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<- 55002 | 55003 | 55004 ->

Vehicle 55003


Class 122

Builder: GRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: AEC 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30419
Diagram: 539

Allocations

3w/e 17/05/58 New to 84E (Tyseley)
01/01/63Boundary change84Etransferred from WR to LMR stock
Sep-63Depot code change2A
May-73Depot code changeTS
23/09/87 Transferred to LA (Laira)
10/08/93 Transferred to HQ (Headquarters) RFXX
20/09/93 Withdrawn from HQ (Headquarters) RFXX

Modifications

p/e 11/09/85 - Converted for parcels use - seats removed for parcels use (temporary)

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:


55003 56293 Noted 01/04/69 - in Birmingham New Street1
TY050 55003 Listed at Tyseley - circa Dec-69
TY050 55003 Noted 16/05/70 - on SO 12:40 Birmingham Snow Hill - Wolverhampton
TY050 55003 Listed at 2A - 16/08/70
55003 Noted 23/08/75 - on Tyseley depot2
TS050 55003 Listed at TS - 12/08/79
TS050 55003 Noted circa 01/19813
TS050 55003 Noted circa 10/19813
TS050 55003 Listed at TS - Jan-83
TS050 55003 Listed at TS - 14/07/83
TS050 55003 Noted circa 03/19843
TS053 55003 Noted circa 01/19853
TS510 55003 59533 53890 Formation change - TS - circa Sep-85
TS510 55003 59533 53890 Noted circa 10/19853
TS510 55003 59533 53890 Noted circa 01/19863
TS003 55003 Formation change - TS - circa Feb-86
TS053 55003 Listed at Tyseley - Summer 1986
TS053 55003 Noted 23/04/1987 - at Birmingham New Street - as 4 car set with TS6114
TS053 55003 Noted circa 06/19873
T053 55003 Listed at TS - Jul-87
P103 55003 Formed at LA circa 10/87
P103 55003 Listed at LA - 08/08/88
P103 55003 Listed at LA - 15/05/89
P103 55003 Listed at LA - Jul-91
P103 55003 Listed at LA - Aug-91
P103 55003 Listed at LA - Dec-91
P103 55003 Listed at LA - 02/07/92
P103 55003 Listed at LA - 24/09/92
P103 55003 Listed at LA - November 1992
P103 55003 Listed at LA - 10/12/92

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Eddie Knorn
4: Robert Chilton

Images:

Class 122 DMU at Knightwick

21st March 1964

Set number: 101

GRC&W double-ender W55003 with the 1.5pm Worcester Shrub Hill - Bromyard service leaving Knightwick on 21/3/64. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Knightwick

21st March 1964

Set number: 101

GRC&W bubble car W55003 seen east of Knightwick on Bromyard - Worcester Shrub Hill duties, March 21st 1964. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Warwick

11th May 1964

Set number: 101

GRC&W 'double-ender' W55003 is attached to an ex-works Derby suburban triple working the 11.35 Stratford-upon-Avon - Leamington service approaching Warwick on 11 May 1964. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Gloucester (Central)

circa late 1960s

GRC&W double-ender M55003 at Gloucester (Central). The early version of Rail Blue livery with the yellow panel and 3" numbers suggests late 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Spring Road

1969

Set number: TY050

M55003 is attached to a Derby suburban triple set at Spring Road on a Birmingham Moor Street service in 1969. Steve Davies Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Spring Road

circa 1969

Set number: TY050

A GRC&W bubble car is attached to the front of a Class 116 approaching Spring Road circa 1069. The bubble is almost certainly 55003, see image 14892. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Kings Norton

late July 1975

Set number: TY050

Class 122 set TY050 - presumably 55003 - at Kings Norton - July in late 1975. Redditch is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Somerset Road, Birmingham

July 1976

Set number: TY050

Class 122 set TY050 - presumably 55003 - is seen at Somerset Road, Birmingham, in August 1976. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Wychall Lane

