M53494

M53494 is an early example of the Class 104 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (DMCL) and is the only surviving DMCL to have a roof mounted marker light, a feature of the earlier vehicles allocated to Buxton. Delivered to the North West in 1957, M53494 was part of a large batch of 3-cars for the London Midland region of BR. It weighs 31 tons and seats 12 people in first class and 54 people in second class, with a toilet also being included at the rear. M53494 was fitted from new with two BUT standard Leyland 680 engines and transmissions and is wired as Blue Square, the most common of the DMU multiple working types.

M53494 was built as M50494 and entered service in 1957 in the North West with TCL M59150 & DMBS M50442 (neither survive). M50494 worked regularly out of Buxton in the 50’s and the vehicle would have been in the early (malachite) green that 104s were delivered in. The set would have been painted in the more conventional green (darker, known as ‘loco green’) by 1960 and would go on to run around the Buxton area through the 60’s & 70’s, receiving BR Blue livery sometime in the 70’s. 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 (some Scottish Region 104s were painted in these colours without being refurbished). The route indicator situated under the centre cab window had also been plated over by the late 1970’s and the roof mounted headlight blanked off (but not removed). Window bars were added as a safety precaution for some of the routes the vehicle operated on. At some time in the 80’s M53494 (as the vehicle had now been renumbered) lost it’s centre car and was reformed with DMBS M53468 into set N673 which continued running around the North West in battered BR Blue livery as a Power-Twin set, how many 104’s are remembered. In mid 1989 the set was running from Chester depot as set CH613, the set number it still carries today. It is believed that M53494 may have seen its last days paired with M53536.

“Sprinterisation” of the North West and the fact the 104’s were never refurbished lead to withdrawal in 1990, M53494 being dumped awaiting disposal at Chester. Refurbished class 108s and 101s lasted longer while the BRCW vehicles faced an uncertain future. Luckily however M53494 was purchased in 1992 as part of a bulk buy of twelve vehicles from Kevin Dowd and Robert Simpson. M53494 was moved to the CVR some time later in the mid 1990’s, where it was stored awaiting restoration at Oakamoor Sand Sidings, where it remains in the quarry awaiting its turn for restoration. M50517 was the DMCL in better condition so was selected for restoration in the 1990’s. Again in 2004 when a vehicle was to be chosen for a return to service a need for capacity lead to M59137 being restored leaving M53494 with DMBS 53437 and DTCL M56182. M53494 is on scrap bogies and recently made its first public appearance since 1992 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 the intention is to one day fully restore the vehicle, unfortunately that may be a long way off, with M56182 being in better condition and the likely candidate for the next operational set. However M53494’s historical importance means it will one day make a return to service. In the longer term this vehicle will be the DMCL in the group's flagship blue Buxton 3-car set along with M59137 & 53437. 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?