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Vehicle 56263 / 54263

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 50980 during the unknown period are:

19/09/59	New to	26A (Newton Heath)
Dec-59	Transferred to	6G (Llandudno Junction)
4w/e 30/12/61	Transferred to	18A (Toton)
4w/e 27/01/62	Transferred to	5D (Cockshute)
Feb-62	Transferred to	6A (Chester)
3w/e 30/04/66	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
4w/e 04/02/67	Transferred to	8J (Allerton)
3w/e 30/04/67	Transferred to	10E (Accrington)

Then the allocations for 56263 are:

Oct-72	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
May-73	Depot code change	NH
Nov-80	Transferred to	LO (Longsight)
13/09/81	Transferred to	KD (Carlisle Kingmoor)
15/05/88	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
09/01/92	Withdrawn from	HT (Heaton) PHTX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

56263 - original number
54263 - from 1983 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 02/05/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	50980	56263	As delivered to 26A - 19th September 1959
	50980	56263	Noted 01/06/1974 - at Preston ¹
	50980	56263	Noted 01/09/74 - on Barrow depot²
	50980	56263	Noted 28/08/75 - on Newton Heath depot²
	50980	56263	Noted 08/12/75 - at Preston³
	50980	56263	Noted 16/07/1978 - on 17:00 Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton with 50930, 59414 and 51562¹
	50980	56263	Noted 08/09/79 - on an Ormskirk to Preston service
	50973	56263	Noted 21/06/80 - on 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk
	50973	56263	Noted circa 03/1982⁴
	53973	54263	Noted 30/11/1983 - at Carlisle⁴
	50973	56263	Noted 06/06/84 - at Kirkham & Wesham
	53973	54263	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
	53973	54263	Noted circa 01/1986⁴
	53973	54263	Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
	53973	54263	Noted 01/11/1986⁴
	53973	54263	Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
	53973	54263	Noted 18/06/1988 - Barrow connection to BR Carlisle-Portsmouth excursion
	53973	54263	Noted 19/11/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Listed at HT - Feb-89
	53973	54263	Noted 18/02/89 - on 14:32 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/03/89 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 18/03/89 - on 17:00 Newcastle - Sunderland - service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 18/03/89 - on 15:43 Newcastle - Morpeth service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 25/03/89 - on 14:32 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 03/04/89 - on 17:38 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 08/05/89 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 13/05/89 - on 16:49 Newcastle - Alnmouth⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 20/05/89 - on 17:10 Newcastle - Durham service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 31/07/89 - on 11:05 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 31/07/89 - on 09:02 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 23/09/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 23/09/89 - on 11:00 Whitehaven - Carlisle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 13:37 Carlisle - Newcastle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 15:16 Newcastle - Durham service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 17:30 Sunderland - Haltwhistle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 04/11/89 - on 19:10 Haltwhistle - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 07/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 08/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 13/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 16/11/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 14/12/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 11:05 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 09:02 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 28/12/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
	53973	54263	Noted 22/03/90 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁵
HT57	53957	54263	Listed at HT - Jul-91
HT57	53957	54263	Listed at HT - Aug-91
	53957	54263	Noted 07/08/91⁵

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

Images:

8th September 1979

Two intending passengers greet the arrival of a two-car Class 108 DMU formed of cars M56263 & M50980 as it arrives at Croston with an Ormskirk to Preston service on September 8th 1979. The station although heavily rationalised still retained its LMS concrete lamps on the single remaining operational platform on this one-time main line. The chimney in the background formed part of the brickworks that was once rail-served. Martyn Hilbert.

21st June 1980

A Class 108 formed of cars M56263 & M50973 arrives at Burscough Junction with the 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk on 21st June 1980. The station had an ever so long down platform complete with a bay, both a legacy from the days when Burscough Junction was on the former double track ex L&Y mainline between Preston & Liverpool Exchange. The connection was still in from Burscough Bridge serving the MOF warehouses through the gate on the right. Martyn Hilbert.

21st June 1980

In blue/grey livery Class 108 M56263 & M50973 awaits departure from Burscough Junction with the 13.37 Ormskirk to Preston on June 21st 1980. To the right of the 108 is the disused former Up line, and platform and just visible in the distance on the far right is the siding connection to the MOF warehouses, linked via a flat crossing over the Ormskirk route and accessed from Burscough Bridge via the now lifted South Curve. Martyn Hilbert.

6th June 1984

Despite the tail lights being switched on, and the destination blind showing 'Blackpool', the two-car Class 108 formed of cars M56263 & M50973 was arriving at Kirkham & Wesham with the service from Blackpool South on June 6th 1984. These were the days when the Coast Line from Kirkham was operated by a shuttle service that started/terminated at Kirkham. Martyn Hilbert.

7th March 1987

A Class 108 DMU (54263 + 53973) at Whitehaven on 7th March 1987, working a Cumbrian Coast service from Carlisle to Preston. Jonathan Hazan.

7th March 1987

A class 108 DMU (54263 + 53973) at Workington on 7th March 1987. Jonathan Hazan.

11th May 1990

Class 108 DTS 54263 at Sunderland on May 11, 1990. John Carter.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 21st June 1980

A Class 108 formed of cars M50973 + M56263 stands in the rationalised splendour of Burscough Junction whilst working the 12.57 Preston to Ormskirk service on June 21st 1980. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 6th April 1985

A Class 108 formation containing 54256 + 53980 / 53973 + 54263 departs Lancaster for Barrow on 6 April 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 10th July 1987

A Class 108 DMU formed of 53973 + 54263 with a Whitehaven service in Carlisle station on 10 July 1987. Keith Miller.

Date: 15th December 1991

54227, M54269, 54263 await their fate in C.F.Booths Rotherham 15-12-91. Kevin Dowd.

Date: 15th December 1991

54240, 54263, M54269, 54227 new arrivals in C.F.Booths Rotherham 15-12-91. Kevin Dowd.

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