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Vehicle 50955 / 53955

Class 108

Builder: BR Derby Works
Layout: Low Density
Length: 57ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: LMS
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30465
Diagram: 543

Allocations

14/03/59	New to	5B (Crewe South)
Jun-59	Transferred to	9E (Trafford Park)
4w/e 01/06/63	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
3w/e 31/10/65	Transferred to	9D (Newton Heath)
3w/e 30/04/67	Transferred to	9A (Longsight)
4w/e 05/04/69	Transferred to	12A (Carlisle Kingmoor)
06/05/73	Depot code change	KM
Jan-75	Depot code change	KD
13/05/88	Transferred to	HT (Heaton)
08/04/91	Withdrawn from	HT (Heaton) PHTX

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50955 - original number
53955 - from Jun-83 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Booth Roe Metals, Rotherham

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

50955	56238	As delivered to 5B - March 1959
50955	56237	Noted 15/08/70 - at Glasgow Central¹
50955	56236	Noted 05/12/75 - at Carlisle¹
50955	56234	Noted 01/04/1976 - at Carlisle²
50955	56234	Noted 30/07/78 - on a Lancaster - Millom service with 50968 + 56251
50955	59234	Noted 21/08/1979 - at Preston ²
50955	56234	Listed at KD - circa Aug-80
53955	54262	Noted circa 06/1983³
53955	54262	Noted circa 07/1983³
53955	54262	Listed at KD - 01/01/85
53955	54262	Noted circa 10/1985³
53955	54262	Listed at Carlisle Kingmoor - Summer 1986
53955	54262	Noted circa 11/1986³
53955	54262	Noted 04/05/87 - on 11.10 Ormskirk to Blackpool South service
53955	54262	Listed at KD - circa Jan-88
53955	54262	Noted 13/08/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 17/09/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 15/10/88 - on 15:17 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 21/01/89 - on 14:32 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Listed at HT - Feb-89
53955	54262	Noted 25/02/89 - on 16:06 Gateshead Metro Centre - Sunderland service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 25/02/89 - on 14:00 Hexham - Sunderland service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 11/03/89 - on 15:58 Middlesbrough - Newcastle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 13/05/89 - on 15:30 Newcastle - Middlesbrough service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 11/07/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle (or Hexham?)⁴
53955	54262	Noted 11/07/89 - on 12:30 Newcastle - Middlesbrough service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 07/08/89 - on 11:35 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 23/08/89 - on 17:24 Newcastle - Hexham service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 02/09/89 - on 10:15 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle⁴
53955	54262	Noted 06/09/89 - on 07:26 Seaham - Newcastle⁴
53955	54262	Noted 09/09/89 - on 14:46 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁴
53955	54262	Noted 09/09/89 - on 11:00 Whitehaven - Carlisle⁴
53955	54262	Noted 16/09/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁴
53955	54262	Noted 23/09/89 - on 09:02 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 11/11/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness⁴
53955	54262	Noted 28/12/89 - on 14:15 Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness with 53960 + 54244⁴
53955	54262	Noted 09/04/90 - on 19:12 Newcastle - Carlisle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 09/08/90 - on 15:45 Sunderland - Newcastle service⁴
53955	54262	Noted 27/08/90 - on 09:43 Carlisle - Barrow service

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Graeme Phillips

Images:

1975

M50955 is the leading car of the 2-car diesel unit forming the 13.25 to Carlisle at Whitehaven sometime in 1975. Tom Burnham.

Unknown date

A two-car Class 108 DMU (DMBS M50955 closest) waits to depart from Lancaster with a Barrow service, date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Unknown date

25 144 is seen hauling a Class 108 DMU (the DMBS seems to be M50955) at Carlisle circa mid-1970s. It will run around and head away in the opposite direction. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Unknown date

25 144 is seen hauling a Class 108 DMU (the DMBS seems to be M50955) at Carlisle circa mid-1970s. It arrived in the opposite direction and has run around the set. Stuart Mackay Collection.

31st December 1982

A 2-Car Class 108 DMU, with M50955 leading passes Cocker Bar, Ulnes Walton with a Preston to Ormskirk Service on New Years Eve, 1982. The Distant Signal is for Preston bound trains approaching Midge Hall. The former main line was singled west of Midge Hall in 1970, all trains now use what was the former Down Line. Martyn Hilbert.

Unknown date

Carlisle allocated Class 108 DMBS M53955 undergoing vacuum tests in Derby Works after overhaul. Undated, the number narrows it down to between June 1983 (53xxx number applied) and it May 1988 when it was transferred to the Eastern Region at Heaton. Stuart Mackay Collection.

30th March 1987

A Class 108 DMU (comprising 53955 and 54262) awaits departure from Carlisle with a Cumbrian Coast working while in the background, 86 225 arrives with a Taunton - Edinburgh train. 30 March 1987. Robert28194.

15th May 1988

Class 108 53955 is seen on the fuel pumps at Tyseley on 15.05.1988 awaiting refueling. Andy Cole.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 30th July 1978

E50140 (+ E59087 + E59094 + E51514) sits beside M56251 (unseen are M50968 + M50955 + M56234) at Lancaster. The 101 is on the Lancaster - Morecambe shuttle, the 108 to Millom (Cumbrian coast), 30/7/78. Robert Frise.

Date: 17th June 1980

On the 17th June 1980 56234 and 50955 are seen being dragged through Carnforth station by 25 209. Jerry Glover.

Date: circa 1984

A class 108 (DTCL 54262 nearest camera, presumably 53955) works a local service on the Cumbrian Coast line at Drigg - c.1984. 53A Models of Hull Collection.

Date: 4th May 1987

Having just passed under the bridge at Flag Lane, a tidy-looking two-car Class 108 formed of cars 54262 & 53955 was running along the last few yards of the Ormskirk route as it approached Farington Curve Junction whilst working the 11.10 Ormskirk to Blackpool South service on May 4th 1987. With the East Lancashire route in the foreground, a Class 104 DMU is visible through the left hand bridge span on a Colne to Preston working, waiting at signal PN522 for the 108 to clear the junction. Martyn Hilbert.

Date: 11th July 1987

Two two-car Class 108s with 54262 leading (presumably with 53955) at Selside on the Settle and Carlisle line, with Penyghent on the left. 11-7-87. Ian Cuthbertson Collection.

Date: 17th April 1989

One of the then ubiquitous Class 108 DMUs, long associated with the Cumbrian Coast route, calls at Drigg station 17/04/1989. The last two digits of the driver trailer can be made out as 62, making this 54262, which should be paired with 53955 at this time. Graeme Phillips Collection.

Date: 23rd August 1989

54262 and 53955 awaiting departure at Newcastle with the 17:24 Newcastle - Hexham on Wednesday 23rd August 1989. The Heaton (HT) depot sticker, depicting the Tyne bridge, is clearly visible below the car number, which by this time has no regional prefix. This rush hour service was cancelled more often than not, probably due to lack of train unit, resulting in the 1715 Newcastle-Girvan (a ScotRail Class 156) being delayed to depart at 1724 and having to call at stations to Hexham. Graeme Phillips.

Date: 27th August 1990

54262 + 53955 at Workington with the 09:43 Carlisle - Barrow service on August 27, 1990. Hamish Stevenson.

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