Class 116 diesel multiple units

[The Johnster]

Blown it up as much as I can on my monitor, a 32" tv screen, and it's a pretty finely detailed image, but I can't make out the wording to the right of T/L.  It's in very clean condition for a blue unit at this date.

 

You should have seen the fug produced by dmus at Canton left running on cold frosty windless nights, especially when they were revved to charge batteries and build control air pressure before going off-shed for their morning duties.  The locals must have longed for steam to come back!  Tyseley, St.Phillip's Marsh, and Southall must have been similar...

Edited September 15, 2023 by The Johnster

[Pteremy]

14 hours ago, dj_crisp said:

I'm just modelling this unit

 

https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/20702

 

And I'm not sure what's written on the set number in the bottom left window. I assume top left is TS with 702 at the bottom. Does anyone know whats written top right to the right of the TS?

 

Thanks

Will

 

The T is printed, together with 702 and the dividing lines for the boxes. The other letters are chalk writing - I make them 'S' in the left hand box, 'June' in the middle box and I would have said '3rd' in the right hand box - but the photo is dated 7th June. It will be pretty indistinct once shrunk to 4mm scale. Possibly other photos from around the same time and place will show something similar in other vehicles, to confirm the format??

[dj_crisp]

4 hours ago, Pteremy said:

 

The T is printed, together with 702 and the dividing lines for the boxes. The other letters are chalk writing - I make them 'S' in the left hand box, 'June' in the middle box and I would have said '3rd' in the right hand box - but the photo is dated 7th June. It will be pretty indistinct once shrunk to 4mm scale. Possibly other photos from around the same time and place will show something similar in other vehicles, to confirm the format??

 

Thanks. I'm thinking I'll just draw something representing some kind of unreadable hand written writing. I also thought it said June too.

 

Thanks!

[EddieK]

I vaguely recall the top right hand box on the set number board having dates scrawled in chalk around that time. The date could either have been date of last maintenance or date next maintenance due.

Norwich based units in the 1970s/80s used to have a maintenance due date board in the windscreen, 

https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/25896

The set in this image, photographed March 25th shows "28 WEDS" as the next maintenance due date.

[EddieK]

1989

 

Western Region

 

Old Oak Common retained its pair of Class 116 Motor Brake Seconds at the start of the year. 53083 had been to Doncaster Works in December 1988 for a C3 overhaul, emerging in Network South East livery, which by that time featured the darker shade of blue along with the curved transition from horizontal to upswept at the cab ends. 53820 had also been to Doncaster Works in November/December 1988 for a G Exam, and also carried the same variant of NSE livery into 1989.

In May 1989, L307 set comprised 53083 - 53820, an identical formation to 1987 and 1988.

In June, these two had been split to form different units; 53083 ran in set L210 with Pressed Steel driving trailer 54289, the latter vehicle having been fitted with an inter-vehicle gangway. As an aside, 54289 passed through various preserved railways and is currently at the East Lancs Railway where a comprehensive restoration is underway, and from memory this includes reverting the non-cab end to its original non gangwayed state.

53820 was paired with Old Oak’s “odd” Class 118 Motor Second, 51319 as L705 set. 

Both units were observed during June (at different times) operating between Banbury and Oxford, and the Old Oak two car sets were also used on Thames Valley branches also on Gospel Oak - Barking services.

 

 

Cardiff Canton was the other WR depot with any Class 116 vehicles in this year, and at the start of the year there were 22 vehicles, all motor coaches allocated. Eighteen of these were notable for having arrived at the depot during the 1960s!

At the start of the year, the sets were: -

 

C360  53080 - 53122

C362  53086 - 53128

C375  53855 - 53908

C377  53858 - 53911

C390  51128 - 51141

C391  51132 - 51145

C392  51134 - 51147

C393  51135 - 51148

C394  51139 - 51152

C395  51140 - 51153

C980  53089 - 51513 (Class 101) This set was soon disbanded.

