50632 Class 108 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (Scrapped)

Last Location

Dean Forest Railway

Location History

Pontypool & Blaenavon RailwayApr 94-Dec 20

Current Status

Scrapped at Dean Forest Railway 2022

Dean Forest Railway Dec 20-Nov 22

Last Livery

BR Blue & Grey

Partner Vehicle(s)

52044

Visited Railways

St Phillips Marsh Depot (Bristol) Dec 20

Record Last Updated

19 November 2022

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
50632 was preserved in 1994 on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway with partner 52044. The set was unusual in being formed of two DMCL vehicles coupled back-to-back (with no guards compartment) and also for carrying Blue & Grey livery long before it was accepted at most other railways.

In September 1999 50632 & 52044 made their preservation debut following restoration work, and after that they operated most of the timetabled DMU services.

By 2008 the vehicle was noted as being out of service requiring engine repairs, despite some reports that these repairs were resolved, 50632 did not appear to return to traffic, and was instead stored awaiting the resources to complete the repairs.

The harsh rural winters soon took their toll, and before long 50632 had deteriorated to the extent that an increased amount of restoration work would be required before the vehicle could be considered for a return to service. This work was not forthcoming by the owning group, and the railway's resources instead turned to the other resident DMU set on the line, a class 117. The 108's continued to wait patiently in storage.

In June 2020, presumably after a final decision was made that the restoration of 50632 was not going to be started, the vehicle (along with partner 52044) was put up for sale. After around six months, the set was purchased by the Dean Forest Railway DMU Group, whole as a source of spare parts, and departed the Pontypool & Blaenavon for its final "home" via tyre turning at St Phillips Marsh depot in Bristol. 50632 was the second of the pair to arrive at Lydney, early afternoon and in heavy rain, and after further shunting the vehicle was moved up to Norchard where the DMU group was based in fading light.

52044 was selected to be stripped for spares first, so 50632 was sheeted over to await stripping. Shortly after arrival at the railway, there was a proposal to retain it (minus any useful powered mechanical components) as a loco hauled coach, its aluminium body potentially being useful for future maintainence, however the plan was later dropped and 50632 returned to "plan A" purely as a spares donor.

In December 2021, 50632's time had come, being moved from store into the yard at Norchard for the stripping to commence.

Most of 2022 saw 50632 stripped of all reusable parts, both stocking up the required spares for the Dean Forest fleet of Class 108's, with many also being made available to other groups all around the UK. In November 2022, both 50632 and 52044 were moved for the final time down the line to Lydney Junction and were very swiftly scrapped on site by contractors. 50632's body and chassis were removed in sections leaving the bogies behind, the final, and largest, spare parts to be rescued for future use.

50632 was not considered to be a major loss to preservation, with Class 108's remaining one of the largest classes in preservation with many identical DMCL vehicles still extant.

The final remains of W53632 at Lydney Junction, to be gathered up for recycling, 8/11/22. Nigel Benning

W53632 in the process of being scrapped on site at Lydney Junction, 8/11/22. Nigel Benning

A sorry looking W53632 being extracted from storage at Whitecroft, where it had been waiting for W52044 to be stripped down. It was now W53632's turn to be stripped, 20/12/21. Chris Bull

W53632 being unloaded at Lydney, Dean Forest Railway. It had just arrived from Bristol St Phillips Marsh depot after tyre turning. Although the vehicle was bought primarily for spares, the spares have to be of use! Hence the reprofiling work on the way to its new home. 50632 was the second of the donor vehicles to arrive, 23/12/20. Nigel Benning

W53632/W52044 seen at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway in a very sorry state indeed, after the effects of over a decade of outside storage with no remedial work to arrest the decay. The set was for sale at the time, its owners having decided they were not going to undertake any restoration, 20/11/20. Dean Forest Railway DMU Group

W53632/W52044 lines up with the railway's Class 73, 27/8/06. Phil Trotter

W53632/W52044 at Blaenavon, 27/8/06. Simon Edwards

W53632, 2/7/05. Stuart Mackay

The cab part way through the stripping process, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon

The cab part way through the stripping process, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon

The first class saloon part way through the stripping process, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon

The middle saloon part way through the stripping process, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon

The rear saloon part way through the stripping process, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon