51354 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway Aug 08-Apr 13 |
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Current Location |
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Peak Rail Apr 13-Jan 18 |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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West Somerset Railway Nov 19-Present |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
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TRA Designation |
Visited Railways |
Private Site: Llangennech (storage) Jul 02-Oct 02 |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
Various |
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Private Site: Cardiff Cathays (storage) Oct 02-Dec 05 |
Owner |
Mike Thompson |
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Private Site: Llangennech (storage) Dec 05-Aug 08 |
Website |
None |
Private Site: Wishaw (storage) Jan 18-Apr 19 |
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Record Last Updated |
1 April 2026 |
Private Site: Redditch (storage) Apr 19-Nov 19 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 51354 remained in storage undercover inside the LMMR's sizable shed and received some limited restoration work. The engines were started on several occations but over five years no serious progress was made. In February 2013 51354 was put up for sale as the railway wanted to create space on site and to concentrate on the restoration of fellow residents 52029 & 55019. After purchase two months later the vehicle was relocated to Peak Rail. During 2014 the restoration of 51354 was started on a contract basis by the newly formed Grinsty Rail. By summer 2015 the vehicle had been repainted into BR green and was considered as being close to a condition where it could carry passengers. For reasons not fully clear however, no operation was forthcoming and the vehicle was returned to store. With no further contract works required, 51354 was moved on in January 2018 and for the second time in its life skipped relatively frequently between multiple storage sites, before finally arriving at the West Somerset Railway in November 2019. It was then thought that it would enter passenger service with the line's existing fleet of Class 115 vehicles, however the increasingly unlucky 51354 didn't appear to enter any form of service. Years followed with 51354 moving itself around yards and even undertaking at test runs with the WSR's Class 115, however it would always return to base for further repairs or periods in storage. In 2026 the "curse" was finally lifted, with a serious of works undertaken to 51354 to enable it to operate successfully in multiple with one of the line's Class 115 powercars. In March, the vehicle at long last made its preservation debut carrying passengers at the railway's 50th Anniversary Gala in a 2-car set with 51880. 51354 is now operational and shares duties on the railway's DMU diagrams with 51859 and 51880. |
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Future Plans |
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W51354 receiving repairs at Minehead. Remarkably after four years the vehicle had still not operated any passenger services, 30/3/24. Chris Walker |
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W51354 stored at Minehead. It does not appear to have entered traffic yet, 27/7/21. Michael Hughes |
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W51354 in the maintenance facility at Bishops Lydeard, 14/1/21. Robin Fisher |
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51354 stored in a haulage yard at Wishaw, having recently arrived from Peak Rail, 7/3/18. Tony Morris |
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51354 part way through a repaint into green, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |
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51354 part way through a repaint into green, 19/4/15. Brian Cuttell |
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51354, little unchanged from 10 years ago, in store at Rowsley South, 21/9/13. Nigel Gould |
Interior
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A cab view of 51354 during restoration work, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |
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A cab view of 51354 during restoration work, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |
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51354's main passenger saloon during restoration work, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |
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51354's rear passenger saloon during restoration work, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |
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51354's guards van during restoration work, 19/4/15. Chris Moxon |