Spare  53131

 

At the beginning of the year, the unit requirements for Valley Lines were 15 sets of 150/2, 8 sets of Class 116 also a couple of Landore based Class 108s. A revision of the Sunday requirements from 8th January saw a couple of 116 sets required when previously there had been none. Flexibility on Valley Lines was maintained by minimising the amount of occasions when it was necessary to couple units together.The 116s had spent some time restricted to "Inner Suburban" services but from late 1988 they had been permitted to explore the outer reaches of the valley routes.

 

In February and March, Cardiff hosted some prestigious Rugby matches and additional capacity was provided by borrowing Class 116 triple sets from Tyseley. There were also  some of the Class 115/116 hybrid quad sets in use.

 

In March 1989, Newton Heath Depot had a clear-out of Class 116 vehicles, and three vehicles made the move to Cardiff: 53843, 53848 and 53887. All three had been at Canton in the past, with 53843 and 53848 leaving there in September 1987 to go to Newton Heath. 53887 had been at Cardiff until October 1978, moving to Tyseley as part of the enhancement of the West Midland Class 116 fleet for Cross City Line operations.

 

By May 1989, two additional sets had been formed using these returning vehicles:

 

C373  53843 - 53131

C374  53848 - 53887

 

With the addition of these two sets, the Canton Class 116 fleet was at its peak for the year. Photographic evidence during the year shows this fleet of power twins typically operating on the various South Wales valley routes alongside the sizeable fleet of relatively new Class 150/2 Sprinter units. The power twin configuration would have assisted in keeping up with Sprinter timings, while the lack of toilets was not any different from when the 116s ruled these routes. In mid May, the Valley Lines on a weekday needed 12 Class 150/2 sets and 5 sets of first generation DMU; the latter were either 116s or Class 101/108 hybrids. Sundays required 8 Sprinters and 5 of the older units.

 

From mid July, the Cardiff DMU allocation regained some Class 155 Super Sprinter units, after the fleet had been taken out of traffic for repairs/revisions to the bodyside doors. As a consequence, the Class 150/2s that had been covering for their absence on longer distance services were able to return to the Valley Lines. This led to a decline in the 116 fleet during Summer / Autumn with 53089 withdrawn in July, having lost its partner, Class 101 51513 earlier in the year. 

In August C373 vehicles were withdrawn, though 53843 was briefly reinstated for a fortnight in September before finally retiring.

September saw sets C360, C374, C377 taken out of traffic. C375 followed them in December.

 

The decline was countered by the transfer to Canton of two Class 116 MBS vehicles from Tyseley in October, namely 51133 and 51136. In addition, sets C390, 391 and 392 were temporarily reformed as three car “go faster” sets and renumbered accordingly. Around this time, C393 had a brief loan to Tyseley and was seen on the Birmingham - Stratford route. Unfortunately, the facility for Cardiff to borrow Tyseley units was no longer available from the latter part of the year.

 

The December snapshot was:

 

C331  51133 - 51136  Both cars were MBS - set later renumbered as “C391”

C362  53086 - 53128  Set lasted until withdrawal in January 1990

C375  53855 - 53908  Withdrawn December 1989.

C393  51135 - 51148

C394  51139 - 51152

C395  51140 - 51153

C901  51128 - 53632 (Class 108) - 51141

C902  51132 - 53642 (Class 108) - 51145

C903  53635 (Class 108) - 51134 - 51147

 

With C375 withdrawn by the end of the month, that meant a fleet of 16 Class 116 vehicles started 1990 at Canton.

 

 

Eastern Region

 

Heaton held on to its sole Class 116 vehicle, trailer 59040 for the duration of 1989. The other first generation vehicles at the depot during the year were a number of the former Carlisle based Class 108 power trailer sets, which generally remained in fixed formations, and a collection of Class 101 motor coaches with a few 101 Driving Trailers. It follows that the only possible use for 59040 would be  as part of a triple set between Class 101 power cars, although the quantity of these reduced during the year and 59040 was recorded as Condemned in October, though not recorded officially as such until May 1990.

