close

Sign In


Not registered?
Forgot Your Password?

<- 50539 | 50540 | 50541 ->

Vehicle 50540 / 53540


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: 30296
Diagram: 556

Allocations

2w/e 03/05/58 New to 5B (Crewe South)
4w/e 03/06/61 Transferred to 21F (Ryecroft)
Sep-63Depot code change2G
w/e 10/10/64 Transferred to 6A (Chester)
4w/e 06/02/65 Transferred to 6G (Llandudno Junction)
3w/e 02/10/65 Transferred to 9D (Newton Heath)
4w/e 06/11/65 Transferred to 9A (Longsight)
May 1973Depot code changeLO
circa Feb-82 Transferred to BY (Bletchley)
05/02/87 Transferred to CW (Cricklewood)
10/05/87 Transferred to OO (Old Oak Common)
p/e 31/12/88 Sector Change to OO (Old Oak Common) NGBX
20/01/91 Sector Change to OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX
22/10/93 Transferred to HQ (Headquarters) NWRX
27/10/93 Withdrawn from HQ (Headquarters) NWRX

Notes

27th May 1987 - Repainted into blue & grey livery at Derby Litchurch Lane
12th October 1990 - Listed as in NSE livery

The vehicle carried the following numbers:

50540 - original number
53540 - from 1984 (53xxx / 54xxx change)

Disposal

Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


50540 56183 As delivered to 5B - 2w/e 03/05/58
50540 56180 Noted 22/08/69 - at Manchester Piccadilly1
LT310 50540 56184 Listed at Longsight - circa Dec-69
LT310 50540 56183 Listed at 9A - circa Jul-70
50540 56183 Noted 04/06/71 - at Longsight1
50540 56183 Noted 20/04/73 - in Manchester Piccadilly2
50540 56183 Noted 04/09/74 - at New Mills2
50540 56183 Noted 28/08/75 - on Longsight depot2
50540 56183 Noted 14/09/1975 - at Stockport3
50540 56183 Noted Jun-76 - in Manchester Piccadilly1
50540 56183 Noted 10/09/76 - in Manchester Piccadilly2
50540 56183 Noted circa 04/19824
50540 56183 Noted 03/09/82 - at Bedford St Johns2
53540 54183 Noted circa 05/19834
53540 54182 Noted circa 08/19834
53540 54182 Noted circa 12/19844
53540 54184 Noted circa 01/19864
53540 54184 Noted 23/07/1986 - at Bedford5
53540 54184 Noted 21/11/86 - on Bletchley depot2
53540 54184 Noted circa 01/19874
53540 59497 51387 Noted circa 07/19874
L704 53477 53540 Formed at OO circa Oct-87
L704 53477 53540 Listed at OO - 1st January 1988
L704 53477 53540 Noted 11/06/19884
L704 53477 53540 Listed at OO - 16th July 1988
L704 53477 53540 Noted 6th August 1988
L704 53477 53540 Listed at - 15/05/89
L704 53477 53540 Listed at OO - 1st July 1989
L704 53477 53540 Noted circa 10/19904
L704 53477 53540 Listed at OO - 12th October 1990
spare 53540 Listed at OO - 21/01/91
L263 53540 54289 Noted circa 03/19914
53540 54289 Noted 09/04/92 - on Slough - Windsor services6
L263 53540 54289 Listed at OO - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L263 53540 54289 Listed at OO - 12/08/92
L263 53540 54289 Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
L263 53540 54495 Noted 14th May 1993
L263 53540 54495 Noted 26th August 1993

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Jeremy Goodyear
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Robert Chilton
6: David Bellamy

Images:

Class 104 DMU at Chester

Unknown date

A BRC&W twin-set arrives into Chester on an unknown rainy date led by M50540. Edgehillsignallman@Flickr.

Class 104 DMU at Bedford St Johns

15th May 1982

A Class 104 DMU formed of M50540 + 56183 sits in Bedford St. Johns station on 15 May 1982 forming the 17:00 to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 104 DMU at Watford Junction

15th May 1986

BRCW Class 104 DMBS 53540 and DTS 54184 wait to work the 17.16 to Croxley Green at Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.

Class 104 DMU at Reading

circa 1987

Blue-grey Class 104 DMBS 53540 is part of a suburban set when seen in Reading station. The other two vehicles are likely to be 59497 and 51387 which it ran with in mid-1987. Mike Bunker.

Class 104 DMU at Radipole

12th June 1987

Class 104 DMBS no. 53540, repainted into blue & grey livery, matches the Class 117 suburban cars with which it is seen coupled at Radipole, Dorset on 12/06/1987. Graeme Phillips Collection.

Class 104 DMU at Oxford

8th July 1987

A hybrid DMU in Oxford station on 9 July 1987, with Class 104 DMBS 53540 standing in for Class 117 DMBS. The other two vehicles are likely to be 59497 and 51387 (L410). The KDH Archive.

Class 104 DMU at South Tottenham

20th November 1988

Set number: L704

Class 104 set L704 at South Tottenham on 20th November 1988. Ian Buck.

Class 104 DMU at Barking

10th June 1989

Set number: L704

L704 (53540 + 53477) at Barking on June 10, 1989. John Carter.

Class 104 DMU at Doncaster Works

Unknown date

Freshly outshopped 53540 in Doncaster Works. Date unknown. Malcolm Clements.

Class 104 DMU at Gospel Oak

July 1990

Set number: L704

At Gospel Oak is class 104 set L704 (53540 and 53477) on the Barking service. Ian Buck.

