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Vehicle 56260 / 54260

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 50977 during the unknown period are:

Aug-59	New to	Chaddesden	- stabled pending allocation
05/09/59	Transferred to	26A (Newton Heath)
Oct-59	Transferred to	27F (Brunswick)
11/09/61	Transferred to	8H (Allerton)	- Brunswick closed
Sep-63	Depot code change	8J
3w/e 01/07/67	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56260 are:

Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
4w/e 02/10/76	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
12/05/85	Transferred to	NH (Newton Heath)
29/11/87	Transferred to	CH (Chester)
14/05/90	Transferred to	LO (Longsight) PLOX
25/11/90	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road) PBRX
09/06/92	Withdrawn from	BR (Bristol Bath Road) REBR

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56260 - original number
54260 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Modifications

circa Mar-71 - AWS fitted

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 13/08/1976 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50977	56260	As delivered to Chaddesden - August 1959 - awaiting allocation
	50977	56260	Transfer to 27F - Oct-59
	50971	56260	Noted 12/09/71 - at Preston¹
	50977	56260	Noted 01/06/1974 - at Preston²
	50977	56260	Noted 10/04/76 - in Manchester Victoria¹
	50977	56260	Transfer to LO - 4w/e 02/10/76
LO319	50977	56260	Noted 31/05/1982³
LO319	50977	56260	Noted 19/07/1982 - Manchester Picc³
LO319	50977	56260	Noted circa 09/1982³
	53977	54260	Noted circa 08/1983³
	53977	54260	Listed at LO - 01/01/85
	53977	54260	Noted circa 11/1985³
	53977	54260	Listed at Newton Heath - Summer 1986
spare	54260		Listed at NH - 10/05/87
CH261	53931	54260	Noted circa May-88
CH271	53931	54260	Noted circa May-88
CH271	53931	54260	Noted circa Jul-88
CH271	53931	54260	Noted circa 11/1988³
CH271	53931	54260	Listed at CH - 14/10/89
	53931	54260	Noted 28/10/89 - on 10:02 Warrington Central - Chester⁴
LO271	53931	54260	Listed at LO - mid May-90
B979	53931	54260	Listed at BR - Jul-91
B979	53931	54260	Listed at BR - Aug-91
B979	53931	54260	Listed at BR - Dec-91

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Graeme Phillips

Images:

10th April 1989

Set number: CH271

Class 108 DMU set CH271 (54260 + 53931) at Hunts Cross, 10/4/89. Sparegang.

April 1992

Set number: B979

Mistimed. Of course in retrospect, I should have waited a couple of moments for these alighting passengers to pass before releasing the shutter. It's evening one day in April 1992, and a first generation dmu (set B979, presumably 54260 + 53931) is about to get away from Bedminster station, Bristol. Most likely this is a service for Weston-super-Mare but the destination blind has not been set. That's my Raleigh "Royal" touring cycle leaning against the lamp post when it was brand new. It's still going strong today, but sadly those panniers, which gave many years of sterling service, do not survive. Tom Harper.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 6th July 1988

Set number: T332

Suburban set T332 (presumably 53073 + 59598 + 53865) with a Class 108 (53931 + presumably 54260) behind at Machynlleth on 6th July 1988. Nigel Menzies.

Date: 6th July 1988

Set number: T332

Suburban set T332 (presumably 53073 + 59598 + 53865) with a Class 108 (53931 + presumably 54260) behind at Machynlleth on 6th July 1988. Nigel Menzies.

Date: 6th July 1988

Set number: 271

Set (CH)271 at Machynlleth on 6 July 1988. The DMBS is 53931, presumably paired with 54260. Nigel Menzies.

Date: 10th April 1989

Set number: CH271

Class 108 DMU set CH271 (53931 + 54260) at Hunts Cross, 10/4/89. Sparegang.

Date: 10th April 1989

Set number: CH271

Class 108 DMU set CH271 (53931 + 54260) at Manchester Oxford Road, 10/4/89. Sparegang.

Date: 14th April 1991

Set number: B962

A depot full of Class 108s. Bristol Bath Road on Sunday 14 April 1991 - closest to the right is set B962 with DMBS 53619, working left B961 (presumably 54208 + 53608) is in the distance, looking freshly painted with the black mask is B979 (presumably 54260 + 53931), side by side with B966 (possibly 54191 visible). The DMBS partially seen on the left is 53614, withdrawn in January that year and in a few months it would arrive at Snailwell for disposal. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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