50266 Class 101 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
Great Central Railway Apr 05-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue (Half Yellow Panel) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Renaissance Railcars |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
18 August 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications The rear saloon seating (drivers side) has been partly removed and partly rearranged, with a small buffet counter and wing wall added. This has reduced the second class seating capacity by seven. |
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Preservation Information Initially the vehicle was made operational mechanically to enable it to work in multiple with the line’s operational 101 2-car set at their September 2005 Diesel Gala. The orange Strathclyde livery earned it the nickname the 'tangerine dream'. The vehicle was then withdrawn for a full cosmetic overhaul inside and out. After some bodywork, painting of the repairs was required, but there wasn't enough time for a proper repaint before its use during the line's 2008 war weekend. So a temporary repaint was done into a 'camouflage' livery. From 2008-2011, interior work continued on the vehicle but it remained operational, making occational appearances when 51427/50321 needed strengthening for special events. In 2011 the vehicle was repainted into green primer with half yellow warning panel, in time for the November bonfire event. During 2012 the interior restoration was completed, with the tungsten lighting reinstated, new ceilings, cleaned panelling and "de-oranging" of the interior bulkheads. The vehicle was in service for the annual convention that year which was hosted at the GCR. Between 2012 & 2013, 50266 was operational paired with Class 127 51622 whilst 51616's restoration was completed.. In 2013, 50266 was painted into unlined green as an interim measure (not a full repaint) to smarten its appearance. From 2013-2015, 50266 was kept in service without a partner, used for special events coupled to the front of the Class 101/111 set to boost its capacity. In May 2015, 50266 assumed a place in the main running set operating with 59575 & 50321 as a replacement for 51427 which was sent away for contract repairs. 50266 had to be turned 180 degrees using a road transporter as the GCR's turntable was undergoing repairs at the time. In January 2016, with 51427 returned to the railway, 50266 was turned back to its original direction in order to substitute for 50321 within the same set, so that 50321 could go away for repairs itself. From October 2016 the railway's 3-car set was operating in its original formation once more, returning 50266 to its "maintenance spare" status. 50266 saw regular use paired with 51427 in a power/twin formation when operating the Mountsorrel branch line during special events, as an all-powered formation was preferred for the steeply graded and curved route. In Spring 2019, 50266 was brought into the carriage works for a quick repaint into BR blue to match its newly completed partner DMBS 50203. This done, in May 2019, exactly 50 years to the day since the Great Central Railway closed, 50266 returned to service paired with 50203. It ran sucessfully both on its own and in multiple with the line's other Class 101 in a 5-car formation. In September 2021, the set was increased to 3-cars with the addition of Class 117 TCL 59506. In September 2022, the vehicle was repainted to freshen it up for the annual Railcar Association convention weekend which was being held at the railway that year. In 2024, the rear saloon was modified with seating removed or rearranged on the drivers side and a small buffet counter fitted, to allow a catering operation when the vehicle was running in a 2-car formation. |
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Future Plans Once some other work to vehicles has been completed, it is the intention for 50266 to be withdrawn for a period to give it some corrosion repairs and a more thorough repaint than the one it received in 2022. |
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E50266/M50203 depart Rothley working the 13:30 Loughborough-Loughborough via Mountsorrel during the Bus Rally and Railcar Weekend, 19/5/24. Chris Moxon |
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An elevated view of M50266/W59506/M50203 crossing Swithland Reservoir, 9/1/22. Frank Richards |
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M50266/W59506/M50203 arrive into Quorn on a snowy winter's day, the last "ordinary" service day for the railcar fleet for that year, 28/11/21. Harry Adkins |
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M50266/M50203 at Loughborough whilst on crew refreshing duties, as part of the railway's reopening plan following the Covid-19 lockdown measures, 28/6/20. Jamie Steel |
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M50266/M50203 arrive into Rothley hauling tail load traffic during the "Last Hurrah" gala, 17/11/19. Richard Hargreaves |
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M50266/M50203 stand at Loughborough Central hauling tail load traffic during the "Last Hurrah" gala, 16/11/19. Bruce Pollard |
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E50266/E51427 waits in the loop at Swithland Sidings whilst working Mountsorrel trips as part of the line's Diesel Gala, 8/9/18. Chris Moxon |
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E50266 pilots E50321/E51427 in an all powered 3-car formation on the Mountsorrell branch, 22/7/17. Bruce Pollard |
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E50266 arriving into Quorn paired with E51427, 23/4/16. Brian Battersby |
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E50266 loaded onto a lorry at Quorn... However the vehicle was not being moved, only turned, 7/5/15. Tom Ingall |
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E50266 leads a 4-car formation from Loughborough formed E50266/E50321/E59575/E51427, 7/3/15. Bruce Pollard |
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The restoration team in action on 50266 at Loughborough, 18/5/13. Bill Pugsley |
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50266, M51622, E50321 & E51427 at Quorn & Woodhouse on 2D04 10:10 Rothley-Loughborough during the Railcar Convention, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266, M51622, E50321 & E51427 enter Quorn & Woodhouse on 2C13 11:30 Loughborough-Rothley during the Railcar Convention, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266, M51622, E50321 & E51427 pass D123 at Loughborough whilst shunting to form the evening Fish & Chip special during the Railcar Convention, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266 next to the impressive Swithland signalbox during a Fish & Chip special, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266 next to the impressive Swithland signalbox during a Fish & Chip special, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266, M51622, E50321 & E51427 pass Woodthorpe 32 minutes late on the 15:15 Loughborough-Rothley during the 1940's weekend. This was the first time a 4-car DMU had been seen on the GCR since the late 1960's, 9/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266, M51622, E50321 & E51427 pass Woodthorpe on the 16:30 Rothley-Loughborough during the 1940's weekend. This was the first time a 4-car DMU had been seen on the GCR since the late 1960's, 9/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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50266 at Loughborough, the cab end now in primer, 15/5/11. David Beardmore |
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50266 under restoration at Loughborough, 21/3/09. Simon Edwards |
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After some bodywork some painting of the repairs was required, but there wasn't enough time for a proper repaint before it's use during the line's war weekend. So a temporary repaint was done into a 'camouflage' livery, 2008. Mathew Yardley |
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53266, 50321 & 51427 in service at Loughborough, 17/9/11. David Beardmore |
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53266 was be withdrawn for a full cosmetic overhaul inside and out, 22/8/05. Tom Ingall |
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Here 53266 was coupled to 51427 and 50321 for the first time to test the multiple working. The three car set worked briefly up and down the yard and all systems seemed nominal. The three car set was being formed up for a special "orange/green" livery clash for the forthcoming diesel gala (17th/18th September), 22/8/05. Tom Ingall |
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53266 arrives at the Great Central Railway from Shoeburyness. It was soon nicknamed the 'tangerine dream', 4/4/05. Tom Ingall |
Interior
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The modified rear saloon showing the buffet counter and rearranged seating, 19/5/24. Chris Moxon |
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The modified rear saloon showing the buffet counter and rearranged seating, 19/5/24. Chris Moxon |
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The modified rear saloon showing the buffet counter and rearranged seating, 19/5/24. Chris Moxon |
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Nine air and axle lights illuminated in the cab of 53266 showing the multiple working is behaving! 22/8/05. Tom Ingall |