July 1976

Set number: TY050

A Class 122 bubble car seen at Wychall Lane (with Northfield station in the distance) with a Birmingham New Street bound service in late July 1976. Displaying set number TY050 in the cab window this is presumably M55003. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Lifford West Jct

3rd July 1976

Set number: TY050

Class 122 M55003 at Lifford West Jct Pershore Rd Tunnel on 3 July 1976. Phillip Malin.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

1977

Set number: TY050

M55003 - one of Tyseley's class 122 bubble cars - waits to leave Stourbridge Town for the 3 minute trip to Stourbridge Junction in 1977. Stephen Burdett.

Class 122 DMU at Northfield

May 1977

GRC&W double-ender 55003 at Northfield (Birmingham) in May 1977. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

1st June 1978

Class 122 'Bubble Car' 55003 at the soon to be demolished Stourbridge Town on 01/06/78. Steve Jones.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

30th June 1978

Set number: TY050

Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Town 30 June 1978. Alistair Ness.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Junction

30th June 1978

Set number: TY050

Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Junction 30 June 1978. Alistair Ness.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Junction

30th June 1978

Set number: TY050

Class 122 55003 Stourbridge Junction 30 June 1978. Bwaaaaaaah! Cough splutter. Make Greta proud. Alistair Ness.

Class 122 DMU at Hatton

August 1978

Set number: TS050

M55003 is seen at Hatton in August 1978. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Hatton

August 1978

Set number: TS050

M55003 at Hatton in August 1978. Michael Mensing.

Class 122 DMU at Leamington Spa

19th June 1982

Single unit M55003 rattles into Leamington Spa with a shuttle from Stratford-upon-Avon 10.30 am on 19 June 1982. Lewis Bevan.

Class 122 DMU at Saltley

14th September 1982

Set number: TS050

Class 122 55003, set number TS050, is seen stabling at Saltley in all over BR blue livery on 14.09.1982. DMU's were never very common visitors to Saltley. Andy Cole.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

15th March 1983

Set number: TS050

W55003 at Stourbridge Town on the 15th March 1983. Hamish Stevenson.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

27th May 1983

Set number: TS050

Class 122 Gloucester RCW single car 55003 at Stourbridge Town with 13-11 to Stourbridge Junction on 27-5-83. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Junction

30th August 1983

Set number: TS050

Class 122 DMU 55003 in Stourbridge Junction station on 30 August 1983 awaiting departure for the short journey to the Town station. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

1st June 1985

Set number: TS053

Class 122 single unit 55003, Tyseley set T053, was in the Cold Store Siding at Stratford-upon-Avon on the sunny early morning of 1 June 1985 alongside a hybrid set led by a class 116 DMBS and numbered T626. The latter had just been started before forming the first train of the day to Birmingham Moor Street, the 06.20 departure from Stratford, while the class 122 would be next with first train to Leamington Spa. Stratford station was both a stabling and signing-on point at the time with several train crews being based here. Peter Tandy.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

13th June 1985

Set number: TS053

Class 122s set TS053 (55003) and set TS062 (55012) with a 12XX Leamington Spa - Stratford Upon Avon after arrival at Stratford Upon Avon on Monday 10th June 1985. Colin Brooks.

Class 122 DMU at Northampton

2nd September 1985

Set number: TS053

Tyseley Depot may have been short of serviceable Diesel Parcels Units on 2nd September 1985, as this tidy Gloucester RC&W built single unit 55003 was in the Parcels bays at Northampton, around the time when a Diesel Parcels Unit should have been there! AndrewHA.

Class 122 DMU at Dovey Jct

12th September 1985

55003 is working in front of a Class 120 Cross-Country set when seen at Dovey Jct with the 10:20am Aberytswyth - Shrewsbury, 12/9/85. Hamish Stevenson.