 

 

London Midland Region

 

Newton Heath started 1989 with seven Class 116 vehicles allocated, as part of the 104 first generation DMU vehicles at the depot. A year later and the first generation fleet there would be down to penny numbers. Evidently, the depot was getting to grips with running its fleet of second generation Pacer and Sprinter units. As part of the run-down of the older DMUs, three Class 116 vehicles were transferred to Cardiff Canton on 3rd March, 53843, 53848 and 53887. The other four vehicles were withdrawn 8th March, 53857, 53866, 53869 and 53922.

 

Chester Depot started 1989 with no Class 116 vehicles allocated, however at the beginning of October it gained five triple sets from Tyseley, each formed with two Class 116 Motor Brake Seconds and a lavatory trailer of some other class. The reason quoted in Railway Observer was that this was to ease the maintenance workload at Tyseley.

 

CH334  53054 - 59596 (Class 127) - 53850

CH336  51130 - 59721 (Class 115) - 53849

CH338  53050 - 59722 (Class 115) - 53058

CH340  53826 - 59719 (Class 115) - 53837

CH341  53061 - 59753 (Class 115) - 53079

 

In each case, the Tyseley set number was retained, so CH334 was T334 and so on. Evidently, Tyseley recovered from the workload problems as all sets returned there on 19th November.

 

Around this time, Tyseley units seemed to appear in locations well beyond the West Midland area, including the Midlands and North Wales, so the allocation to Chester would not have made much difference to their utilisation.

 

 

Tyseley depot remained the home of the largest collection of Class 116 vehicles on the LM Region, or indeed the whole of BR. 1989 was a relatively quiet year for the fleet.

Only one Class 116 vehicle was withdrawn; 59330 had transferred from Scotland in February 1987 and saw limited use thereafter, despite having been stripped of heritage insulation materials. As a non-gangwayed vehicle with no lavatories it was looked upon less favourably than the displaced Class 115 TCL cars that moved to the depot. By early 1988 it had been dumped at Crewe, stored unserviceable. Formal withdrawal came 9th March 1989.

 

Up until the latter part of the year, it was not unknown for Tyseley to help out the Cardiff fleet at times of high demand. In February, hybrid quad sets T405 and T420 ran on the Cardiff valleys while the Welsh Rugby team played Ireland . In March, Wales played England, leading to triple sets T319 and T339 along with hybrid quad sets T414 and T421 helping out in the valleys. After the match, T414 and T421 even worked an additional service to Cheltenham before proceeding home ECS.

 

The Tyseley fleet provided some services in the East Midlands, which included occasions in April when a 3 car 116 set was used on the 07.15 Peterborough - Birmingham service, whil from mid May, a pair of hybrid quad T400 units ran the daily "Jolly Fisherman" service from Nuneaton to Skegness and return. 

The use of Tyseley units on excursions was illustrated on 20th May by T321 forming part of a Birmingham to Butterley working, while T319 was included on an excursion from Longbridge to York.

 

A snapshot of the Tyseley Class 116 fleet at 30th May 1989 shows little change since 1988. (Class 116 vehicles underlined)

 

Suburban lavatory triple

T319  51129 - 59756 - 51149

T320  51138 - 59720 - 53890

T321  53854 - 59723 - 53907

T322  53071 - 59760 - 53880

T323  53818 - 59724 - 53093

T324  53053 - 59672 - 53101

T325  53060 - 59757 - 51142

T326  53822 - 59603 - 53881

T327  51071 - 59444 - 51101 Dedicated to Hednesford services

 

Suburban lavatory triple - two brake vans

T331  51133 - 59595 - 53090

T332  53865 - 59598 - 53073

T333  53082 - 59617 - 51131

T334  53054 - 59596 - 51136

T335  53844 - 59674 - 53827

T336  53849 - 59721 - 51130

T337  53853 - 59751 - 53838

T338  53050 - 59722 - 53058

T339  53850 - 59670 - 53863

T340  53826 - 59719 - 53837

T341  53061 - 59753 - 53079

T342  53055 - 59673 - 53056

 

Suburban lavatory quad

T401  51662 - 59610 - 59743 - 53886

T402  51851 - 59658 - 59614 - 51146

T403  51852 - 59641 - 59616 - 53106

T404  51853 - 59604 - 59445 - 53919

T405  51877 - 59726 - 59615 - 51143

T406  51856 - 59606 - 59344 - 53893

T407  51858 - 59594 - 59442 - 53916

T408  51859 - 59448 - 59592 - 53114

T409  51860 - 59600 - 59367 - 53894 

T410  51862 - 59602 - 59713 - 53124

T411  51865 - 59625 - 59597 - 53873

T412  51867 - 59446 - 59591 - 53102

T413  51868 - 59632 - 59593 - 53902

T414  51869 - 59661 - 59613 - 51144

T415  51870 - 59589 - 59353 - 53921

T416  51876 - 59609 - 59648 - 53891

T417  Not formed

T418  51880 - 59643 - 59611 - 53116

T419  51884 - 59629 - 59590 - 51151

T420  51892 - 59607 - 59032 - 53092

T421  51897 - 59741 - 59612 - 53878

T422  51898 - 59608 - 59335 - 53897

 

Class 116 at works: 53132

 

Class 116 Condemned: 53825, 59326.

 

The Tyseley fleet of Class 116s had long been associated with “local” services in the West Midlands, either on the Snow Hill routes or the Cross City Line, but in 1989 they had appeared in such diverse places as Hereford, Cardiff, Blackpool, Southport, and Skegness. Not exactly their intended use on intensive suburban services over (relatively) short distances; at least the passengers had access to lavatory facilities.

 

A multi-coloured unit ran in the middle of the year when T341 was formed 53061 - 59753 (Class 115) - 51410 (Class 117); the 116 and 115 vehicles were in the customary blue/grey livery, while 51410 was part of T305 set, the chocolate and cream Class 117 painted specially for "GW150" in 1985.

 

Birmingham is a major crossroads in the rail network, and the Tyseley DMU fleet has often been called on to head off in numerous different directions either on a planned or emergency basis. Examples include T332 working from Birmingham to Exeter vice a failed HST on 3rd August, T412 taking Aston Villa football supporters to Nottingham on 19th August and T339 deputising for a failed Sprinter and going to Cardiff on the Bank Holiday weekend. Also that weekend, T324 got to Ironbridge and T325 was in Llandudno.

 

The biggest disturbances to the status quo at Tyseley occurred on 1st October 1989, when MBS vehicles 51133 and 51136 migrated to Cardiff Canton. In addition, five triple sets were reallocated to Chester to ease the maintenance workload: -

 

CH334  53054 - 59596 (Class 127) - 53850

CH336  51130 - 59721 (Class 115) - 53849

CH338  53050 - 59722 (Class 115) - 53058

CH340  53826 - 59719 (Class 115) - 53837

CH341  53061 - 59753 (Class 115) - 53079

 

These five sets returned to Tyseley on 19th November, or thereabouts.

 

Also in October T406 and T419 worked an excursion from Longbridge to Blackpool North.

