Cravens Class 105 Units

[euryalus]

I have been trying to find details of the class ‘105’ unit comprising vehicles 54122 and 53359 that was repainted in green livery during the 1990s, but cannot find any reference to the vehicles with these numbers in my various Ian Allan reference books - does this mean that they were renumbered at some point?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

They would have originally been numbered 56122 and 50359.

They were renumbered to avoid confusion on TOPS with Class 50 and 56 locos.

 

[Oswyntail]

Off the top of my head, units numbered 54nnn had been renumbered from 56nnn and those 53nnn from 50nnn to avoid confusion with locomotives ("Why have we got a DMU car hauling a MGR?" "I was confused":roll.

 

[David Goddard]

This set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/headcode/8030999295/

 

[euryalus]

Many thanks to those who have responded - I have a 1993 "DMU Datafile" book, but the class 105 units had all been withdrawn by that date.

 

[Alfie1014]

Seen in here in ex-works condition at Upminster on the shuttle to Romford.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8673209@N04/8506624301/

 

[Oswyntail]

They were good looking little beasts in green

 

[12CSVT]

This unit was repainted green in 1986 or 1987 (I photographed it in green in September 1987).

It was withdrawn by the end of 1988 - it doesn't appear in the 1989 edition of 'Locomotives & Coaching Stock' by Platform 5 Publishing, which was correct as of 1st January 1989.

DMU coaches numbered 50xxx and 56xxx were renumbered 53xxx and 54xxx respectively in 1983 and 1984.

Other green units around that time were class 108 53964 + 54247 and class 127 parcels unit 55966 + 55967.
Two 'one off' liveries in the mid 1980s were class 117 51368 + 59520 + 51410 which received GWR chocolate & cream, and class 104 53424 + 53434 in red and white 'Mexican Bean' livery.

 

[DXMachina]

Two 'one off' liveries in the mid 1980s were class 117 51368 + 59520 + 51410 which received GWR chocolate & cream, and class 104 53424 + 53434 in red and white 'Mexican Bean' livery.

Also, a Cl.121 single car wore GWR choc & cream with a silver roof and EMU 312204 was painted in all over 'warning yellow' with rail blue window surrounds. That one was an eye opener - I saw it twice in the 80s when it tended to stray towards Euston sometimes... and my retinas are still imprinted

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There was also a 118 in a 'British Telecom' all over advertising livery:

http://flic.kr/p/9jpMHn

 

[Sun Chariot]

...and EMU 312204 was painted in all over 'warning yellow' with rail blue window surrounds

Oh yes, Wolverton Works' "Canary". It burned my retinas as well - once at the Works open day and once when I saw it at the southern end of the WCML.

I remember the GWR150 117 and 121, plus the British Telecom 118. I used them during 1986/87. Ditto the green Cravens, on the Bletchley-Bedford.

Only saw the withdrawn "Mexican Bean" 104 during an unofficial shed bash of Springburn (complete with class 26 "McRats" galore...).

 

[Oldrowley]

I have been trying to find details of the class ‘105’ unit comprising vehicles 54122 and 53359 that was repainted in green livery during the 1990s, but cannot find any reference to the vehicles with these numbers in my various Ian Allan reference books - does this mean that they were renumbered at some point?

You may find this site to be of interest Euryalus. It is in the process of being revamped but the basics are there.

http://www.railcar.co.uk/type/105/105.html

 

[corin paul]

http://railphotoarchive.org/rpc_zoom.php?img=0720021859000

Saw this unit set myself a number of times. (Not my photo.)

 

[Bevan Price]

They were good looking little beasts in green

But the early batches could be a misery to travel in. Many of them sounded as if anything that could rattle did rattle, especially the sliding windows. The later ones (with Rolls Royce engines) had much better bodywork, but were blighted by their temperamental engines, etc.

 

[Welshman]

But the early batches could be a misery to travel in. Many of them sounded as if anything that could rattle did rattle, especially the sliding windows. The later ones (with Rolls Royce engines) had much better bodywork, but were blighted by their temperamental engines, etc.

Weren't they the ones with the automatic transmission and an alarming propensity to catch fire?

I remember riding behind the driver in one from Todmorden to Burnley [before the link they are now re-opening was closed], and being amazed that we went all the way up Copy Pit without the driver having to change gear!

 

[theblackwatch]

Weren't they the ones with the automatic transmission and an alarming propensity to catch fire?

I remember riding behind the driver in one from Todmorden to Burnley [before the link they are now re-opening was closed], and being amazed that we went all the way up Copy Pit without the driver having to change gear!

Yes, those were the Class 112/113 sets which were based in the North West. I never saw or rode on any of them due to their early withdrawal from service. They only lasted around 10 years, with the final examples being withdrawn in November 1969. I believe some of them also ended up at Cricklewood working alongside the 127s.