50253 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Location History

Midland Railway Butterley Sep 04-Sep 13

Current Location

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Sep 13-Present

Current Status

Stored

Current Livery

BR Green (Plain End)

Visited Railways

Severn Valley Railway Oct 04

TRA Designation

4

Partner Vehicle(s)

59303 & 50170

Owner

101692 Group

Website

evrdmugroup.wix.com

Record Last Updated

13 January 2024

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
Preserved in 2004 as a complete set with 50170 as set 101692. The vehicle was operational about 24 hours after arrival!

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In 2009 the vehicle was withdrawn to fit overhauled cylinder heads and a replacement guard’s door.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.

50253 remains in storage awaiting its overhaul to be resumed.

Future Plans
It is intended for 50253 to return to service as a 3-car set for the railway. An exterior refurbishment including welding/bodywork/repaint and mechanical exam, including the repair of the failed gearbox, will be required to achieve this.

E50253 stored on the Ravenstor branch at Wirksworth, 3/11/23. Chris Bull

E50253, having not much been used during 2022, undergoes maintenance outside the shed at Wirksworth, 4/11/22. Mark Turner

E50253/E59303/E50170 in service at Wirksworth, on a normal operating day waiting to work south to Duffield, 4/7/21. Ken Jones

E50253/E59303/E50170 draws into Wirksworth from the yard, to work the 16:08 Wirksworth-Duffield, 15/3/20. Chris Moxon

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

E50253 alongside Class 122 W55006 at Duffield during the annual railcar gala, 19/5/18. Chris Moxon

E50253/E59303/E50170 at Wirksworth, 14/5/16. Brian Battersby

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

E50253 crosses M79900 at Shottle on a driver experience run during the Railcar Association convention weekend, 25/9/15. Barry Knapper

E50253/E59303/E50170 at Duffield on a driver experience run during the Railcar Association convention weekend, 25/9/15. Chris Moxon

Approx one month before its launch into service, the gloss starts to be applied to 50253 at Wirksworth, 24/8/15. Leigh Gration

50253, now completed in undercoat at Wirksworth, 27/4/15. Leigh Gration

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

An original spec 2-character route indicator box being fitted, 1/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

The No2 side resplendant in green, 1/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

50253's roof repainted, 23/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

50253, secondman's side in primer, 16/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

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

New windows fitted intot he repaired cab, 31/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Windows stripped out for bodywork, 15/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

53253 enters the shed at Wirksworth for restoration, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

53253 shortly after arrival at Wirksworth for restoration, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Sandwiched between 50164 & 50170 at Swanwick Junction, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon

In the cutting at Butterley, 27/9/08. Daniel Adkins

53253 & 53170 stabled at Swanwick Junction, 30/3/08. David Beardmore

Entering Butterley station, passing the restoration shed, 29/3/08. Chris Moxon

Awaiting passengers at Butterley, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon

Awaiting its next duty in the sidings at Swanwick Junction, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon

Departing under the impressive signal gantry at Swanwick Junction, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon

53253 in the yard at Butterley, 8/7/06. Robert Chilton

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

101 692 and 51188 in Butterley station after another night of snow, 24/2/05. Stuart Mackay

101 692 is seen in Butterley yard, 2004. R. Hardwick

53253, 53170, 56358 & 51213 depart Bridgnorth during Raiclar50, 16/10/04. David Beardmore

At Bridgnorth during the Railcar50 event, 16/10/04. Simon Edwards

At Bewdley during Railcar50, 16/10/04. Stuart Mackay

53253 in Butterley yard, Midland Railway Centre, 2004. Ian Francis

The middle saloon inside E50253 showing the stripped out secondmans side ready for welding repairs, 3/11/23. Chris Bull

Repainted ceiling in the mid saloon, 12/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

The Formica in the mid saloon, showing the filth that was discovered after the seating was removed, 11/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Seat frame legs after repainting, 15/6/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Interior progress in the front saloon including restoration of Formica panelling and new wooden trim, 1/6/1. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Cleaning out of the front saloon, revealing the lino (for cleaning) and heater ducting, 27/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

The orange Formica next the the guards compartment having been replaced with wood-effect, 13/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

New ceiling and repainted panels in the first passenger vestibule, 6/4/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Major progress in refitting the cab controls, 16/3/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

The destination blind panel and ceiling in the cab having been repainted, 1/3/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

A new cab desk being fitted, 16/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Cab ceiling freshly repainted, 3/2/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Repainting of the guards van ceiling completed, 6/1/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Repainting of the guards van walls completed, 15/12/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Guards van being repainted, 24/11/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Guards van being repanelled, 29/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Guards van being repanelled, 29/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Guards van stripped out, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Guards van ceiling, 20/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Driver's desk before stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Driver's desk during stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group

Driver's desk after stripping, 7/10/13. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group