The "Lincoln Sets" Remembered

Externally they resembled the class 108s but were longer, the dimensions of these two-car sets being 64ft 6in in length, 9ft 3in width and 12ft 4.5in height. Vacuum braked, each set was capable of a maximum of 70mph. The driving motor brake seconds (numbered E50001 - E50049) with a capacity of 62 second class seats, each weighed 35.5 tons. The driving trailer composites (numbered E56001 - E560049) were fitted with a lavatory and had 62 second class and 12 first class seats (the latter being declassified in the early 1980's following the withdrawal of first class accommodation on local services in the region). Each weighed 29tons 10cwt. The bodywork was constructed of steel compared to earlier Derby-built units. Initially E50001 - E50048 were fitted with two Leyland 150hp engines, but in 1959 these were replaced by two Leyland Albion 230hp engines. This increased the weight of the DMBS s by 2 tons. 50000 was unusual in being fitted with two Rolls Royce 238hp engine with torque converter drives and hydraulic transmission, and weighing 41tons 3cwt. 56000 (coupled to 50000) was also heavier than the other DTCLs at 31tons 3cwt Another (50049), which was the last to be built, had two Leyland Albion engines from new and also a Wilson SE4 gearbox capable of automatic gear changes.

They appeared initially in malachite green livery with cream lining and with whiskers at the front end. This was subsequently replaced by the rather bland BR blue with yellow front ends. In later years a short-lived off-white livery was used, a BR blue stripe being carried on the sides but still retaining the front ends. Whilst this looked a lot brighter than the all blue, in service dirt would give them a rather grubby appearance and so, a final livery of blue with white surrounding the windows was applied, again retaining the yellow front ends. They also had some internal refurbishment around this time. In 1984 E53045 and E54004 were repainted into brown with cream window surrounds to mark the tenth anniversary of South Yorkshire PTE (1974 - 1984) and had an advertisement on the sides mentioning this fact.

Allocation to Lincoln depot meant these sets have plied long-closed lines in the County such as the East Lincolnshire Line (Peterborough - Grimsby), Boston - Lincoln and the Mablethorpe branch. Their operations were by no means confined to Lincolnshire and they could be seen in the neighbouring counties including Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire as well as Derbyshire on the Sheffield - New Mills runs. Their later transferral to Tyseley would see them further afield still.

With the exception of 50000 with Rolls Royce engines being withdrawn in October 1967, the remainder were to give sterling service to Lincoln depot for many years.

In 1987 several were placed out of use at Holmes Yard in Lincoln whilst those remaining in service were reallocated to Tyseley depot. Some 114s were converted to Parcels Units and renumbered, viz.: 55933/54900 (56034); 54901 (56016); 55932/54902 (56036); 54903 (56009); 54904 (56015); 55928 (50018); 55929 (50015); 55930 (50010); 55931 (50040); 55932 (50032). These had all been withdrawn by the end of 1990, four sets ending up being stripped at Inverness and subsequently scrapped by MC metals.

The remaining one, 55929 + 54904 (50015 + 56015), saw departmental use and further renumbering becoming, respectively, ADB977775 and 977776, Advanced Passenger Train development and training coaches. Subsequently they became route learning and inspection saloons and finally finished their long and varied career as an Automatic Train Protection test train. Others which saw departmental use were 977769 (50036) and 977770 (56027) although their actual use as such is not known.

The early 1990's were to see the decline of the 114s, indeed in 1991 only the following were still in service, all allocated to Tyseley: 53021+54012 (TO21); 53002 + 54041 (TO22); 53036 + 54006 (TO23); 53044 + 54043 (TO24); 53005 + 54039 (TO25); 53006 + 54010 (TO26) and 53019 + 54027 (TO27). June the following year saw the complete withdrawal of the class. The latter set were to be the last remaining in service by the end of that year. A fault with 54027 lead to its withdrawal and 53019 spent its last days ignominiously attached to a Cravens class 105 (54484) until withdrawal in June 1992.

Fortunately one complete set (E56019 + E56006) has been preserved and reside at the Midland Railway Centre in Butterley. Another survivor is DTCL 56047 which is well away from its home territory being preserved at the Strathspey Railway where it is coupled to a DMBS class 107 (Sc52008). Another, 977775 & 977776 (previously E53015 & E54015), survive in departmental use, originally used for parcels but now as a route learner based at Derby.

A nostalgic view taken at pre-electrified Grantham in c.1980. The

blue liveried 114, stands in the bay platform 3 whilst awaiting the

connecting north-bound main line service hauled by a "Deltic".

Nostalgia indeed !

An interior view looking towards the cab

E56045 in the short-lived mainly white livery, stands at Boston in

1980 en-route to Nottingham

E50042 in white & blue at Segness.

E50013 at Skegness

A mixed livery set in the carriage sidings at Cleethorpes in 1979

(Photo : John Law)

An unusual view of a class 114 at Skegness after dark. The

Royal Mail van is a reminder of the long ago times when

mail sacks were conveyed on dmu's.

the left was attached to some dmu's and carried parcels

and newspapers.

The unique brown-liveried set (E53045 + E53004) stands in

Lincoln Central in 1984 awaiting departure to Sleaford.

A couple of 114s at Lincoln Central.

(Photo : N. Drewry)

Three 114s at Skegness

A nice view featuring a 114 passing St. Mary's church, and

below, the famous cathedral provides an impressive

backdrop.

A 114 makes its way to Lincoln MPD in this view taken from

Pelham Bridge. The set traverses the link line to Central

Station whilst those heading towards the bottom right lead to

St. Marks. The latter has since been lifted and the Lincoln

MPD in the distance is now used as a depot by the

Lincolnshire Road Car bus company !

Several 114s at Cleethorpes

(Slide above scanned by P. Wright. Lower photo: N.Drewry)

A class 114 set at York

Stood in bay platform 3 at Grantham in October 1983, a pair of

114's await departure on the 1937 to Boston

((SlidePhoto scanned by P. Wright)

A 114 departs from Grimsby Town on a Barton-on-Humber to

Cleethorpes run.

A vew through a 114 on

another member of the class

on the Barton-on-Humber

branch.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

E56036 crosses the busy High Street before entering

Lincoln St. Marks

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

A 114 speeds to Grantham through the closed station at

Honington.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

The section on the East Lincolnshire Line between

Grimsby and Louth was closed to passengers in 1970 but

remained open to freight for another ten years. During the

latter years of its existence, the Grimsby - Louth Railway

Preservation Society operated several dmu excursions.

One of these is illustrated here prior to departure to Keighley.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

114s often ventured some distance from their home depot at

Lincoln as is illustrated by this example at Sheffield prior to

working a service to New Mills.

An unidentified 114 set passes through Althorpe in 1985

(Photo : John Law)

A close up of the number and the Lincoln depot marking

applied beneath

Towards the latter years of operation, failures became

commonplace - on this occasion a fault with the axle on the trailer

car resulted in the power car returning to the depot on its own. A

class 31 was later sent to retrieve the other half. The lower view

is believed to have been taken on the same occasion after the

powered half arrived at Lincoln. The Class 31 in the distance

would presumably have been attached to the end of the dmu to

drag it the short distance to the depot.

(Lower photo: N. Drewry)

One of the class 114s shortly after conversion to a Parcels

Unit is seen just after arrival at the impressive St. Pancras

terminus.

The preserved set seen at the Midland Railway Centre