51347 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Mangapps Railway Museum May 94-Apr 95 |
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Current Location |
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Colne Valley Railway Apr 95-Apr 97 |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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Nene Valley Railway Apr 97-Mar 09 |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
Gwili Railway Mar 09-Present |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Welsh Railway Trust |
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Website |
None |
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Record Last Updated |
16 April 2023 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Unfortunately that arrangement proved unsatifactory so 51347 was split off in 1995 and moved to Pressed Steel Heritage's base at the Colne Valley Railway. A new partner for 51347 was bought in the form of Class 116 DMBS 51138. In 1996, the vehicle saw roof restoration work, with the gutters being removed and resealed. The interior was also restored during this time. In 1997, the vehicle was split from 51138 and put into service at the Nene Valley Railway on loan, paired with newly preserved DMS 51401 from Bletchley. Interestingly, the set carried Blue & Grey livery, an unusual choice in preservation and at the time the only Class 117 set restored as such. 51347 was later sold by Pressed Steel to the hirers who continued to operate the vehicle in service. In 1999, the set was joined by TCL 59508 returning it to a historically accurate 3-car formation. During the 2000’s, the set was the primary operating DMU on the Nene Valley, operating many low season services. In 2009, the Nene Valley decided to replace the set with a Class 107 instead, and 51347 was sold to the Llanelli & District Railway Society, whose own Class 116/117 fleet had been lost to arsonists. The vehicle moved to the society’s new base at the Gwili Railway. After arriving at the Gwili Railway, the railway's drivers were trained on its operation within a month and 51347 entered service quickly. In May 2010, 51347 was taken into the shed at Llwyfan Cerrig for attention to its bodywork panels. A corroded section was cut away, with a new piece made to fit. The vehicle’s owners were assisted in this work by members of both the Gwili Vintage Carriage Group, and volunteers from the railway's C&W department. The vehicle was back in traffic by August, but ran for a while in primer as the cab was still in the process of being repainted. In 2013, 51347 was repainted into BR Green livery to better reflect the era which the railway sought to portray. For ten years 51347 operated regularly as part of the railway’s main 3-car operating set seeing use during the summer as well as during a range of special events. It oprated both under its own power and as hauled stock with the number of doors being particularly welcome for quick loading/unloading at Thomas events. By 2019 51347 had developed faults on both of its engines. Along with deterioration to the interior it was decided to take the vehicle out of traffic. At this point its owners agreed to transfer the whole 3-car set to the Welsh Railway Trust who would be better placed to undertake the repairs on the vehicle. 51347 is currently stored awaiting overhaul work to its engines and other interior repairs to allow a return to traffic. |
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Future Plans |
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W51347/W59508/W51401 stabled at Bronwydd Arms, 25/4/15. Geoff Clark |
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W51347 leads the DMU in Bronwydd Arms loop, waiting for the other train during the Gwili Railway Transport Festival, 4/6/11. Rob Phillips |
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W51347 leads the DMU in Bronwydd Arms loop, waiting for the other train during the Gwili Railway Transport Festival, 4/6/11. Rob Phillips |
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W51347 at Bronwydd Arms during the Gwili Railway Transport Festival, 4/6/11. Rob Phillips |
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W51347 in the snow at Llwyfan Cerrig, 18/12/10. Rob Phillips |
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W51347 in service, April 2010. Phil Budd |
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W51347 at Bronwydd Arms during the Gwili Railway's winter work week, 20/2/10. Rob Phillips |
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51347 in service at Bronwydd Arms shortly after transfer from the Nene Valley Railway, 13/6/09. Nick Blyth |
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51347, 59508 & 51401 in service, 3/3/07. Simon Edwards |
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51347, 59508 & 51401 pass D306, 3/3/07. Simon Edwards |
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51347, 59508 & 51401 in service at Orton Mere, 3/3/07. David Beardmore |
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51347 under the road bridge at Orton Mere, 8/10/06. David Bellamy |
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In service, September 2005 |
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51347 stabled on the Nene Valley Railway, 1/12/01. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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A view of W51347's cab shortly after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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A view of W51347's middle saloon shortly after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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A view of W51347's guards van shortly after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |