50455 Class 104 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Churnet Valley RailwayNov 93-Nov 14 |
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Current Location |
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East Lancashire Railway Nov 14-Present |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue (Full Yellow End) |
Visited Railways |
Severn Valley Railway Oct 04 |
TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Kevin Dowd |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 April 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information At the time the railway were operating "push pull" shuttles in the yard and 50455 was used briefly as a control trailer with shunting locomotives. The vehicle was soon however put into store as the finantial/workforce restraints of the time meant only one vehicle could be restored, the superior (in condition) DMCL 50517 being the chosen vehicle. In 1999 the time had come to start the restoration of a DMBS vehicle to join DMCL 50517. 50455 and 50437 were the contenders. It was noted that 50455 had been withdrawn due to being surplus to requirements unlike 50437 which was withdrawn with electrical faults. The superior bodywork of 50455 was also in its favour. Consequently, 50455 was selected for restoration and 50437 continued in storage awaiting its turn. 2000 saw the restoration begin to move forwards (in parallel with 50517’s). Many components were removed, the interior stripped out and restoration of the myriad of individual interior bits and pieces started. 2001 saw the bulk of the bodywork completed inside Cheddleton shed, involving much sanding and filling after the new metalwork had been completed. Mechanically, the vehicle was made operational with the revival of both of the engines. The vehicle also moved under its own power for the first time in a good few years during this period. The big news for summer 2002 was the gloss painting and lining of 50455, completed in the shed at Oakamoor, which brought the external restoration of the vehicle to a close. The repaint was made possible following a final 3-week marathon of sanding and filling during May, and also after the final cleaning and painting of the roof. During the diesel gala in September 2002, the vehicle was put on static display showing off its brand new paint scheme. Inside the vehicle, the new veneered panelling had arrived and was being fitted over the winter, in preparation for the “home straight” of seat fitting. 2003 saw the last of the interior work completed. New flooring was fitted to the guards floor as the originals had rotted away under the steel chequer plate. The cabs also received a final coat of paint. Mechanically, teething troubles were starting to be tackled in preparation for a return to service. The brake blocks were changed amongst other, smaller, components. 2004 saw a final push to make the vehicle mechanically fit for regular traffic. By August the unit was undertaking test runs having had final preparations such as new oils and filters. After one last external clean and polish, the unit was complete. Five years after the start of the restoration project, during the last weekend of September 2004, 50455 was launched into traffic. 50517 was also completed at the same time, forming a 2-car "power twin" set. 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 and 2006 the vehicle ran over 8,000 miles in traffic as part of an ambitious timetable where the set ran throughout the summer and during the low season when a steam service was not viable. Between 2007 & 2014 the vehicle settled into a routine of roughly 30 days traffic a year, covering about 2,000 miles per annum. During 2010, 50455 became part of a 3-car hybrid set following the insertion of Class 110 59701 on loan. 2011 saw the No2 engine and both main vacuum cylinders replaced with fully rebuilt examples. In 2012, the No1 engine radiator was replaced after the original started leaking excessively. Following discussions with the owning group's home railway where many issues that had arisen during ten years of running could not be satisfactorily resolved, 50455 was moved in 2014 to the East Lancashire Railway to join the operating fleet there as a 2-car set with 50517. It operated at its new home for four days during 2015 before being withdrawn from traffic in May 2015 for a bodywork overhaul and repaint. During 2015 the cab front was stripped down and several welding repairs were completed. However the work was halted before completion as the fabricator was required elswhere on the railway. However the two bodysides still received a great deal of body preparation work to ready the vehicle for repaint. By summer 2016 the bodywork preparation was approaching completion however the cab front was to prove more time consuming than originally thought, which added a further 12 months of work. November 2017 saw the vehicle re-launched into service with its exterior repairs completed, freshly painted in BR blue livery, the first time it had carried the livery in preservation. 50455 operated regularly with routine maintenance until summer 2022 when it was withdrawn from service for an interior refurbishment. Several roof vent leaks were attended to and water damaged ceiling panels were replaced. The ceilings were repainted throughout the passenger saloons. Seating was removed, the cushions reupholstered and the frames powder coated. The lino flooring was replaced before all fittings were refitted. The vehicle returned to service in November for that year's DMU Weekend, the same event that five years earlier had seen the vehicle relaunched into traffic following the exterior overhaul. 50455 won that year's Railcar Association "Railcar of the Year" Award for the speed and quality of the interior refurbishment. 50455 & 50517 operate regularly in service at the East Lancashire Railway. |
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Future Plans |
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M50455/M50517 at Bury Bolton Street waiting to head back to shed after running Santa shuttle services, 22/12/23. Kevin Dowd |
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M50455/M50517 pause at Ramsbottom on their way to Heywood dring that year's DMU Gala, 13/11/22. Mark Skinner |
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M50455 at the end of the line at Rawtenstall during the DMU Gala, 13/11/21. Lee Pacey |
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M50455/M50517 lead the Class 110 3-car set during the DMU running day near Irwell Vale, 10/11/19. Frank Richards |
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M50455 passes through the closed Ewood Bridge station, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 at Bury prior to the forming of the Fish & Chip Special, 4/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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Two Birmingham's together: M50455 passes E51813 at Bury, 4/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 on its first day in traffic on the East Lancashire Railway, seen departing Ramsbottom with a Rawtenstall service, 14/3/15. Frank Richards |
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M50455 on a road transporter at Cellarhead, en-route from the Churnet Valley to the East Lancs, 20/11/14. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/E59701/M50517 exit Leekbrook Tunnel, 5/14. Frank Richards |
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A replacement radiator fitted to the No2 side (cooling the No1 engine) of M50455, 23/12/12. Chris Moxon |
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M50455, E59701 & M50517 being prepped at Cheddleton for the day's services, 5/5/12. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 is reflected in the puddles at Cheddleton, separated from the rest of the set and moved on shed for a C exam to be undertaken that weekend, 27/1/12. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/E59701/M50517 pass Class 04 D2334 at Cheddleton, 30/7/11. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 lifted in the air at Cheddleton for refubished vacuum cyliders and air tanks, 12/3/11. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 on shed at Cheddleton receiving a new engine, 16/1/11. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 on shed at Cheddleton having received a new engine, 16/1/11. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/E59701/M50517 at Ipstones having climbed the 5 miles at 1-in-45/1-in-59 on Moorland & City Railways' Cauldon Lowe branch, 28/10/10. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 stand at Froghall, 19/6/10. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 "on display" in Cheddleton bay with a suitably vintage vehicle in front, 1/4/10. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 stand at Froghall whilst operating evening turns for a beer festival, 7/2/10. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 depart Cheddleton on a beautiful Bank Holiday, 24/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 depart Cheddleton on a beautiful Bank Holiday, 24/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 depart Cheddleton on a beautiful Bank Holiday, 24/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517is loaded with beer at Cheddeton the weekend before a beer festival, 1/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 approach Consall with a tail load during the railcar gala, 27/9/08. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 between Consall and Cheddleton during the railcar gala, 27/9/08. Chris Moxon |
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The first passenger train to Oakamoor in over 20 years. The 104 was running with the Class 116/118 set borrowed from the Battlefield Line for the Railcar Gala the following weekend, 21/9/08. Dave Gibson |
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The first passenger train to Oakamoor in over 20 years. The 104 was running with the Class 116/118 set borrowed from the Battlefield Line for the Railcar Gala the following weekend, 21/9/08. Dave Gibson |
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The first passenger train to Oakamoor in over 20 years. The 104 was running with the Class 116/118 set borrowed from the Battlefield Line for the Railcar Gala the following weekend, 21/9/08. Dave Gibson |
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The first passenger train to Oakamoor in over 20 years. The 104 was running with the Class 116/118 set borrowed from the Battlefield Line for the Railcar Gala the following weekend, 21/9/08. Dave Gibson |
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M50455/M50517 stabled at Cheddleton, 18/5/08. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 at Cheddleton before an EMRPS photo shoot, 3/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 & 79900 during an EMRPS photo shoot at Cheddleton, 3/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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A historic moment: M50455/M50517 & 79900 become the first DMUs to cross on the Churnet Valley Railway in preservation days, 29/9/07. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 stand at Cheddleton during the diesel gala, 2/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 arrive into Consall during the diesel gala, 2/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 stand at Froghall during the diesel gala, 2/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 arrive into Consall with a tail load during the diesel gala, 2/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 on a private charter at Froghall, 5/11/06. Chris Moxon |
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M50455 stabled at Cheddleton, 3/9/06. Chris Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 on Thomas duty, 28/7/05. Paul Moxon |
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M50455 & M50517 stabled at Kingsley & Froghall, 21/5/05. David Beardmore |
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M50455 & M50517 depart Bewdley during Railcar50, 16/10/04. David Beardmore |
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M50455 at Bridgnoth on the Severn Valley Railway during Railcar50, 15/10/04. Ian Francis |
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M50455 meets a 9F at Cheddleton during testing, 30/7/04. Paul Moxon |
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M50455 at Cheddleton for testing, 30/7/04. Paul Moxon |
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A shiny M50455 at Cheddleton for testing, May 2004. Paul Moxon |
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M50455/M50517 on display at the diesel gala, 2002. Nick Wheat |
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M50455/M50517 newly outshopped in BR Green at Oakamoor, 2002. Paul Moxon |
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Work continues on 53455 at Oakamoor, 2001. Paul Moxon |
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53455 in the shed for bodywork repairs, 2001. Paul Moxon |
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Bodywork cut out from 53455, 2001. Paul Moxon |
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Bodywork cut out from 53455, 2001. Kevin Dowd |
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Bodywork being cut out from 53455, 2001. Kevin Dowd |
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53455 in store at Oakmoor on the Churnet Valley Railway. The windows are covered due vandals smashing all the large panes. By this date a start has been made on the solebar, 1999. Paul Moxon |
Interior
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The middle saloon after the interior refurbishment had been completed, 11/11/22. Kevin Dowd |
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The front saloon after the interior refurbishment had been completed, 11/11/22. Kevin Dowd |
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Seat frames being refitted, 5/11/22. Kevin Dowd |
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Replaced ceiling panel fitted to the middle saloon, 10/22. Kevin Dowd |
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Replacement lino flooring fitted to the middle saloon, 10/22. Kevin Dowd |
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M50455's brake van floor after repainting, 3/9/11. Chris Moxon |
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M50455's brake van floor before repainting, 3/9/11. Chris Moxon |
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View of M50455's front saloon, 19/7/11. Chris Moxon |
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View of M50455's middle saloon, 19/7/11. Chris Moxon |
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A lino repair made to one of the doorways, 28/8/10. Chris Moxon |
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This brake van view was a recreation of the original official works picture, 2005. Paul Moxon |
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A newly constructed folding table for the guard to write on, its use being demonstrated by Chris Moxon, 28/7/05. Paul Moxon |
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The cab under restoration. Kevin Dowd |
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The completed middle saloon. Paul Moxon |
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The restored middle saloon lino. Paul Moxon |
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Part of the guards floor had to be replaced due to serious wood rot. Paul Moxon |
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Part of the guards floor had to be replaced due to serious wood rot. Paul Moxon |
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Early interior restoration inside 53455. Paul Moxon |