Vehicle M50455
Type: BRC&W Works Class 104 DMBS (Driving Motor Brake Second).
Owner: BRCW (Kevin Dowd, Rob Simpson & Group_
Home Railway: Churnet Valley Railway
In BR passenger service: 10/1957 – 9/1992

M50455 was delivered to shed 9A as part of a 3-car set, also containing 59163 (TC) and 50507 (DMC). It was one of a batch of privately built railcars that eventually totalled 302 from Smethwick , and like 50517 was equipped with varnished wooden panelled interiors and high backed seats. The 104’s were never converted to fluorescent strip lighting, and retained tungsten bulbs until they were withdrawn.

It was put to service in the Stoke on Trent area initially running to Manchester, Crewe, Birmingham, and Derby. M50455 was then transferred to work suburban services around Manchester ultimately displacing vehicles on such lines as Manchester to Macclesfield, and Buxton.

In the 1970’s 50455 was classified as 104 and later renumbered to 53455 to avoid clashing with TOPS coded diesel locomotives. During this decade, it too was allocated to Newton Heath (Manchester) & Buxton, but unlike 50517, journeyed south to London’s Old Oak Common depot to work the Gospel Oak to Barking services. Displaced by class 115’s 53455 moved to reading to work Thames line duties until in mid 1992 “Thames Turbo’s” (class 165) took over these duties.

It was tendered for preservation in the “bulk buy” of 12 class 104 DMU’s by Kevin Dowd and Rob Simpson in 1992.

Moved to the Churnet Valley Railway, 50455 was selected as being the better of the two brake vehicles on the railway, being switched off as surplus to requirements rather than withdrawn with faults. Restoration commenced in 1999 once 50517 was in primer. The extent of the corrosion found in the vehicle is apparent with large chunks of rust removed in the accompanying photo.

By July 2002 the car had been hand painted and rolled out of the shed at Oakamoor. A further year was spent getting the interior and mechanical parts to a standard suitable for public passenger service.

50455 will be in traffic at Railcar50 paired with 50517. Both are in green livery.