Some members of the class found themselves involved in Departmental duties following their withdrawal from passenger service. M54182 was converted to Sandite cae ADB977554 during early 1988 at Gorton Road C&W Works (Manchester) and at the end of 1987 Buxton TMD was converting M54183 to ADB977555, another Sandite car. 53472/478/530 were also used as Sandite cars in Scotland until April 1989. Derby RTC has also used various 104s, including 53451/454/475/499/528/529, although none were used by the RTC for any period of time.

Renumberings
50422	977344	RTC use
50475	ADB977342
50506	977343
56182	ADB977554	Sandite
56183	ADB977555	Sandite

53451/529 had been used as part of the DMU Auto-gear and carriage washing experiments. They left the RTC as 9X14 for Mayer Parry at Snailwell on 12/2/91 accompanied by Class 103 DB975089/90 and Class 116 53063/119.

53451 & 53529 are seen at Etches Park on 3/2/91, days before leaving for Snailwell. Kevin Dowd