50253 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Midland Railway Butterley Sep 04-Sep 13 |
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Current Location |
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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Sep 13-Sep 24 |
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Current Status |
Operational |
Severn Valley Railway Sep 24-Present |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Plain End) |
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TRA Designation |
Visited Railways |
Severn Valley Railway Oct 04 |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
13 March 2025 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information In October 2004, the vehicle visited the Severn Valley Railway for the spectacular Railcar50 celebrations which involved a never-to-be-repeated line up of DMUs from all around the country at one gala event. This was only possible due to geneerous funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. During 2005-2009 much work (particularly mechanical) was undertaken to keep the vehicle operational, and it appeared on service trains and at DMU galas regularly at the Midland Railway Butterley. In 2009 the vehicle was withdrawn to fit overhauled cylinder heads and a replacement guard’s door. However this work eventually lead to further welding and woodwork including fitting a new brake floor, replacing a luggage door, removing the gutters which have been causing leaks above the doors and repairing most of the door pillars. 50253 remained out of traffic after it was decided to continue with further unforseen work that was identified. By 2011 changing circumstances within the owning group had resulted in the restoration stalling and the vehicle was stored where its condition started to deteriorate. In September 2013 agreement was reached for the Ecclesbourne Valley DMU Group to restore, then operate and maintain, 50253. The vehicle was relocated to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and within a week of arrival the desk had been removed and the engines started up! Restoration work on the interior commenced immediately with work concentrating on the cab which was stripped out, a new desk fitted, interior components fully restored and then tested and refitted. Work also progressed in the brake van area where the ceiling was replaced, side panels repaired/repainted and the welding work (started in 2009/2010) completed. During December exterior work was started with welding repairs to the cab corners and windows completed. Restoration continued at a fast rate in 2014. January/February saw the cab interior repainted, and major progress on the exterior, with one side and the roof reaching the gloss paint stage. In March the last of the refurbished cab components were fitted and the windows reinstalled into the cab. The heaters were brought back into use. April saw work spread into the first passenger saloon and vestibule which started to lose the 1980's era orange Formica. The first passenger saloon had had its ceiling repainted, the walls/lino cleaned and trim restored. The heater ducting was cleaned up and the seat frames painted. The long process of cleaning and replacing wooden trim continued through May, whilst work on the exterior continued with the green repaint on the No1 side completed. Work on the front end included starting on construction of a replacement 2-character headcode box which had been removed by BR. June saw the wiring of the vehicle progress to the stage where the first test run outside the confines of the yard was undertaken, also being the first time 50253 had moved any distance for five years. After a short break due to other commitments, November saw cab lino fitted, the middle saloon seating stripped out and new wall panels fitted/painted in the brake van, where the ceiling was also painted. During December, the mid saloon ceiling was painted. A big push throughout 2015 saw the restoration, internally and externally, completed in time for 50253 to star at the Annual Convention which was held at the EVR that year in September. The completion of the vehicle allowed a fixed formation green liveried Class 101 set to be formed, consisting of 50253 with 59303 and 50170. 50253 ran as a 3-car set until March 2020 when it was stored out of service during the Covid pandemic. Sadly the vehicle deteriorated whilst in storage and was suffering from a defective gearbox. The extended period out of traffic also highlighted the poor exterior condition with bodywork and repaint being required before the vehicle returned to service. In 2022, part of the interior was dismantled, with seating and panels from the mid saloon removed to facilitate welding repairs to window bottoms. Sadly however, the work was subsequently halted. Following a further two years in storage, as part of the EVR's overall strategy to reduce its DMU fleet to two sets, 50253 was sold, being purchased by the DMU Group West Midlands who wanted a Class 101 3-car set to expand their fleet at the Severn Valley Railway. Shortly after arrival, 50253's repairs were resumed by the new owners, firstly at Kidderminster, but by the end of the year at the group's base at Bewdley. Of the three cars purchased, 50253 was selected as the first to be returned to traffic. The vehicle received works on three fronts, with exterior welding and patch painting, interior repairs to complete what was started several years ago, and mechanically to prepare it for an entry into service at the SVR. Notably a failed gearbox was replaced. Early 2025 saw repairs continue. The interior reassembly following repairs was completed with wall panels, window surrounds and seating amongst the removed components refitted. Regrettably in January a major landslip severed the SVR line in half with the DMBS of the regular operating 108 set (51941) trapped at Bridgnorth where it had been undergoing a repaint. Luckily the repairs to 50253 were so advanced that it was able to step in covering for 51941 in their operating 3-car set (with 52064 & 59250), albeit with its patch paintwork livery! 50253 is currently running in a 3-car 108 set in place of 51941. |
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Future Plans Longer term, 50253 is expected to return to a full 101 3-car formation with regular partners 59303 & 50170, once overhaul works to those two allow them to return to use. |
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E50253/M52064 near Bewdley. This was E50253's first test run under its own power on the SVR following arrival, after which it was pushed into traffic slightly early following a landslip on the line temporarily trapping Class 108 M51941 the other side of where the rest of the operating 3-car set was stabled, meaning E50253 was required to provide a DMBS vehicle in the operating set, 1/2/25. DMU Group (West Midlands) |
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E50253 inside the diesel shed at Kidderminster. During this period a gearbox was changed and welding work was completed amongst a whole host of other tasks to bring the vehicle back into a servicable condition, 15/12/24. DMU Group (West Midlands) |
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E50253 at Kidderminster after completing its journey by road from Wirksworth, 11/9/24. Phil Mitchell |
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E50253 stored at Wirksworth with gearbox repairs and bodywork required, 11/4/24. Chris Moxon |
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E50253 stored on the Ravenstor branch at Wirksworth, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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E50253, having not much been used during 2022, undergoes maintenance outside the shed at Wirksworth, 4/11/22. Mark Turner |
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E50253/E59303/E50170 in service at Wirksworth, on a normal operating day waiting to work south to Duffield, 4/7/21. Ken Jones |
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E50253/E59303/E50170 draws into Wirksworth from the yard, to work the 16:08 Wirksworth-Duffield, 15/3/20. Chris Moxon |
