Class 104 (12 vehicles)
Built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co in 1957/1958, 13 Class 104 vehicles were initially preserved by the same two private owners, who saved 12 vehicles in a bulk bid from British Rail who had a puzzling reluctance to sell sets individually. A thirteenth vehicle joined following an extended period in departmental service.
The large size of the new collection meant that loan agreements were required for many vehicles. The Llangollen Railway took three vehicles on a long term loan (which continues to this day) and quickly returned a power twin set to service in 1993.
Other vehicles were stored elsewhere until being brought together at the Telford Steam Railway, who restored and ran a 2-car set from 1999-2004. Sadly over 25 years all the vehicles there fell into decline and the loans terminated, with the four affected vehicles having to be either scrapped or rehoused elsewhere, with the last vehicle bringing down the curtian in 2023.
The headquarters of the group was at the Churnet Valley Railway where six vehicles were located. By 2004 a 2-car set had been restored and put into service there following an extensive 12 year rebuild. Before any further vehicles could be completed however, the group moved the collection in 2014 to the East Lancashire Railway, where the 2-car set continues to operate and the rump of the collection remains stored awaiting future restoration and eventual service.
The last railway to accept a Class 104, from 2015 onwards, was the North Norfolk Railway where members previously active at the Churnet Valley relocated a 2-car set, formed from displaced vehicles from the Churnet Valley and Telford. Although late in the game, restoration progress by this "satilite group" has been steady and consistant with the future there looking bright. The first half of the set was returned to traffic in 2023 with the remaing half now undergoing identical treatment.
In total five sets remain in preservation (two 3-car sets and three 2-car sets) with two and a half sets operational, just under half the overall collection. DMBS 50479 at the North Norfolkis currently the only member of the class under restoration, although it is hoped that the stalled rebuild of TCL 59137 at the East Lancs can be resumed soon. Immediate plans include finishing these two which will bring the number of restored 104's to a record high with three sets in traffic including a 3-car formation.
Now Scrapped
| Number | Type | Last Location |
| 50556 | DMCL | East Lancashire Railway |