Class 104 DMU at Hayes and Harlington

October 1990

Set number: L704

Class 104 L704 consists of two DMBSs, the closest is 53540 when seen circa October 1990 in Hayes & Harlington station. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 104 DMU at London Paddington

20th October 1990

Class 104 set L704 (53540 + 53477) is seen approaching Paddington on 20.10.1990 in Network South East livery. A handful of these units were operated by Old Oak Common. Andy Cole.

Class 104 DMU at Greenford

circa 1991

Set number: L263

From the late 1980s a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289 (with gangway fitted) circa 1991. This shot shows the impressive paint finish given to these ageing units, except for the rough patch of filler on the cab front. The location is Greenford station, which is unusual in being a bay platform in the middle of the LT underground station. Chris McKee.

Class 104 DMU at Greenford

circa 1991

Set number: L263

Close up view of Class 104 53540 and Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 - descending the steep incline from Greenford station circa 1991. This shot accentuates the steep incline that the Greenford branch makes as it reaches the terminus. Chris McKee.

Class 104 DMU at Greenford

circa 1991

Set number: L263

Class 104 53540 and Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 seen departing Greenford station circa 1991. Chris McKee.

Class 104 DMU at Greenford

circa 1991

Set number: L263

A close up cab view of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 at Greenford station circa 1991. It shows the impressive paint finish given to these ageing units, except for the rough patch of filler. The location is Greenford station, which is unusual in being a bay platform in the middle of the LT underground station. Chris McKee.

Class 104 DMU at West Ealing

circa 1991

Set number: L263

Class 104 53540 with Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 passes Pressed Steel Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55029 near West Ealing station circa 1991. From the late 1980s, a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289. The unit is about to pass one of the traditional Greenford branch Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55029. Ealing Broadway station is in the background. I think I'm being yelled at by the driver! What happened to railway uniforms? Chris McKee.

Class 104 DMU at Slough

3rd April 1991

Set number: L263

Class 104 DMBS 53540 from set L263 seen in Slough station on 3 April 1991. Andrew Malloy.

Class 104 DMU at Slough

24th March 1992

Set number: L263

L263 53540 + 54289 at Slough on the 13:20 to Windsor And Eaton Central, 24-3-92. Kevin Dowd.

Class 104 DMU at Reading

5th November 1992

Set number: L263

L263 (53540 + 54495) at Reading with the 16:00 to Didcot on 5/11/92. Hamish Stevenson.

Class 104 DMU at Old Oak Common Depot

17th January 1995

Withdrawn class 104 car 53540 at Old Oak Common depot on 17th January 1995 awaiting decision. Ian Buck.

Class 104 DMU at Gwent Demolition

16th October 1995

53540, the last 104 to remain in service, Gwent Demolition, Margam 16-10-95. Kevin Dowd.

Class 104 DMU at Gwent Demolition

17th October 1995

Set number: L263

Cutting is started on 53540, Gwent Demolition, Margam 17-10-95. Kevin Dowd.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: circa 1982

A Class 104 BRCW DMU - M56183 and (most likely M50540) - at St Albans Abbey station in the early 1980s. Curly42.

DMU

Date: 15th May 1986

BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 wait in Watford Junction to work the 17.16 to Croxley Green on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: 15th May 1986

In Watford High Street station BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 are seen working The 17.27 Croxley Green-Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: 15th May 1986

BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 in Watford West station working the 17.50 Croxley Green-Watford Junction on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: 15th May 1986

In Watford West BRCW Class 104 DTS 54184 and DMBS 53540 are working the 17.50 Croxley Green-Watford Junction service on 15 May 1986. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: 20th September 1986

Class 104 DTSL 54184 with DMBS 53540 arrives at Watford Junction with the 11.12 ex-St Albans Abbey on 20 September 1986. Dave Warby.

DMU

Date: September 1988

Set number: L702

Class 104 53539+53540 arrives at Barking from Gospel Oak in September 1988. Nicholas Youngman.

DMU

Date: 4th November 1988

Set number: L704

Gospel Oak station on 4 November 1988, with BRCW Class 104 unit L704 awaiting departure with the 15.38 to Barking. I recorded the set as consisting of 53477/53479, the later DMBS still in plain blue standing in for regular partner 53540 in the set. Lewis Bevan.

DMU

Date: circa 1991

Set number: L129

Class 104 53540 with Class 121 54289 hybrid DMU set L263 approaches Pressed Steel Class 121 'Bubble Car' 55029 near West Ealing station circa 1991. From the late 1980s, a number of imported DMU sets were to be seen working NSE locals out of Paddington. The strangest arrivals were ex-Manchester Class 104s, one of which is seen here making up a hybrid set of BRC&W Class 104 DMBS 53540 and Pressed Steel Class 121 DTS 54289. The unit is about to pass one of the traditional Greenford branch Class 121 'Bubble Cars' 55029. West Ealing station is in the background. Chris McKee.

DMU

Date: 30th June 1991

Set number: L131

The Class 121 closest appears to be 55031, the 104/121 on the rear is set L263 (presumably 53540 + 54289). Taken around 11:15 at West Ealing Sunday 30 June 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 30th June 1991

Set number: L263

Set L263 (presumably 54289 + 53540) and a Class 121 which is thought to be 55031, seen around 11:00 at West Ealing on Sunday 30 June 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 9th November 1991

Set number: L263

Set L263 - Class 121 DTS 54289 and Class 104 DMBS 53540 - is seen with a Greenford service in platform 10 of Paddington station on 9 November 1991. A Class 117 is seen to the left. Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: 5th May 1993

Set number: 263

Hybrid class 108/104 unit 263, formed of 54495 + 53540, leads another unit E.C.S. through Reading on 5/5/93. Sparegang.

DMU

Date: 3rd December 1995

Set number: L720

53539, 59437, 53540 (540 being scrapped during the following week) at Gwent Demolition, Margam, 3-12-95. Kevin Dowd.