Class 122 DMU at Shrewsbury

14th September 1985

Class 122 M55003 and a two-car Class 101 are seen at Shrewsbury on 14 September 1985. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Worcester Shrub Hill

Unknown date

Class 122 W55003 in Worcester Shrub Hill, date unknown. Walter Burt.

Class 122 DMU at Hatton Bank

11th April 1986

An everyday scene on Hatton Bank on 11 April 1986 as class 122 single car 55003 climbs the 1/110 average gradient with an afternoon Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon service. This was a popular location for railway photographers with many different viewpoints being available to vary the pictures during an afternoon's photography. It is completely overgrown and the line is not visible from the footpath running along the wooden fence. Peter Tandy.

Class 122 DMU at High Wycombe

28th June 1986

Class 121 no 55033 and class 122 no 55006 (nearer the camera) are seen at High Wycombe on 28 June 1986, where they would go on to form the Thame Phoenix shuttles to Thame operated by Hertfordshire Railtours. Robert28194.

Class 122 DMU at Leamington Spa

autumn 1986

Set number: TS053

A Spa with Bubbles. M55003 and a classmate have arrived at Leamington Spa in the autumn of 1986 with a shuttle from Stratford-upon-Avon. This Bubble Car had been working from Tyseley since new, but would be reallocated to Laira the following year. Murray Liston.

Class 122 DMU at Leamington Spa

24th January 1987

Set number: TS053

Class 122 DMU, 55003, set number TS053, arriving in Platform 3 at Leamington Spa station. January 1987. Not 100% sure, but I believe the date to be 24th January 1987. Paul James.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

February 1987

Set number: TY053

A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.

Class 122 DMU at Stourbridge Town

1st February 1987

55003 is working the Stoubridge shuttle on 1st February 1987 and is seen at Stourbridge Town. Ian Buck.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

February 1987

Set number: TY053

A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

February 1987

Set number: TY053

A Class 122 "Bubble Car", thought to be 55003, in Stratford-upon-Avon station in February 1987. George Woods.

Class 122 DMU at Tyseley

14th March 1987

Set number: TS053

Class 122 55003, set number TS053, is seen stabled at Tyseley on 14.03.1987. Andy Cole.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

11th April 1987

Set number: TS053

Two bubbles, 55003 (leading) and 55034, at Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 11 April 1987. In the down goods line is 47 610, sent by Saltley to shunt a steam special hauled by 35028 Clan Line. Peter Tandy.

Class 122 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

11th April 1987

Set number: TS053

Single-Car DMU's class 122 55003 and class 121 55034 set back from platform 1 in order to access platform 3, having arrived at Stratford-upon-Avon with a Leamington service on 11 April 1987. 47613 'North Star' has brought in an Intercity charter from London. Chris Morrison.

Class 122 DMU at Vic Berrys

3rd October 1987

M55003 is seen at Vic Berrys yard in Leicester on a visit for asbestos stripping, 3/10/87. Ian Francis.

Class 122 DMU at Laira

Unknown date

Set number: P103

Gloucester bubble car 55003 at Laira beside 55005, date unknown. It was allocated there 1987 to 1993. Robert Frise Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Starcross

29th May 1989

Set number: P103

In the low evening light, Class 122 W55003 arrives at Starcross with the 17.22 Paignton to Exmouth on May 29th 1989. Martyn Hilbert.

Class 122 DMU at St Ives

May 1990

Set number: P103

Class 122 number P103 (car 55003) waits for trade at St Ives in Cornwall in May, 1990. Glen Batten.

Class 122 DMU at Plymouth

6th August 1990

Set number: P103

Laira Class 122 single car DMU P103 / 55003 at Plymouth 6-8-90 or thereabouts. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.

Class 122 DMU at Penzance

21st August 1990

Two Class 122 single cars at Penzance on August 21, 1990, in the company of 08 644. The closest bubble is probably 55003. Ian Cuthbertson Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Causeland

April 1991

Working the Looe branch 55003 at Causeland in April 1991. Ian Buck.

