Railway Herald
Waiting to depart Manchester Victoria Station with a service for Southport on 29th March 1989 are all blue-liveried Class 104 set N664 formed of DMBS No. 53442 and DTCL No. 53516 attached to blue and grey Class 108 set N608 formed of DMBS No. 53978 and DTCL No. 54261. Both units had been Manchester based for many years with the Class 104 being introduced in 1957 and the Class 108 in 1959 but by this date withdrawl was fast approaching. The Class 104 vehicles were taken out of service in May 1990 and scrapped by Mayer Parry at Snailwell in June 1991 while the Class 108 lingered in service a while longer before being scrapped by C F Booth at Rotherham, the DMBS in June 1992 and the DTCL in October 1991. Manchester Victoria Station would also change beyond recognition with the Manchester Arena being built over the station and opening in 1995.
Bob Woolnough