 

As was customary at Tyseley as this time, the so called “fixed” formations underwent a few tweaks, so here is another snapshot dated 4th November (Class 116 vehicles underlined): -

 

Suburban lavatory triple

T319  51129 - 59756 - 51149

T320  51138 - 59720 - 53890

T321  53854 - 59723 - 53907

T322  53071 - 59760 - 53880

T323  53818 - 59724 - 53093

T324  53053 - 59672 - 53101

T325  53060 - 59757 - 51142

T326  53822 - 59603 - 53881

T327  53073 - 59595 - 53897

T328  53865 - 59598 - 53873

 

Suburban lavatory triple - two brake vans

T333  53082 - 59617 - 51131

T334  Temporarily at Chester

T335  53844 - 59674 - 53827

T336  Temporarily at Chester

T337  53853 - 59751 - 53838

T338  Temporarily at Chester

T339  53090 - 59670 - 53863

T340  Temporarily at Chester

T341  Temporarily at Chester

T342  53055 - 59673 - 53056

 

Suburban lavatory quad

T401  51662 - 59610 - 59743 - 53886

T402  51851 - 59658 - 59614 - 51146

T403  51852 - 59641 - 59616 - 53106

T404  51853 - 59726 - 59615 - 53919

T406  51856 - 59606 - 59344 - 

T407  51858 - 59594 - 59442 - 53916

T408  51859 - 59448 - 59592 - 53114

T409  51860 - 59600 - 59367 - 53894 

T410  51862 - 59625 - 59597 - 53124

T412  51867 - 59446 - 59591 - 53102

T413  51868 - 59632 - 59593 - 53902

T414  51869 - 59661 - 59613 - 51144

T415  51870 - 59589 - 59353 - 53921

T416  51876 - 59609 - 59648 - 53891

T417  51877 - 59335 -             - 53893

T418  51880 - 59643 - 59608 - 53116

T419  51884 - 59629 - 59590 - 51151

T420  51892 - 59607 - 59032 - 53092

T421  51897 - 59741 - 59612 - 53878

 

In late 1989, it was no longer possible for Tyseley sets to help out in South Wales, but T420 and T421 spent 2nd December on a shopper special excursion to Paddington.

 

By the end of 1989 the Provincial “Sprinter Revolution” had seen completion of deliveries of Class 155 and 156 Super Sprinters (though with the 155s having some time out of service), while the Class 158 Sprinter Express units were just starting to appear.

The remaining Class 116 vehicles were plying their trade on suburban services in the Cardiff Valleys, in the West Midlands and to a small extent in the London area, while the Tyseley based fleet also travelled to much more far-flung places. 

 

To conclude the story of 1989, I will summarise transfers and withdrawals for the year: -

 

Transferred Newton Heath to Cardiff 3rd March:

53843

53848

53887

 

Transferred Tyseley to Cardiff 1st October

51133

51136

 

Transferred Tyseley to Chester 1st October then transferred back to Tyseley 19th November:

53050

53054

53058

53061

53079

53826

53837

53849

53850

51130

 

Withdrawals:

 

53080 Cardiff 21st September

53089 Cardiff 20th July

53122 Cardiff 21st September

53131 Cardiff 11th August

53843 Cardiff 11th August (Reinstated 9th September, final withdrawal 21st September)

53848 Cardiff 21st September

53855 Cardiff 12th December

53857 Newton Heath 8th March

53858 Cardiff 21st September

53866 Newton Heath 8th March

53869 Newton Heath 8th March

53887 Cardiff 21st September

53908 Cardiff 12th December

53911 Cardiff 21st September

53922 Newton Heath 8th March

59040 Heaton 7th October (Not formally withdrawn until 10th May 1990)

59330 Tyseley 9th March

Edited January 28 by EddieK
Addition of additional details from RO magazine

[Clive Mortimore]

I have just read Eddie's list and saw the Tyseley formations. Also today Youtube suggest I watched this.

Enjoy.

[TheSignalEngineer]

I must watch that tomorrow. My parents lived about 1/4 mile from Kings Norton station after Dad retired and were regular travellers from there.

[br2975]

I'm not sure if this clip by former Canton manager Ian Walmsley has been linked to the thread previously.

.

But, it's well worth a watch.............. especially for the closing tune, Dr. Joseph Parry's beautiful tale of unrequited love - "Myfanwy" - something that brings a tear to every Welshman's eye.

.

.

 

Edited January 9 by br2975