Class 104

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A few of the BRC&W built Class 104 units operated in Scotland in the 1980s

The first six class 104 driving vehicles arrived in January 1984 from the Manchester area as replacements for class 107 units destroyed in a fire at Ayr Depot.

By the start of 1985 these had been painted in the standard blue/grey livery carried by the majority of DMUs, but class 104s which came north later remained in plain blue livery.

Whilst based at Ayr depot set formations varied considerably, and hybrid units were the norm.

Several other class 104s were transferred north in 1986 and 1987. By 1988 the remaining vehicles were based at Eastfield.

The Scottish Region's last 3 operational class 104 driving vehicles (53472,53478,53530) were transferred to Chester in April 1989.

class 104 Set 457, (53504+59228+53556) awaits its next turn at Dundee on 7th June 1987. Photo by Jim Ramsay



Set 104 325 departs Oban in 1985. Photo by Donald Stirling


The most celebrated class 104 was 104325 (53424+53434) which in 1985 was painted in a maroon and white livery for the Highlands and Islands tourist board to work a Summer only shuttle service between Crianlarich and Oban.

During the winter it was stored in Cowlairs Carriage shed.

The unit, which was known as the 'Mexican Bean', was used again in 1986 and 1987, before being withdrawn.

It was moved from Cowlairs to Haymarket in December 1988, and then to Thornton Yard in February 1989. It was eventually scrapped by MC Metals in Springburn in 1991.


List of all Scottish Region Class 104 vehicles
Vehicle Type Livery In to ScR use Out of ScR use Set Numbers (sample only)
53424 DMCL Maroon & White 04/85 R -ED 12/87 W set 325, 04/85
53430 DMBS Blue, white cab roofs, black front 06/86 R -AY 07/86 W set 454, 06/86
53434 DMBS Maroon & White 03/85 R -ED 12/87 W set 325, 03/85
53452 DMBS Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 07/86 W set 450, 06/84
53461 DMBS Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 02/87 Su set 452, 07/86; set 453, 06/84
53464 DMBS Blue 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 456, 03/88
53472 DMBS Blue 11/87 NH-ED 04/89 ED-CH set 459, 03/88
53473 DMBS Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 02/87 Su set 452, 06/84, set 451, 08/86
53478 DMBS Blue 11/87 NH-ED 04/89 ED-CH set 458, 03/88
53491 DMCL Blue, white cab roofs, black front 06/86 NH AY 12/86 W set 368, 09/86, set 514 08/86
53504 DMCL Blue, white cab roofs. 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 457, 03/88
53505 DMCL Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 02/87 Su set 450, 08/84; set 550, 07/86; set 451 09/86
53510 DMCL Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 05/85 Su set 367, 03/85; set 449, 08/84
53517 DMCL Blue 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 456, 03/88
53525 DMCL Blue & Grey 01/84 NH-AY 02/87 W set 452, 08/84; set 368 09/86; set 455 12/86
53530 DMCL Blue 11/87 NH-ED 04/89 ED-CH set 458, 03/88
53542 DMCL Blue 06/86 NH-AY 09/86 W set 455, 08/86
53556 DMCL Blue 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 457, 03/88
53565 DMCL Blue & Grey 05/84 BX-AY 05/85 Su set 367, 03/85; set 432, 08/84
53577 DMCL Blue & Grey 05/84 BX-AY 06/86 Su set 366, 08/84
53598 DMBS Blue 06/86 NH R-AY 12/86 W set 455, 07/86
59153 TCL Blue & Grey 05/87 NH-AY 10/89 W set 393, 04/88
59168 TCL Blue & Grey 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 456, 03/88
59195 TSL Blue 05/87 NH-AY 10/88 ED-NH set 459, 03/88
59210 TBSL Blue & Grey 05/84 BX-AY 05/85 Su set 367, 03/85; set 323, 08/84
59215 TBSL Blue & Grey 05/82 NL-HA 12/87 W set 366, 07/86
59225 TBSL Blue & Grey 01/84 R -AY 07/87 W set 368, 09/86; set 426, 08/84
59228 TBSL Blue 11/86 NH-AY 10/88 ED-W set 457, 03/88
59230 TSL Blue 05/87 BX-ED 10/88 ED-W set 458, 03/88


AY = Ayr, ED = Eastfield, HA = Haymarket
NH = Newton Heath (Manchester), BX = Buxton, NL = Neville Hill (Leeds), CH = Chester
R = Reinstated, Su = Stored Unserviceable, W = Withdrawn



Blue
Blue & Grey



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