M56182

M56182 is the only surviving example of the Class 104 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (DTCL). Internally it is identical to other composite vehicles on the railway such as M53494 & M50517 however it has no engines and is the only one of 15 originally built to survive. M56182 was built in April 1958 and initially entered service in the Birmingham area paired with M50539. It weighs 24.5 tons and seats 12 people in first class and 54 in second class, with a toilet also being included at the rear. M56182 is wired as Blue Square, the most common of the DMU multiple working types.

M56182 entered service in 1958 in the North West with DMBS M50539. This partner vehicle survived in London to the end of Class 104 operations but was unfortunately unable to be saved, which if it had, would have been able to be restored to run with M56182 creating an original formation. Instead M56182’s partner was stripped almost bare in 1995 at Margam to provide spares for the 104s here at Cheddleton. Many of our parts still have 50539 stamped on the back! All of the other 104s at Cheddleton were formally part of 3-car units, with two driving powered coaches having an unpowered trailer in the middle. M56182 was different in that it is a driving car with no engines, so was unable to be part of a 3-car (two trailers with one power car would have resulted in the set not being powerful enough) so M56182 ran as a 2-car set for all its working life. The vehicle would have been in the early (malachite) green that 104s were delivered in. It would have been painted in the more conventional green (darker, known as ‘loco green’) by 1960 and would go on to run around the North West through the 60’s & 70’s, receiving BR Blue livery at some point. The asbestos insulation all 104s contained was removed around this time, although not as part of refurbishment as with many other classes, the 104s never being so treated with most staying in Blue to the end rather than receiving the Blue/Grey livery. The route indicator situated under the centre cab window had also been plated over. Around this time the vehicle was renumbered to M54182 so it did not clash with the new Class 56 locomotives. At some point the vehicle was moved to the London area and was noted between 1981 & 1986. Interestingly for a limited period of time it was seen running off Cricklewood depot with M53437, which is also preserved on the CVR. However as first generation DMUs were being replaced by modern sprinter units only power cars were being selected to run to the end. M56182, being a trailer, would be slowing services down so it was taken back up north in 1987 where it was dumped at Buxton, having operated its last passenger train.

For the vast majority of Class 104s (and for all of the other 14 DTCLs) this would have been the end of the line. However during late 1987 it was converted to a Sandite vehicle at Gorton C & W, renumbered ADB977554, and allocated to Buxton where it replaced a Cravens 105. The work involved cutting down two of the internal bulkheads, removing the corridor connection and sealing with a plate with a perspex window. Class 108 seats were installed in the former first- class saloon, and a fixed seat was fitted in front of the sealed corridor connection. Sandite hoppers and air tank were fitted in the middle and rear saloons, and the toilet was retained. The unit performed Sandite duties until 1994, until presumably replaced by Longsight's power twin sandite 101s.

With the privatisation of British Rail, the unit passed to Railfreight Coal sector, where an unsuccessful attempt to purchase it was made by Kevin Dowd and Rob Simpson, the owners of the only 12 class 104s in preservation, all the others (except M56182) having been cut up by this time. The unit then passed to Transrail, who again refused to sell it, until in May 1997 a sale was eventually agreed with Railtrack. The unit was, by now, stored at the side of Buxton TMD, and in May 1998 some painting & weather sealing of the unit was done for a proposed move to Barrow Hill roundhouse. This fell through, and the unit remained stored along with several internal user vehicles. Following complaints from local residents about the unit being used as a static discotheque by the local youngsters, the saloon doors were chained up and the one with the broken droplight that was being used for entry was boarded up. Late May 1999 saw Rob and Kevin apply some blue paint to disguise the graffiti, and by 2000, preparations were being made to move the last 104 off the national rail network.

The week before the move saw various people rushing about to try to get some 104/110 lifting lugs (loaned by Graham Thornton) test fitted and certified. On a typical Buxton (rainy) day, the unit's interior was cleared of rubbish. Three bin bags were filled with lager cans, bottles, audio tapes, a sleeping bag, and a pair of ladies (?) tights. We took care with the clearing out, as we suspected there might be used needles present, but in the event none were found. On the outside, the lifting lug holes were cleaned out ready for the brackets and pins, and the windows were protected with plastic to prevent any more breakages. The unit had been shunted in front of the shed doors and in less than a week two of the large saloon windows had been smashed. Sunday June 4th was the day of the move, with a total possession of the station area, the Crewe breakdown train hauled by 66073, and 08599 provided from Peak Forest. The two internal user tanks went first and by mid-morning the two ex-LMS coaches (ADM 395480 and ADM395919) had been craned onto low loaders for the journey to Booth's scrap yard at Rotherham. This then left the snowplough (ADB965222) which was dumped at the back of the station staff car park, and then M56182 was ready to be lifted. Round about this time, the nose of one of the lifting lugs was found to be slightly bent and would not fit the unit properly, so a decision to sling the coach with its bogies was taken. At this point a loud bang was heard as a piece of protective packing fell out from the bodyside, as the crane took the strain. The unit was then lifted about ten feet into the air, swung round, and there it stayed for almost two hours, gently swinging in the breeze until the low loader from Engineering Services arrived, just before Railtrack jokingly (?) threatened to "drop it in the dirt"! The coach was craned onto the low loader, one wheelset having to be jacked into place, as it wouldn't drop straight onto the rails, and then the rest of it chained down, at about 16:30. Railtrack staff then frantically started to pack up their crane and attach the associated support coaches, as the possession was due to end at 17:00. The 104 was then taken to Kingsley & Froghall where it touched down on CVR metals. As a Railtrack manager commented, Buxton had had an association with 104s since February 1958, with M56182 holding the fort for the last few years.

Having arrived at Kingsley & Froghall, the vehicle was off loaded with instructions as to which way round it should face, and later tripped to Oakamoor (via Consall, with some other stock) for storage. M56182 became the sixth class 104 vehicle on the CVR and has been stored awaiting restoration since. M56182 has lead a quiet existence but recently made its first public appearance since 2000 when it was unsheeted and displayed at our 2007 DMU Gala.

The vehicle is currently stored at Oakamoor Sand Sidings, having never run in preservation. However its good condition (compared with the others!) makes it a likely choice for a return to service when time/volunteers allow. In the short term after restoration it would be formed with a powered DMBS vehicle to form a second operational set. Longer term, the intention is for M56182 to be restored to run with M50455, vestibule walls and seats etc. having been salvaged from 53470 for this eventuality, and when finished, will be the only BRCW 2-car power/trailer set in preservation. The more volunteers the group can attract, the faster results will be and the sooner we can make a start on this vehicle. If you have any amount of spare time and interest then perhaps you should consider joining us?