50599 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
East Anglian Railway Museum Jul 93-Mar 10 |
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Current Location |
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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Mar 10-Present |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue & Grey |
Visited Railways |
Bluebell Railway Dec 13-Mar 14 |
TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Limited |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
11 November 2023 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 50599 was repainted from Network SouthEast back into its original multiple unit green livery during the early 2000's and did see some use. The original tunsten lighting was restored. This was part of a plan to return the vehicle to as built condition, as that was felt appropriate for the first Class 108 vehicle. The vehicle was dogged with electrical faults however and saw little use. 50599 was later withdrawn requiring more restoration work, and with work on other Class 101 vehicles to complete, an agreement was reached for a long term loan to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, 50599 moving north in 2010. At the EVR, the vehicle saw seen much attention during 2010, including rectification of the electrical faults and a repaint into BR Blue in Summer 2010. The vehicle's interior also saw work including a brakevan floor repaint. 50599 was returned to service in April 2011 as part of the Duffield extention opening train. In 2013, the seating inside the vehicle was swapped with some other secondhand seats (in Network SouthEast moquette) that were in better condition. 50599 also underwent some further electrical repairs, before going on loan in December to the Bluebell Railway for a few months where it worked with Class 101 51505 operating truncated services on the Bluebell whilst they completed engineering work. It made history by working the Bluebell Railway's very first DMU service on January 19th 2014. It was returned to the EVR in the Spring of that year. In November 2014, 50599 was removed from traffic and entered the shed for some water ingress repairs. The roof had been leaking and it was discovered that some of the original rivets which hold the aluminium roof sheets together had failed. New rivets were put in and sealed followed by the removal of old paint from the roof. As a suprise for the 2015 Multiple Memories Gala, 50599 was painted into Blue & Grey livery, renumbered E53599 and formed into a matching fixed formation 2-car set with Class 119 W51073. This distinctive Blue/Grey set ran between 2015 & 2019 but was not favoured by the railway owing to the small seating capacity and having two brake van areas in just a 2-car set. In 2019 after working at the railcar gala, 50599 was withdrawn for various repairs, however resources were too tight to be able to complete them so it was stored awaiting attention. During this time water leaks caused major damage to the interior with the ceilings destroyed and water damage to seats, side panelling and floor lino. A tarpaulin was fitted to the roof to stop the water ingress but sadly much damage had already been done. 50599 continues to be stored whilst plans for its future are decided. |
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Future Plans |
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E53599 stored at Wirksworth, 6/8/21. David Bellamy |
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E53599/W51073 at Duffield during the railcar gala. The vehicle was withdrawn from service for repairs shortly after, 16/3/19. Dominic Shaw |
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E53599/W51073 shunting at Wirksworth into platform 1 during half term week services, 20/2/18. Frank Richards |
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E53599 leads a 4-car formation into Wirksworth during the Railcar Association convention weekend, 27/9/15. Chris Moxon |
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E50599 departs Wirksworth being propelled to Ravenstor by a Class 31, 3/7/14. Jason Boddy |
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E50599 during the loading process when it visited the Bluebell Line, 31/12/13. EVR DMU Group |
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E50599 being transported, 31/12/13. EVR DMU Group |
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E50599, briefly split from an operating set and located outside the maintenance facility at Wirksworth. The vehicle was undergoing some minor electrical repairs, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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Patiently awaiting the start of the season, E50599 battles the Derbyshire elements at Wirksworth, 5/2/12. Leigh Gration |
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E50599 shunts at Wirksworth, 14/5/11. David Beardmore |
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E50599 leading a 5-car test train at Duffield, 20/3/11. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway |
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E50599 leading a 5-car test train near Hazlewood, 20/3/11. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway |
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E50599 inside the shed at Wirksworth undergoing repaint into BR Blue, 29/8/10. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway |
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E50599 shortly after moving to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, March 2010. Leigh Gration |
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E50599 stabled at Chappel, 28/8/09. John Law |
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On static display during the Railcar Convention at the EARM, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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On static display during the Railcar Convention at the EARM, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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View of the cab end during the Railcar Convention at the EARM, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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View of the corridor end during the Railcar Convention at the EARM, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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Underframe view during the Railcar Convention at the EARM, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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Numerically the first Class 108, DMBS 50599 sits in the early morning sunshine at Chappel & Wakes Colne, mid way through restoration at the East Anglian Railway Museum, 4/8/01. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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E50599's cab (drivers side) at Wirksworth, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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E50599's cab (secondmans side) at Wirksworth, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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E50599's front saloon at Wirksworth, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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E50599's middle saloon at Wirksworth, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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E50599's guards van at Wirksworth, 1/4/13. Chris Moxon |
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Repainted guards van floor, 13/3/11. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway |
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View of the front saloon, March 2010. Leigh Gration |