Vehicle 50444 / 53444
Class 104
Builder: BRC&W
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30293
Diagram: 556
Allocations
| Sep-57 | New to | 5B (Crewe South) | |
| Jan-58 | Transferred to | 9A (Longsight) | |
| 4w/e 01/07/61 | Transferred to | 5D (Cockshute) | |
| 3w/e 30/04/66 | Transferred to | 2H (Monument Lane) | |
| 4w/e 05/11/66 | Transferred to | 16C (Derby Etches Park) | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | DY | |
| 13/09/81 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| circa Mar-85 | On loan to | BY (Bletchley) | |
| May-85 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) | |
| 03/05/87 | Transferred to | NH (Newton Heath) | |
| 17/08/90 | Withdrawn from | NH (Newton Heath) PXXZ |
Notes
9th July 1989 - Seen out of service at Newton Heath depot
19th October 1989 - Listed as withdrawn/out of use
4th December 1989 - Seen stored out of service at Newton Heath depot
12th October 1990 - Listed as stored condemned at Crewe Basford Hall Yard
The vehicle carried the following numbers:
50444 - original number
53444 - from Jun-84 (53xxx / 54xxx change)
Disposal
Scrapped by Vic Berry, Leicester
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 50444 | 59152 | 50496 | As delivered to 5B - September 1957 | ||||||
| 50444 | 59169 | 50793 | Noted circa Nov-67 - in plain blue with small yellow panel, except 50793 in green | ||||||
| 50444 | 59310 | 50794 | Noted 17/08/68 - at Peterborough1 | ||||||
| 50444 | 59159 | 50495 | Noted 27/09/69 - at Leicester1 | ||||||
| 50444 | 59157 | 50495 | Noted 22/10/71 - at Crewe2 | ||||||
| 50444 | 59157 | 50502 | Noted 14/07/1973 - at Birmingham New Street3 | ||||||
| EP474 | 50444 | 59157 | 50495 | Noted 24/08/74 - at Lincoln St Marks1 | |||||
| 50444 | 59157 | 50495 | Noted 19/04/1975 - at Peterborough4 | ||||||
| EP474 | 50444 | 59157 | 50495 | Noted 02/07/1975 - at Derby4 | |||||
| 50444 | 59157 | 50495 | Noted circa 11/1975 - at Loughborough with 51191 and 563504 | ||||||
| 50444 | 59152 | 50495 | Noted 09/12/76 - on Cambridge depot, 50495 noted as damaged1 | ||||||
| EP486 | 50444 | 59152 | 50496 | Noted 09/04/77 - at Peterborough1 | |||||
| 50444 | 50500 | Noted 13/10/1982 - Arrived Manchester Victoria as 06.25 ex Blackburn.5 | |||||||
| 50444 | 50500 | Noted circa 02/19835 | |||||||
| 53444 | 53500 | Noted circa 04/19855 | |||||||
| 53444 | 59206 | 53500 | Noted 17/08/1985 - at Bletchley6 | ||||||
| 53444 | 59206 | 53500 | Noted 24/11/85 | ||||||
| 53444 | 59206 | 53500 | Noted circa 12/19855 | ||||||
| 53444 | 59206 | 53541 | Noted circa 06/19865 | ||||||
| 53444 | 59367 | 59206 | 53541 | Noted 21/11/86 - at Bedford Midland, both centre cars b/g1 | |||||
| 53444 | 53427 | Noted 21/06/87 | |||||||
| 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 1st January 1988 | |||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa 04/19885 | ||||||
| 53444 | 53493 | Noted 23/04/1988 - Barrow connection from BR Fort William to Lancaster excursion | |||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - May 1988 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa May-88 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53494 | Noted 15/05/88 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 16th July 1988 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 23rd April 1989 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 24/04/89 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Noted 24th April 1989 | ||||||
| N666 | 53444 | 53493 | Listed at NH - 1st July 1989 - withdrawn |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Peter Wallwork
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Robert Chilton
Images:
April 1965
A BRC&W triple set seen at Ocker Hill (Tipton) in April 1965. Closest is DMBS M50444 allocated to Cockshute, the centre car is M59152. Michael Mensing.
21st September 1969
An Etches Park allocated BRC&W triple DMU formed of M50444 + M59159 + M50495 arrives into Hinckley station, wrong line working, on Sunday 21 September 1969. Phillip Malin.
24th July 1984
With the gable end of the terraced houses on Carr Street visible on the left, BRCW Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS) M53444 was accelerating away from Bamber Bridge with a Colne to Preston service on July 24th 1984. A view taken over the low wire fence in what was the then undeveloped former goods yard area at Bamber Bridge. Martyn Hilbert.
May 1985
Birmingham RC&W Co. Class 104 2-car Local Passenger dmu No. M53444 and presumably M53500 at Bedford (Midland Road) on a service from Bletchley, 05/85. Hugh Llewelyn.
