on May 16th 1992, as a worn-looking Class 108 was working the Preston to Ormskirk services. Set LO296 formed of cars 54238 & 53956 is seen here approaching the token exchange at Midge Hall with the 09.38 Ormskirk to Preston. In the foreground are the remains of the pointwork where the double line, kept in use from Farington Curve Junction to Midge Hall until 1983, ended. The turnout onto the single line had by this date been replaced with plain rail. The worn-out disused line back towards Farington was kept in-situ for a number of years but was progressively recovered between 1988 & 1992. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 108 DMU at Midge Hall

16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Substituting for the non-availablity of a class 142, a Class 108 2-Car DMU returned to its old stamping ground on 16th May 1992. With car 54238 leading, 53956 behing, the 08.21 Ormskirk to Preston Service has just returned the single-line token at Midge Hall signalbox. The unit is about to pass through the derelict platforms of the former station, closed in 1961. This was possibly the last occasion when a Class 108 worked along here - possibly also the last visit of a first generation DMU. Martyn Hilbert.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: 31st July 1978

M50956 at the head of M56238, M50965, M56248, M50968 and M56251 at Windermere on the 31st July 1978. Robert Frise.

DMU

Date: unknown

Class 108 DMU (54238 and presumably 53956) is standing alongside a Pacer unit at Barrow in Furness on 20 October 1990 just before it leaves the station via the crossover in the foreground. Another Class 108 is on the left. The day was marked by a number of unusual locomotive-hauled services run in connection with a Network North-West day and 26 025 + 31 434 had just left the station and 20 057 + 20 140 + 31 461 were next to visit on a return trip from Manchester Victoria. Peter Tandy.

DMU

Date: 1988

A two-car Class 108 DMU arrives at Attenborough sometime in 1988. The condition on the DMBS cab front and the unusual sizes/locations of the the warning flashes suggests it is 53956 - presumably with 54238. Andrew Walker.

DMU

Date: 18th June 1989

53956 and 54238 are seen approaching Seaham station with the SuO 17:15 Newcastle - Middlesbrough on 18/6/89. Graeme Phillips.

DMU

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

A Class 108 at Moss Lane Junction, Farington (Ormskirk Line). It was a return to the old order on Preston to Ormskirk services on May 16th 1992, as a Class 108 returned to its former stamping ground due to the non-availability of a Class 142 Pacer. LO296, (53956 + 54238) is seen topping the climb from the WCML at Farington Curve Junction as it approaches the site of the former Moss Lane Junction. To the right of the unit a double track connection ran towards Lostock Hall enabling trains from East Lancashire to access Ormskirk and Liverpool. It was closed in 1972. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

With the former Jubilee Mill in the background, Class 108 set LO296 (53956 & 54238) departs from Croston whilst working the 15.08 Ormskirk to Preston on May 16th 1992. Once a familiar sight on these services, this was probably the last visit of a Derby built class 108 to the line. In the intervening years Jubilee Mill has been demolished and a housing development now covers the site. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

With Midge Hall in the far distance, a Class 108 two-car DMU formed of cars 53956 & 54238, was passing the Oil Seed Rape at Cocker Bar with the 16.03 Preston to Ormskirk service on May 16th 1992. Martyn Hilbert.

DMU

Date: 16th May 1992

Set number: LO296

Standing-in for a failed Class 142 Pacer, the old order returned to the Ormskirk line for possibly the last time on May 16th 1992. A scabby looking Class 108 formed of cars 53956 & 54238 (LO296) was passing through the long-closed platforms at Midge Hall whilst working the 12.23 Preston to Ormskirk service. Martyn Hilbert.