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Vehicle 55035 / 975659

Class 121

Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30518
Diagram: 512

Allocations

Feb-61	New to	81D (Reading)
Nov-64	Transferred to	86A (Cardiff Canton)
Oct-67	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
3w/e 09/10/76	Stored
w/e 05/11/76	Reinstated	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
3w/e 07/05/77	Stored
2w/e 09/07/77	Reinstated	LA (Laira)
w/e 17/12/77	Stored
Jul-78	To departmental stock	RG (Reading)	- route learning car
by Aug-87	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common)
Apr-92	Withdrawn from	OO (Old Oak Common)

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

55035 - original number
975659 - from Jul-78 (departmental stock)

Department Use as ADB975659

Route Learner From 7/78 to 4/92. Carried set number L103 / L135

Modifications

5w/e 06/10/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 08/10/77 - WR AWS removed
p/e 29/07/78 - Leyland engines fitted

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

CAT104	55035	Listed at 86A - mid-Oct-65
	55035	Noted 24/08/1971 - at Bristol¹
B135	55035	Noted 26/08/75 - in Bristol Temple Meads²
B135	55035	Listed at BR - 01/05/1976
B135	55035	Noted 07/09/76 - in Bristol Temple Meads²
P135	55035	Listed at LA - 31st December 1977
L103	975659	Noted 20/09/1978 - Bristol Temple Meads³
L103	975659	Noted 11/10/1978 - passing Barry Station³
L103	975659	Noted 12/10/1978 - passing Barry Station³
L103	975659	Noted 25/01/1980 - Cardiff Canton CF³
L103	975659	Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L103	975659	Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L103	975659	Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L103	975659	Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
L103	975659	Listed at OO - Aug-87
L103	975659	Disbanded circa 10/87 - renumbered as L135
L135	975659	Formed at OO circa 10/87 - renumbered from L103

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Gerald Brown
3: Shayne Lewis

Images:

7th April 1964

W55035 at Tenby on the 7th April 1964. Tim Stubbs.

1975

Set number: B135

Class 121 55035 at Bridport in 1975. John Law.

1975

Set number: B135

55035 on a service from Bridport arriving in the bay platform at Maiden Newton in 1975. John Law.

26th May 1975

Set number: B135

Class 121 "bubble" W55035 seen at Stapleton Road with the 15:13 Bristol Temple Meads-Severn Beach service on 26 May 1975. Robert Thomas.

24th January 1979

Set number: L103

Class 121 route learner 975659 at Chippenham on 24 January 1979. Nicholas T Smith.

Unknown date

975659 (ex-55035) at Portsmouth & Southsea. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.

1980s

Former Class 121 unit 55035, renumbered into Departmental stock as ADB 975659, pictured at an unknown location in the 1980s. Curly42.

circa 1985

Set number: L103

Route learning car ADB975659 (formerly W55035), Exeter St Davids, circa 1985. Robert28194.

11th April 1985

Set number: L103

On a wet day 11 April 1985 I photographed Pressed Steel class 121 sun, also known as 55035 and ADB 975659 leaving a signal stop at Newport. Since 1978 the unit had been operated as a route-learning train based on the Western Region, finally being withdrawn from Old Oak Common in April 1992. Peter Tandy.

31st May 1985

Set number: L103

Class 121 route learner ADB975659 (ex-55035) leaving Didcot on 31 May 1985. In the background are 31296 and 08803. Keith Miller.

9th February 1986

Set number: L103

975659 is seen at Westbury, 9/2/86. Carl Watson.

17th February 1986

Set number: L103

ADB975659 in the snow at Westbury, 17th February 1986. Carl Watson.

8th March 1986

Set number: L103

TDB 975659, Westbury, 8 March 1986. A former Class 121 DMU, in use as a route learning car. Nigel Menzies.

11th March 1986

Set number: L103

Class 121 Route learner 975659 is seen on the Merehead line approaching the site of Wanstrow station on 11 March 1986. Michael Mensing.

22nd March 1986

Set number: L103

Route learner 975659 (ex-55035) at Westbury Yard on 22 March 1986. Note one oval buffer, the other cut (clipped). Shayne Lewis.

September 1986

Set number: L103

Route learner Class 121 unit L103 (975659), formerly W55035 seen at Moreton in Marsh in September 1986. I am not sure of the exact circumstances of the working, but had seen it passing through the station alone on the same day. It's seen here standing outside the station propelling an inspection saloon Bob Belcher.

September 1986

Set number: L103

Route learner Class 121 unit L103 (975659), formerly W55035, seen at Moreton-in-Marsh in September 1986. Bob Belcher.

1987

Set number: L103

Class 121 single unit railcar and an inspection saloon are seen arriving at Moreton in Marsh in 1987. The unit is L103, departmental car number ADB975659 (formerly 55035). Bob Belcher.

3rd October 1987

Set number: L103

Reading Depot's Route Learning Class 121 DMU TDB975659 (ex-W55035) receives attention at Doncaster Works on 3rd October 1987. AndrewHA.

27th April 1988

Set number: L135

Route Learner set L135, ADB 975659 (ex 55035), at Portsmouth & Southsea on 27 April 1988. Rob Paterson.

28th April 1988

Set number: L135

Route learner ADB975659 at Westbury on 28 April 1988. Keith Miller.

Unknown date

Set number: L135

975659 (ex-55035) is seen at Bristol Temple Meads. Undated. John Stewart.

20th February 1989

Set number: L135

Route learning Pressed Steel "bubble" ADB975659 seen at Newport on 20 February 1989. Robert Thomas.

10th March 1989

Set number: L135

Route learner 975659 on Bristol Bath Road depot on 10/03/89, with other DMUs visible. Roddy MacPhee.

circa May 1989

Set number: L135

Route learner 975659 in Bristol Bath Road circa May 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

19th April 1990

TDB 975659 (ex- 55035) is seen passing Clapham Junction on a route-learning trip on 19/4/90. It is coming off the Balham line and proceeding towards the West London Line. Leonard Rogers.

12th May 1990

Set number: L135

Route learner ADB975659 at Reading on 12 May 1990. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

1st November 1990

Set number: L135

Class 121 975659, set number L135, is seen at Derby on 01.11.1990 being hauled by 31272. This was converted from 55035. Andy Cole.

17th February 1991

975659 at Doncaster Works on the 17th February 1991. S Gaskell.

29th October 1991

Set number: L135

The route-learning vehicle ADB975659 which was converted from class 121 55035 was passing through platform 9 at Reading station when I photographed it on 29 October 1991. The overall blue paintwork was fading badly and the unit didn't have long to go being withdrawn the following April. The former headcode panel has "Old Oak on Tour" chalked onto it. Peter Tandy.

29th October 1991

Set number: L135

Route-learning vehicle ADB975659 (L135) at Reading on 29 October 1991 as it ran non-stop through Reading station on 29 October 1991. Although the paintwork of the route-learning vehicle was badly faded it looked as if Old Oak Common staff had made some effort to keep the former 55035 reasonably clean. Peter Tandy.

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