50531 Class 104 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
Cambrian Railway (Oswestry) May 93-Apr 99 |
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Current Location |
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Telford Steam Railway Apr 99-Nov 23 |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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East Lancashire Railway Nov 23-Present |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Plain End) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
None |
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Owner |
Kevin Dowd |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 December 2023 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 50531 was preserved as a spares vehicle and was originally to be broken up to provide parts for other 104 vehicles. However, an offer from a private individual to look after the set resulted in the vehicle being retained and returned to serviceable condition, working with partner 50479. In 1999 the set was moved to the Telford Steam Railway where it was soon put into traffic. Whilst there 50531 received much restoration work and a repaint into BR Blue livery. In the mid 2000s, new fire extinguisher regulations forced the set out of service (as a powered DMU), however the set continued to be used as hauled stock being propelled by some of the railway's small steam and diesel locomotives. However the group who were looking after the unit disbanded when the set stopped being used under its own power, which in some ways proved to the the start of the end. In 2009, 50531 was repainted into BR Green by the railway's "general volunteers" in an effort to tidy the declining exterior appearance. More serious work was required by this point, however the resources adn skills were not available to undertake this. Nevertheless, the repaint tidied the vehicle up considerably. In 2011, attempts were made to return 50531 to use "as a DMU" again. Unfortunately, problems with the engines meant the plan failed. Not long after, the vehicle was taken out of use, as passenger services were being handled by partner 50479 in push/pull form. In 2014, 50531 was removed from store and made a very rare appearance in service when used for a branch line society tour hauled by an industrial diesel loco. The vehicle was used as the society specially requested it, because it faced the opposite way to 50479 and was more attractive to the group who had chartered the railway and required the train to traverse specific sidings not normally in passenger use. This was to be the last day 50531 operated at the Telford Steam Railway. During the late 2010's the vehicle was stored, and then suffered several vandal attacks, with windows smashed and the interior entered. Volunteers did their best to resecure the vehicle where possible. By 2019, 50531 was no longer watertight. The owning group made a brief visit to gather together any parts which had been removed/dispersed and cover the vehicle over with a tarpaulin. This was to both deter future occupants and to try and keep the water ingress at bay. Some years in storage followed until Autumn 2023 when 50531 finally left Telfordending a 25 year association between the railway and first generation DMU's. The vehicle was moved to "104 HQ" at the East Lancashire Railway for further storage and for a final decision to be made on its future. |
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Future Plans |
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M50531, stored sheeted at Spring Village, 9/2/20. Chris Moxon |
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M50531 just after having a tarpaulin fitted, 13/10/19. Chris Moxon |
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M50531 stored at Spring Village during a condition assessment, showing that water ingress was now hitting the vehicle hard, 15/9/19. Chris Moxon |
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M50531 stored at Spring Village, 15/4/17. Brian Battersby |
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M50531 stored at Spring Village with M50479, 30/9/16. Carl Watson |
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50531/50479 rest at Spring Village, 7/2/16. Chris Moxon |
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50531 looking a little sorry for itself, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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50531 stored at Spring Village, 3/4/15. Zoe Hunter |
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The unlined side of 50531, at Spring Village, 25/1/15. Brian Battersby |
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50531 stored at Telford, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531 stored at Telford, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531, stored at Spring Village, 1/8/10. Chris Bell |
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50531 at Telford now repainted into BR Green, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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50531 at Telford now repainted into BR Green, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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53531 stabled, 5/5/08. Simon Edwards |
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53531 stabled, Jan 2007. Dave Angell |
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53531, sporting its "Buxton" white cab roof dome, lines up alongside the more modern RB004 railbus at Spring Village, 5/05. Dave Angell |
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53531 & 53479 at Telford, 4/4/99. On tour with the class 13 army |
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53531 shortly after it and 53479 arrived on the Telford Steam Railway from Oswestry, 1999. Frank Nicholas |
Interior
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50531's cab, drivers side, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531's cab, secondmans side, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531's first class saloon, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531's middle saloon, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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50531's rear saloon, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |
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A passenger vestibule inside 50531, 9/7/12. Chris Moxon |