Class 122 DMU at Liskeard

April 1991

Sitting in the Looe bay platform at Liskeard is 55003 in April 1991. Ian Buck.

Class 122 DMU at Coombe Junction

April 1991

55003 reversing at Coombe on the Looe branch in April 1991. Ian Buck.

Class 122 DMU at Exeter St. Davids

circa 1992

Set number: P103

55003 as Plymouth Laira's set P103 at Exeter St. Davids with the stabling point in the background. Robert Chilton Collection.

Class 122 DMU at Terras Crossing, Looe branch

circa 1992

Swans and a Class 122 Bubble car (which appears to be 55003) near Terras crossing on the Looe branch circa 1992. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.

Class 122 DMU at Plymouth

10th August 1992

Set number: 103

Class 122 55003, set number 103, is seen stabled at Plymouth on 10.08.1992. Andy Cole.

Class 122 DMU at Penzance

13th October 1992

Set number: 103

Class 122 "bubble car" 55003 rests at Penzance on 13 October 1992. Sparegang.

Class 122 DMU at Exeter St Davids

22nd November 1992

Set number: 103

A Santa Special arrives into Exeter St Davids led by 55003. It will run to Exmouth and back, November 22, 1992. Alex Drennan.

Class 122 DMU at Causeland

December 1992

Set number: P103

Class 122 55003 at Causeland on the Looe branch in December 1992. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.


The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

DMU

Date: circa 1969

Set number: TY516

Class 116 set 516 (50074 and presumably 59016 + 50110) departs from Spring Road with a bubble at the front, passing another suburban set, circa 1969. The bubble is probably 55003, see image 14892 (and 4213). Stuart Mackay Collection.

DMU

Date: August 1978

Set number: TS525

Refurbished Class 116 set TS525 (presumably 50830 + 59332 + 50883) with Class 122 55003 on the rear at Small Heath Bridge with a Moor Street service in August 1978. Michael Mensing.

DMU

Date: 4th June 1985

The shuttles between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon were generally operated with 1 or 2 single units in 1985. On the afternoon of 4 June class 122s 55012 + 55003 were in use and I photographed them climbing Hatton Bank from the field adjacent to the boarded crossing by Hatton Locks. The crossing was subsequently closed and replaced with a tall steel structure as were the other 2 similar crossings in the area. This picture would be impossible in 2021 as the growth of lineside vegetation has been so rampant that one can walk along the paths here and not know that a railway line existed unless a train passed by. Peter Tandy.

DMU

Date: 10th June 1985

Set number: TS062

Class 122s set TS062 (55012) and set TS053 (55003) await departure at Stratford Upon Avon in the early afternoon of Monday 10th June 1985 with a Leamington Spa service. Colin Brooks.

DMU

Date: mid-1980s

Set number: TS059

Class 122 55009 and 55003 wait at Worcester Shrub Hill with a service for Hereford in the mid-1980s. Stephen Burdett.

DMU

Date: summer 1986

Set number: TS068

Class 121 55003 stabled at Leamington Spa station. It carries a Tyseley set number in the window which seems to read TS068. Date unknown, presumably summer 1986 between transfer from Laira in May and painting into Midline livery in October. Glyn Weigh.

DMU

Date: 11th April 1987

Set number: TS084

Tyseley single-car DMUs 55034 and 55003 call at Claverdon with a Stratford upon Avon - Leamington Spa service on 11 April 1987. Chris Morrison.

DMU

Date: unknown

Set number: 105

Bubbles 55005 and 55003 on Laira depot, date unknown. Robert Frise Collection.

DMU

Date: 29th December 1989

Set number: 106

Class 122 bubble cars 55006 and 55003 at Plymouth on 29-12-1989. Gordon Thomson.

DMU

Date: 13th May 2005

Set number: 960012

The South West Train route learning vehicle 977860 (ex 55028) seen at Alresford on the Mid-Hants with 55003 on 13/5/05. Ian McDonald.