19th October 1985
On 19 October 1985 I was chatting to a friend at Leamington Spa who said that one of the last locomotives he was yet to see was stabled at March Yard and would I like a trip over there? On the way we called at Bedford where this class 104 comprising vehicles 53444 + 59206 + 53500 was stabled in the electrified siding alongside the virtually empty car park. Peter Tandy.
circa 1986
A three-car Class 104 DMU at Bletchley circa 1985/6. DMBS 53444 is closest, the blue/grey centre car is presumably 59206. Mike Bunker.
30th March 1986
A three-car Class 104 DMU at Leicester on 30 March 1986. Closest is 53444, the blue/grey centre car is presumably 59206. Alan Harrison.
12th April 1986
A Class 104 set with 53444 closest at Bletchley on the afternoon of Saturday 12th April 1986 with a Bedford service. Colin Brooks.
12th July 1986
BRCW Class 104 DMBS 53444 at the rear of the 10.51 to St Albans Abbey at Watford Junction on 12 July 1986. The blue/grey centre car is 59206. Dave Warby.
4th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU with DMBS 53444 closest is seen at 17:29 at Watford Junction on 4 September 1986. DMBS 53541 is on the rear, the centre car is 59206. Dave Warby.
13th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed of 53444 + 59206 + 53541 seen in Bedford station with the 11:00 Bedford-Bletchley service on 13 September 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd November 1986
A Class 104 with DMBS 53444 visible at Bletchley on November 22 1986. Jonathan Hazan.
22nd November 1986
An unusual combination of a Class 104 DMBS (likely 53444) and a suburban vehicle seen at Bletchley on November 22, 1986. Jonathan Hazan.
1987
A Class 104 two-car DMU seen at Manchester Victoria in 1987. The DMBS - 53444 - still carries Network South East branding from its time at Bletchley, the DMS has window bars on the passenger doors. Walter Burt.
9th April 1988
Set number: N666
Tucked away out of sight around the back of Manchester Victoria was this bay platform, if it was in regular use or not I don't know but stock would stable overnight in it, as seen here in the shape of a BRC&W class 104 DMBS M53444 on the 9th April 1988. Andrew J Crowther.
15th May 1988
Set number: N666
M53444 at Rotherham Central on May 15, 1988. John Carter.
15th May 1988
Set number: N666
Its 21.50 and BRC&W Class 104 Newton Heath allocated DMU set N666, comprising of 53444 + 53494, sits at the buffers on platform 3A at a very quite Sheffield on the 15th May 1988. Andrew J Crowther.
15th August 1988
Set number: N666
53444 with 53494 in the gloom of Manchester Victoria on 15/8/88. Robert Chilton.
10th September 1988
The sidings at Southport on September 11th 1988 include a two-car Class 104 DMU formed of cars 53444 & 53493 (With a small Network South East Logo), and a two-car Class 101 Metro-Cammell DMU in blue/grey was also stabled alongside, formed of cars 51520 & 51456. Martyn Hilbert.
17th October 1988
Set number: N666
A pair of Class 104 BRC&W 2-car DMUs - 53444 + 53493 (set N666) and a sister - come ECS from Red Bank into Manchester Victoria 17-10-88. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
24th April 1989
Set number: N666
A BRC&W Class 104/Derby Class 108 combination on a peak hour working, 24th April 1989, having just left Furness Vale on their way up to Buxton. This is Newton Heath allocated N666 comprising of 53444 + 53493. Andrew J Crowther.
8th June 1990
Amongst the DMUs at Newton Heath on 08.06.90 were M53444 and M53493 and in the foreground M53421. Nicholas Youngman.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: November 1972
Set number: EP475
Etches Park Class BRC&W triple set EP475, noted as M50502 + M59157 + M50444, at Attenborough in November 1972. Mel Smith.
Date: May 1985
A Class 104 at Bedford (Midland Road) on a service from Bletchley, in very damp weather, 05/85. The vehicles are thought to be M53500 + M53444. Hugh Llewelyn.
Date: 11th July 1986
With Kettering on the destination blind a Class 104 DMU formed of DMBS 53541, TSL 59206 and DMBS 53444 is seen in Watford Junction station with a St Albans Abbey branch service on 11 July 1986. Dave Warby.
Date: 4th September 1986
With two DMBSs (53541 closest and 53444 at the far end) this Class 104 DMU is seen at Watford Junction at 17:29 on 4 September 1986. The blue grey centre car is 59206. Dave Warby.
Date: 4th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed (l-r) 53541 + 59206 + 53444 at Watford Junction on 4 September 1986. Dave Warby.
Date: 13th September 1986
A Class 104 DMU formed of DMBS 53541, TSL 59206 and DMBS 53444 is seen in Bletchley station on 13 September 1986 with the 12:25 Bletchley-Wellingborough service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 21st June 1987
Southport station on June 21st, 1987, contains two-car Class 104 set M53427 + M53444. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 15th September 1990
Golden light at Newton Heath Depot at dawn as the sun illuminated first generation DMU cars stabled on September 15th 1990. In the foreground are withdrawn Class 104s, M53421 & M53464, with out-of-service M53493 & M53444 on a parallel siding, the units being separated by a 20 Ton Brake Van. In the left background is a split 2-Car Class 101, with the DMBS having some bodyside damage. Also present were two Class 116 Suburban DMU cars, 53839 & 53842. Martyn Hilbert.