Class 108 Derby 2,3 & 4-car DMUs

Non-Passenger Use

Internal User

In October 1991 Centre car 59389 became internal user 024949, grounded at Tyseley as a workshop / store.

Sandite / Route Learners

Thirty five Class 108 vehicles would be designated as sandite vehicles, more than twice as many as any other class.

The first eight appreared in October 1991 and were all DMBSs. 977744-7 were former Longsight vehicles, 977748-51 were from Heaton. The Heaton vehicles (or at least 53957 + 53959) went to Holbeck for conversion.^[1]

In a serious fire in Standedge Tunnel on October 26, 1991, 977747/51 suffered severe damage and would be withdrawn in early 1992, along with 977749. Three new vehicles took their place in January 1992, 977765/6/8.

In October 1992 977806-23 (eighteen vehicles, ten DMBSs and eight DMCs) appeared, as did 977836-41.

977746 on Chester depot, 24-8-93. S Gaskell.

By November 1993 these vehicles would be arranged into sets:

All the sandite vehicles were withdrawn by the end of 1995.

Route Learner

The final set to enter departmental use was 977853/4 in February 1993, for route learning use only, until January 1994.

Channel Tunnel

51941 and 52064 (which had been Tyseley TO68 set), were originally been earmarked for sale to Balfour Beatty for use on a tunnel inspection unit in connection with Channel Tunnel construction work. BB changed their minds after some doubts over the suitability of using a DMU set in the tunnel, and the vehicles entered preservation instead.

References

1. ^⋏ Railway Observer December 1991, p626.