51562 Class 108 DMC

The vehicle had the honour of being the 1,000th diesel railcar vehicle built by Derby Works. They held a short ceremony to celebrate the fact in Nov '59. It was also the 414th lightweight aluminium car to be built.

"Mr. A.E.Bates, Works Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, British Railways, Derby, and members of the team engaged in constructing the 1,000th railcar."

It was noted in Railway Observer as being delivered new to 6G (Llandudno Junction) in December 1959, as part of a power twin with DMBS 50925.

It's first day of passenger use was on the 4th January 1960, when DMUs started running between Wrexham (Central), Chester (Northgate) and New Brighton. They replaced the steam services between Wrexham, Chester and Seacombe, now closed. The services were considerably improved, not only was the frequency increased but 11 mins was cut from the journey time between Chester and Wrexham, now it was 49 mins. The new Chester (Northgate) to New Brighton time was 47 mins for stopping trains, and Wrexham to New Brighton was 68 mins. Twelve power twins were allocated to Wrexham (Central) for these services (50924-35/51561-72), eight required to run the services and four spare.

M51562 is seen here on its first day of passenger service - 4 January 1960 - and was appartently taken at Blacon; working a New Brighton service (it left Blacon at about 11.15am). David Faircloth Prior to the introduction of the railcars, trains terminated at Seacombe, and there wasn't a direct service from Chester (Northgate) to that point. M51562/M50925 had the "honour" of working the first diesel service out of New Brighton that morning (to Wrexham).

Note from the photo that "1000th" is still shown in the destination box - this only lasted for a few days before being replaced with "proper" destination blinds. The statement in the centre windscreen panel also didn't last long - David doesn't know whether it was removed, "fell-off", or the centre panel was broken; and think the lettering was yellow with a black surround. The "side-boards" lasted as long as the vehicle was painted green.

A sideboard is seen here on the 17th August 1966, taken at Welshpool. Hamish Stevenson

1965 record show that the set was allocated to Chester, still on the Northgate - Wrexham / New Brighton services, on which they likely remained till the line closed (the Wrexham to Bidston part is still open).

In this shot at Machynlleth on 12/9/85, 51562 is paired with 53931. Hamish Stevenson

It was withdrawn in June '92, and vehicle is now preserved by the National Railway Museum, together with 51922. Unfortunately it is in Rail Blue, rather than in green with the 1,000th railcar embellishments!

51562 preservation page