Class 501 diagrams

The maximum length of train operated utilising Class 501’s was 6 cars
The LMS sets were only around in passenger service until @ 1962/3 and they normally worked as 3 car units. Similar units worked on the Merseyside DC Network and ran as 2, 3 and 4 car units and there is photographic evidence to support this. Trailers cars from the Manchester & Altrincham line were transferred to the London area however this was to replaced damaged and/or unserviceable coaches. I have researched LMS Compartment formations and have not found evidence of them running as anything else other than a 3 car unit. The one exception was during the 1930’s when the GEC Compartment Stock Motor Cars was causing concern when operating on the Watford – Croxley Green and Watford to Rickmansworth Church St branches were putting an unacceptable load on the Bushey power substation. The solution was to use 9 cars of the original LNWR/London Electric Railway tube stock which the LMS had retained after its withdrawal from the Bakerloo Elephant & Castle –Watford Line however they did require some internal modifications before entering into service on the branches. Whilst they were being modified services on the 2 branches were provided by 2-car hybrid units formed Oerlikon/LMS Compartment stock. I am grateful to my good friend Douglas Stuckey for this information which is contained in his excellent and now out of print West of Watford book.

Usage of the EMU’s on the NLL lines between 1957 and 1963 was very fluid as the Class 501’s were being introduced as the Oerlikons were withdrawn. In the early 1960’s there was a reduction in the level of services on the NLL’ s which rendered the LMS Compartment stock surplus. This stock was withdrawn and stored for a short period at Verney Junction. I am afraid I do not have any WTT’s for this or any other period.

The first 2 Class 501’s were withdrawn from passenger service in 1971 unit 133 was one of them. They were transferred to the Southern for bogie trials in relation to the development of the 4 PEP units which were the prototypes for the Class 313/315/507/508 family of EMUs. They were initially allocated to Redhill depot and then Strawberry Hill, One of the DTBS was converted to Test Coach Mars later. 2 coaches were used for an experiment in an attempt to fit sliding doors in places of slam doors on compartment stock; an ambitious but somewhat doomed to fail project.

These coaches were sent for scrap in the late 1980’s after spending many years in the Strawberry Hill yard. At least one power car retained its blue with half yellow front livery to the end whist another retained the wrap around full yellow end livery to the end. There is a photo of 3 of these coaches on route to the scrap yard at Didcot 1 was just an underframe and cab (I assume this was coach used the sliding door experiment) whilst another was covered with tarpaulins as it was devoid of doors.

All Class 501’s were repainted into BR Blue livery and none were withdrawn in Green livery. Test Coach Mars was repainted in Blue and Grey livery and later gained NSE livery was fitted B4 bogies, a corridor connection at the none driving end, had doors and windows sealed/plated as well as being wired for SR EP operation.

Whilst I can't help with the diagrams, remember too some of the 501s were converted as battery motor cars for the GN electrification. they worked through to Moorgate via Drayton Park. I had a pair one day to Hertford North as they doubled as OLE repair units!

ISTR the sub-stations on the NLL were not strong enough for 6 car sets in the latter years.

I have amassed a lot of information on Class 501's including a large collection of photos. The second batch (but not final batch) Deportment Class 501.s were as follows-

977 No Departmental No Original No In Service From Allocation
97701 DB975178/ 977362 M61136 May-74 Birkenhead
97702 DB975179/977363 M61139 May-74 Birkenhead
97703 DB975673 M61182 Jun-80 Cricklewood/Hornsey
97704 DB975674 M61183 Jun-80 Cricklewood/Hornsey
97705 DB975675 M61184 Apr-80 Cricklewood/Hornsey
97706 DB975676 M61189 May-80 Cricklewood/Hornsey
97707 DB975407 M61166 Jul-75 Hornsey
97708 DB975408 M61173 Jul-75 Hornsey
97709 DB975409 M61172 Dec-75 Hornsey
97710 DB975410 M61179 Dec-75 Hornsey

Withdrawn
Jul-93
Jul-93
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95
Apr-95

Apologies for the bad formatting but it is difficult to post a table.

XF