51365 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Plym Valley Railway	Location History	Plym Valley Railway May 95-Present
Current Location	Plym Valley Railway
Current Status	Stored	Visited Railways	Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway Mar 11-Jan 12
Current Livery	BR Green (Half Yellow Panel)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	51407
Owner	Plym Valley Railway
Website	None
Record Last Updated	1 February 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51365 was withdrawn from mainline service in 1993 following minor damage sustained after a derailment. It had latterly worked as set T304 along with (preservation partner) 51407. It was latterly moved to Plymouth Laira depot. In 1995 the set was purchased by the Plym Valley Railway who quickly repaired the derailment damage. 51365 was successfully started soon after arrival. The bodywork was rubbed down, with some corrosion being cut out and filled, and the unit repainted back into green livery, with speed whiskers. Internally some water damaged panelling was replaced in the guards compartment and the interior given a deep clean. The fuel pumps on the engines were also overhauled. The set then operated both under its own power and as hauled coaching stock at the railway, the latter method of operation becoming a necessity following the banning of the Halon fire extinguishing system. In May 2011 the set, along with several other vehicles from around the UK, was put on loan to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway to operate their northern section, severed from the remaining line following a landslip. However mechcnical issues meant 51365/51407 saw little use and the set was returned to the Plym Valley shortly afterwards. In 2014 with mounting bodywork issues 51365 was withdrawn from traffic for restoration work. The vehicle spent time in the shed where body repairs and a repaint were undertaken. However restoration work later fizzled out and the vehicle was put into storage. A long period of storage followed and 51365 is currently awaiting time and resources for the overhaul to continue.
Future Plans The railway have a defined plan of how to carefully use its limited resources across the whole fleet with the best interests of the railway in mind. 51365 does feature in that plan as the view from the front is deemed desirable, but it is some way down the queue behind stabalisation of the loco hauled rake of coaches and keeping their Class 101 in operating condition. It is hoped 51365 will take its turn for overhaul and be returned to service, after which it will be able to operate both as a loco hauled propelling vehicle (complete with observation saloon style view of the line ahead) as well as under its own power, in multiple with one or both Class 101 cars.

	51365 stored at Marsh Mills, some years after its restoration had been abandoned, 1/7/23. Sam Ryder

	51365 running on a successful test run part way through its restoration, 17/8/17. Plym Valley Railway

	51365 inside the Marsh Mills restoration shed where its bodywork overhaul and repaint is progressing, 2/7/14. Aaron Cook

	51365/51407 stabled at Toddington whilst on loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, 30/4/11. Bill Pugsley

	Sporting plain BR Green livery and with whiskers yet to be applied, 51365/51407 are being propelled out of Marsh Mills by an industrial loco, 19/8/01. David McGuire

	51365/51407 stand at a very sparse Marsh Mills station, during the 1990's in the early days of the reconstruction of the railway. The set is still in as-arrived condition complete with BR Blue & Grey livery. Plym Valley Railway Collection