51363 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Mid Hants Railway May 01-Oct 11 |
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Current Location |
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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Oct 11-Present |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Half Yellow Panel) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 February 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Following a period in storage 51363 was moved to the Mid Hants Railway in 2001 where it was refurbished and repainted into BR Green alongside 51405. The 2-car set was later returned to its original 3-car formation with the addition of TCL 59510 from the West Somerset Railway although this vehicle was confusingly incorrectly numbered 59515 for a time! Between 2006 and 2008, partner 51405 was occationally substituted for 51400, which was on the line at this time as a spare powercar. Due to a change in employment in 2011, the owner left the MHR to take over the role of looking after steam loco 70000 Britannia, which resulted in the entire MHR DMU fleet being reluctanctly sold. The MHR itself were offered first refusal to buy 51363, but had to turn the offer down as funds had already been allocated for other projects on the railway. The 3-car set was purchased complete by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd, who relocated the vehicle to the landslip-stricken Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in October 2011. In 2012, a Kenlowe fan was fitted on the No2 engine, and several stepboards replaced. 51363 saw much use operating the "northern section" of the temporarily divided railway, and was part of the celebrations after the railway of two halves was reconnected in October 2012. Gradually throughout 2015 the interior passenger saloons inside 51363 received a visual boost when the seating was fully reupholstered into authentic BR blue/green material. This work was completed in September 2015. 51363 was withdrawn from service for summer 2017, its place in the set taken by 51360, and entered the Carriage & Wagon workshops at Winchcombe in June where it received exterior repairs and a full repaint, retaining its BR Green with half yellow warning panel livery. Whilst being repainted, a great deal of interior refreshing and repainting work was also undertaken. It was returned to service in late August. In 2018 heavy maintenence work to normal partner 51405 led to 51363 running with 51360 for two seasons in an interesting hybrid livery formation that contained two brakevans. In early 2020 the return of 51405 meant the green 3-car set was reformed as normal. The same year saw 51363 receive modifications to make it wheelchair accessible (see "preservation modifications" section above for full details). August 2023 saw 51363 running once again in a reformed 3-car set with 59510 & 51360. |
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Future Plans |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 stabled at Toddington, 24/4/22. Chris Moxon |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 call at Gotherington, 6/11/21. Chris Kirton |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 examined and ready for test services along the railway, 19/7/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51360 (left) alonside W51365 stabled at Toddington, 12/7/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51363 in use as hauled stock, 26/5/18. Richard Moxon |
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W51363's brake van area, 10/3/18. Dave Henwood |
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W51363/W51405 arriving into Winchcombe, 26/7/15. Kevin Gale |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 depart Toddington on a Winchcombe service, 29/7/14. Neil Carr |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 cross Stanway Viaduct, 26/7/13. Nigel Gould |
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Corridor view of W51363, 26/7/13. Nigel Gould |
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Volunteers in front of W51363/W59510/W51405 & W55003 in a four car formation at Toddington for a reopening special to Cheltenham Racecourse, 30/10/12. Jack Boskett |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 & W55003 in a four car formation at Chicken Curve for a reopening special to Cheltenham Racecourse, 30/10/12. Jack Boskett |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 & W55003 in a four car formation at Toddington for a reopening special to Cheltenham Racecourse, 30/10/12. Jack Boskett |
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W51363/W59510/W51405 & W55003 in a four car formation arrive into Cheltenham Racecourse for a reopening special. This was the first time the Class 117 had reached this location, 30/10/12.Ian Butler |
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W51363 & W51405 arrive into Medstead & Four Marks whilst operating some of their final trains on the Mid Hants Railway, 22/9/11. Keith Duke |
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W51363 stabled at Alresford, 25/4/10. Clive Barker |
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W51363 stabled at Alresford, 22/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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W51363 & W51405 in service near Ropley, 13/5/05. Darren Harris |
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W51363/W51405 arriving onto Ropley shed, 23/5/04. David Beardmore |
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W51363 at Alresford sandwiched between W51405 (left) and W55003 (right), 29/6/03. Robert Frise |
Interior
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Modifications made to 51363's former non-smoking passenger saloon and brake compartment to make the vehicle more suitable for carrying wheelchair bound passengers. Some guards equipment including the food warmer and emergency equipment cupboard were moved (or removed) and the doorway between the guards area and passenger saloon widened. The original door was removed leaving an open doorway, 16/8/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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Modifications made to 51363's former non-smoking passenger saloon and brake compartment to make the vehicle more suitable for carrying wheelchair bound passengers. In the passenger saloon some seating was removed and other triple seats were swapped for doubles, resulting in a reduction of 8 to the seating capacity of the vehicle, balanced by the open area estimated to be suitable for carrying up to three wheelchairs, 16/8/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51363's main passenger saloon, 19/7/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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Passenger seating inside W51363, 10/3/18. Dave Henwood |
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Freshly reupholstered seating inside 51363, 12/9/15. GWSR Carriage & Wagon Blog |