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Shottle. E50253/E59303/E50170, working the 12:12 Duffield-Wirksworth, passing M79900 with tail van (B784652) working 12:08 Wirksworth-Duffield, during the railcar gala, 16/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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E50253 alongside Class 122 W55006 at Duffield during the annual railcar gala, 19/5/18. Chris Moxon |
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E50253/E59303/E50170 at Wirksworth, 14/5/16. Brian Battersby |
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E50253 nestles between two Derby Lightweights 79612 (left) and 79900 (right) at Wirksworth during the Railcar Association convention weekend, loading up passengers for its first public run following restoration, 26/9/15. Chris Moxon |
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E50253 crosses M79900 at Shottle on a driver experience run during the Railcar Association convention weekend, 25/9/15. Barry Knapper |
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E50253/E59303/E50170 at Duffield on a driver experience run during the Railcar Association convention weekend, 25/9/15. Chris Moxon |
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Approx one month before its launch into service, the gloss starts to be applied to 50253 at Wirksworth, 24/8/15. Leigh Gration |
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50253, now completed in undercoat at Wirksworth, 27/4/15. Leigh Gration |
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50253 during its test run at Wirksworth, the first time it had left the confines of a yard under its own power for fiv years, 15/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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An original spec 2-character route indicator box being fitted, 1/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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The No2 side resplendant in green, 1/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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50253's roof repainted, 23/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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50253, secondman's side in primer, 16/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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50253 with the front end cleaned up and the hole for a reinstated route indicator box cut, 16/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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New windows fitted intot he repaired cab, 31/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Windows stripped out for bodywork, 15/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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53253 enters the shed at Wirksworth for restoration, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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53253 shortly after arrival at Wirksworth for restoration, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Sandwiched between 50164 & 50170 at Swanwick Junction, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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In the cutting at Butterley, 27/9/08. Daniel Adkins |
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53253 & 53170 stabled at Swanwick Junction, 30/3/08. David Beardmore |
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Entering Butterley station, passing the restoration shed, 29/3/08. Chris Moxon |
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Awaiting passengers at Butterley, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon |
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Awaiting its next duty in the sidings at Swanwick Junction, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon |
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Departing under the impressive signal gantry at Swanwick Junction, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon |
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53253 in the yard at Butterley, 8/7/06. Robert Chilton |
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101 692 appeared as a 3-car set for the Midland Railway Butterley's DMU Gala. The headboard commemorated one of the lines volunteers that had recently died, 9/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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101 692 and 51188 in Butterley station after another night of snow, 24/2/05. Stuart Mackay |
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101 692 is seen in Butterley yard, 2004. R. Hardwick |
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53253, 53170, 56358 & 51213 depart Bridgnorth during Raiclar50, 16/10/04. David Beardmore |
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At Bridgnorth during the Railcar50 event, 16/10/04. Simon Edwards |
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At Bewdley during Railcar50, 16/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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53253 in Butterley yard, Midland Railway Centre, 2004. Ian Francis |
Interior
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E50253's middle saloon with reassembly almost complete, following the completion of welding repairs at Kidderminster, 15/1/25. DMU Group (West Midlands) |
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The middle saloon inside E50253 showing the stripped out secondmans side ready for welding repairs, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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Repainted ceiling in the mid saloon, 12/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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The Formica in the mid saloon, showing the filth that was discovered after the seating was removed, 11/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Seat frame legs after repainting, 15/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Interior progress in the front saloon including restoration of Formica panelling and new wooden trim, 1/6/1. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Cleaning out of the front saloon, revealing the lino (for cleaning) and heater ducting, 27/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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The orange Formica next the the guards compartment having been replaced with wood-effect, 13/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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New ceiling and repainted panels in the first passenger vestibule, 6/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Major progress in refitting the cab controls, 16/3/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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The destination blind panel and ceiling in the cab having been repainted, 1/3/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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A new cab desk being fitted, 16/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Cab ceiling freshly repainted, 3/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Repainting of the guards van ceiling completed, 6/1/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Repainting of the guards van walls completed, 15/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Guards van being repainted, 24/11/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Guards van being repanelled, 29/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Guards van being repanelled, 29/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Guards van stripped out, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Guards van ceiling, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Driver's desk before stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Driver's desk during stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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Driver's desk after stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |