Class 104

Class 104 Railcars were first ordered by British Railways as part of a bold and costly modernisation of the rail network by the British Transport Commission, which announced in 1954 that it had authorised the building of 1,408 new Railcars at a cost of over £17.5m. This crucial step was intended to drastically improve the speed, capacity, reliability and safety of Britain’s decrepit post-war railways, while increasing demand in the manufacturing sector and drawing traffic away from the equally outdated road network. Although Britain’s economy was in a dire state at the time, it was understood that this unprecedented level of investment would be necessary to produce a lasting recovery.

When they left the Birmingham Carriage and Wagon Works in 1957, this pair of powered cars were originally part of two separate three-car sets, delivered to Manchester and Crewe Depots to work in the London Midland Region. The units eventually met at Buxton Depot in 1968 where they formed a powerful two-car set, with 600hp combined.

The set entered preservation in 1993, and had been largely refurbished by 1994, arriving at Llangollen shortly after. It has since been a popular staple of our DMU running, and is a favourite of enthusiasts due to its distinctive exhaust noise and iconic BR Blue livery. As a Birmingham-made DMU, this set’s interior still boasts wood panelling for a reassuringly retro look.