51339 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Barry Island Railway Jun 04-09 |
|
Current Location |
|
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Mar 11-Jul 12 |
|
Current Status |
Operational |
East Lancashire RailwayOct 12-Nov 20 |
|
Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
Colne Valley Railway Nov 20-Present |
|
TRA Designation |
|||
Partner Vehicle(s) |
Visited Railways |
Midland Railway Butterley (Contract Restoration) Nov 03-Jun 04 |
|
Owner |
Private Site: LH Group (Contract Restoration) 09-Mar 11 |
||
Website |
None |
|
Peak Rail (Storage) Jul 12-Oct 12 |
Record Last Updated |
1 April 2024 |
||
Preservation Modifications |
|||
Preservation Information 51339 was immediately sent for a contract external restoration by LS Restorations at the Midland Railway Butterley. This was completed in just six months and included a repaint into BR Green. 51339 was then moved to its intended home the Barry Island Railway in Wales where it operated for four years as a two car set with 51382. In 2008 the lease on the Barry Island Railway was terminated, and the DMU fleet of three sets disbanded. 51339 was put up for sale in May 2009 and moved into secure storage at LH Group later that year. In March 2010, 51339 & 51382 were purchased by Mike Thompson. That year, 51339 was internally gutted and a complete new interior fitted. Work included new lino, seat repainting & upholstering, new roof & side panels and a refurbished lighting system. The interior was also fully repainted. By 2011, the internal restoration was complete and the vehicle, now in good condition, was made available for hire. In 2011, 51339 & 51382 were hired by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway to operate their northern section, severed from the remaining line following a landslip. Maintenance work was undertaken on 51339 to ensure a smooth return to passenger use following its period out of service. It was used for over 100 days during the year, until members of the GWSR started operating their own Class 117 set obtained from the Mid Hants. 51339 did not operate much in 2012 as it was between hire contracts. It was briefly stored at Peak Railduring the summer and late autumn before being hired by the East Lancashire Railway, where it enetered service during December. 51339 & 51382 became a core part of the ELR fleet from 2012-2017 on a five year hire contract. In November 2017 the hire agreement with the East Lancashire Railway expired and 51339 was put into store until its next hire agreement could be negotiated. 12 months later and with no such hire forthcoming, the vehicle was reinstated into service for the November DMU event in 2018. It continued to be used on a sporadic "as required" basis, being included in some events but not in others. Notably it was absent from the 2019 DMU gala despite being on site at the time. In 2020 the suburban style seating layout with individual doors was seen as a real advantage for the socially distenced services that were introuded after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown measures. 51339 became the first DMU on the line to be risk assessed and returned to service, operating some of the railways first modified trains. During the period that 51339 was on hire to various railways, the owner had indicated that if the right offer were to come along a sale could be forthcoming. In 2020 efforts to sell the vehicle, and partner 51382, were stepped up with formal adverts being placed in the railway press. Pressed Steel Heritage bought the set and relocated it to the Colne Valley Railway. 51339 now operates regularly at the Colne Valley Railway. |
|||
Future Plans |
|||
 |
W51339/W51382 stabled in the newly remodelled section of the yard at Castle Headingham, the castle itself visible in the background, 30/3/24. Brad Wright |
 |
W51339/W51382 in service at Castle Headingham, 29/8/21. Simon Potter |
 |
51339 being transported by road from the East Lancashire Railway to the Colne Valley Railway, 11/20. Neil Bunt |
 |
W51339 passes E51813 at Bury during driver experiences, 3/11/17. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339 at Bury during driver experiences, 3/11/17. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339 at Bury during driver experiences, 3/11/17. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339/W51382 call at Ramsbottom on a winter service to Rawtenstall, 7/11/15. Phil Wallis |
 |
W51339/W51382 at Bury whilst working Bury-Heywood Christmas shuttle services, 30/11/14. Richard Moxon |
 |
W51339 & W51382 stand at Rawtenstall with the 12:45 Rawtenstall-Heywood dueing the DMU Day, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339 at Bury Bolton Street during DMU day attached to a recently restored CCT which was used on two round trips as a tail load behind the Class 117 set, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339/W51382 stand at Bury Bolton Street waiting to work the 16:00 Bury-Heywood shuttle. The set was in use during Santa Specials operating a feeder service on the line's eastern section of line, used for connections with the Santas and also for Christmas shoppers, 21/12/12. Chris Moxon |
 |
A corridor view of W51339 at Bury Bolton Street waiting to work the 17:35 Bury-Heywood shuttle. The set was in use during Santa Specials operating a feeder service on the line's eastern section of line, used for connections with the Santas and also for Christmas shoppers, 21/12/12. Chris Moxon |
 |
51339 & 51382 in service at Toddington, 4/9/11. Tony Tranter |
 |
51339 calls at Toddington, 14/8/11. Tony Hosking |
 |
51339 calls at Toddington, 14/8/11. Tony Hosking |
 |
The vehicle has recently been removed from storage and placed on loan to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway and can now be found operating from Toddington, 1/5/11. Trevor Daw |
 |
In storage at LH Group, 3/5/10. Daniel Adkins |
 |
Class 117 51339 / 51382 on the Barry Island Railway, 6/5/07. Daniel Adkins |
 |
In use during a Transport Festival at Dock Junction, 10/6/06. Martin Sprigg |
 |
51339 & 51382 on the causeway, 14/4/06. Ben Salter |
 |
51339 on the Barry Island Railway, 15/10/05, David McGuire |
Interior
 |
W51339's cab, driver's side, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339's cab, secondman's side, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339's front saloon, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339's middle saloon, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
 |
W51339's guards van, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |