50628 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Keith & Dufftown Railway	Location History	Southall Railway Centre Jan 94-Apr 98
Current Location	Keith & Dufftown Railway		East Anglian Railway MuseumApr 98-Mar 00
Current Status	Operational		Keith & Dufftown Railway Mar 00-Present
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	56224
Owner	Keith & Dufftown Railway
Website	www.keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 February 2024
Preservation Modifications Named "Spirit of Speyside"
Preservation Information 50628 was the last Class 108 vehicle in passenger service on the national network, not being withdrawn until October 1993. Preserved by GWR Preservation Group Ltd in December 1993, the vehicle was moved to the Southall Railway Centre with partner 56223 early the following year. By 1995 the set was giving passenger rides, still in its Network SouthEast colours. However in 1997 the set was sold to Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Limited (DUPA) following the forced public closure of the Southall site. 50628 was moved the following year to the East Anglian Railway Museum where it joined a growing fleet of Class 108 vehicles. In 1999, a badly leaking roof was combated by cleaning down and resealing all of the roof panel joints, and replacing the interior ceilings. However the size of the fleet combined with the EARM's small running line resulted in 50628 not seeing much use. The vehicle, still paired with 56223, was put on loan to the then embryonic Keith & Dufftown Railwayin 2000, where it ran the opening train. As part of the celebrations, the vehicle was named "Spirit of Speyside". When 50628’s partner, 56223, was replaced at the Keith & Dufftown Railway by green liveried 56491, 50628 was repainted out of its Network SouthEast livery into BR Green in order to match 56491. In 2006, 50628's partner (56223) was recalled from its loan and was replaced by 56491. Because the latter was in BR Green livery, 50628 was repainted into BR Green to match. When DUPA decided to downsize their Class 108 fleet to one 2-car set, they disposed of 50628 and the vehicle was sold to long term custodians the KDR. In 2009, 50628 was partially refurbished with the roof being resealed and repainted, and the guards van floor replaced with a plywood example. 2013 saw speed whiskers added to the front end of 50628. 50628 remains in traffic, being particularly useful being the only servicable vehicle on the railway with a brake van. It often operates paired with 56224.
Future Plans To maintain in service.

	53628 departs Keith Town whilst working Santa Specials, 3/12/23. John Doble

	50628/56224 in service at Dufftown, 14/8/22. Darren JB

	50628 stabled at Dufftown, 8/10/18. Deborah Stokes

	50628 calls at Drummuir, 6/6/15. Neil Ferguson-Lee

	50628 shortly after having had its whiskers applied, 29/9/13. Ben Angus

	50628 & 56224 in service at Keith Town, 9/4/12. Anon Mouse

	50628 in service on the Keith & Dufftown Railway, 19/8/11. Ian McLoughlin

	50628 & 56224 in service on a sunny summer's day, 3/6/11. John Carter

	50628 & 56491 in service at Dufftown, 17/5/08. David Beardmore

	53628 in service on the Keith & Dufftown Railway, 26/6/01. John Carter

	53628 on the opening day of the Keith & Dufftown Railway. The vehicle is on hire from Diesel Unit Preservation Associates, based at the East Anglian Railway Museum, 8/7/00.Stuart Mackay

	53628/54223 at Chappel & Wakes Colne, 11/10/99. David McGuire

Interior

50628's middle saloon, looking towards the front of the vehicle, 19/8/11. Ian McLoughlin