51189 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Dec 05-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue (Full Yellow End) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
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Website |
None |
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Record Last Updated |
18 August 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information The vehicle was in poor mechanical condition compared to 51803 so 51189 was set aside for some time while 51803’s overhaul was progressed. However by 2010, restoration of the vehicle was in full swing. During the late winter/early summer months, considerable body, door and window work was undertaken including the fitting of a new corridor connection. Internally, restored seat frames and reupholstered seats were fitted, along with a new floor and ceiling. Mechanically, one engine was serviceable, the other requiring further work. The vehicle was later lifted for repairs to the final drives and bogies. During this time the vehicle was also repainted into BR Green. Work to bring the vehicle up to passenger carrying standards continued from 2011 to 2013, with the interior receiving a full overhaul with all items removed, cleaned, repaired and refitted where required. The seating was reupholstered. During 2012 and 2013 the mechanics of the vehicle, which had been very poor, were attended to with replacement engines, gearboxes and springs all being required. 51189 entered service in 2013 with partner 51803 and, after testing/running in, replaced the railway's Class 108set which had operated continuously for 15 years without overhaul! For the rest of the 2010's the 2-car set reliably operated much of the railway's DMU booked services, sharing lighter services with Railbus 79964and operated every season. Early 2021 saw 51189 withdrawn from service for repairs after investigations into water ingress to the guards van revealed the window bottoms were corroded. The windows were removed in the March and the vehicle moved undercover in May for the required welding repairs, which were completed by July. The opportunity was also taken to do much preparation work to the roof, which required a repaint after much of the old paint had flaked off. By late July the guards van windows had been refitted and the surrounding bodyside repainted. Some patch painting round the cab end was also completed at the same time before 51189 (and partner 51803) received a mechanical exam. The set returned to service in early August. The remainder of the 2021 and the entire 2022 season was operated "business as usual", however the exterior bodywork and paintwork was starting to show its age. 51189 was removed from service at Christmas 2022 in order to undertake cosmetic repairs to the interior and exterior. This was undertaken remarkably quickly with both volunteers and paid staff involved to get the desired result. Roof and bodywork repairs were undertaken along with some mechanical works including replacement exhaust pipes and silencers at the rear end. A 2-character route indicator box was refitted to the cab front. A full repaint then followed with the vehicle changed to rail blue. 51189 was returned to passenger service in October 2023 after less than a year out of service. It later won that year's Railcar of the Year award. |
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Future Plans |
Interior