55019 was delivered to the Western Region on July 1958, and survived only 11 years in passenger use before being withdrawn in November 1969. It went into departmental use as 975042, and was used for route learning and sandite duties.

Paul Moxon asks: I remember that Class 122 DB975042 was also associated with driver training (?) of the Track to cab signalling tests on the Styal line in the early 1970's. At the end of my school lunch time, the "Bubble" would run through Wilmslow (where my school was situated) to Alderley Edge, cross over from the up to the down line, and then charge through Wilmslow onto the Styal line at what appeared to be line speed, leading many of the transpotters to think that a really good diesel was approaching!
The Cab to shore signalling consisted of two parallel cables laid in the 4-foot, and the signal aspects were coded and sent down the wire - as far as I know, the cab to shore signalling was only installed in DB975081 "Test Coach Hermes" which was usually propelled by an RTC owned class 17 (initially D8512, for a year or so, then D8598).
Does anyone know if DB975042 was similarly equipped, or was it just for route learning ? Answers via stuart@railcar.co.uk 

9/2/85		Manchester Victoria, 9th February 1985. Paul Moxon
20/2/88		Seen sitting at Cricklewood. Malcolm Clements
29/8/88		975042 locked off to the public heads the 13:31 Lichfield to Longbridge out of Birmingham New Street. P.J. Evans
17/12/88		These two views show 975042 at Bedford. Robert Frise
undated		Seen at Aylesbury. Robert Frise Collection
31/5/03		At Crewe Diesel Depot, 31st May '03. Steve Hodgson
8/9/04		The vehicle received a G-exam in summer 2004, which included bodywork repairs and a repaint into the current Network Rail livery. Which does include those nasty red buffers! It's seen here in Aylesbury depot D road before decals were applied. Other work included re-instating all the previously plated over windows, and fitting tripcocks for working over LT lines. Stuart Mackay
6/11/04		Sitting in the same spot as above. Roger Marks
15/1/07		Sitting in the sidings next to Aylesbury station. Fred Clark