51372 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Chasewater Railway May 94-09 |
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Current Location |
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Private Site: Titley Junction 09-Jul 17 |
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Current Status |
Stored (For Sale) |
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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Jul 17-Present |
Current Livery |
BR Blue (Full Yellow End) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
None |
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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 By 1995 the vehicle was in passenger service as a hauled coach painted in a non standard maroon & cream colour scheme. Being a relatively short line, the ability of 51372’s many doors to load and unload passengers very quickly was much appreciated by the railway. At some point in the early 2000's the vehicle was repainted into BR Blue with full yellow ends and continued to be used as a hauled vehicle. However the extending of the Chasewater Railway and introduction of run round loops meant that the requirement for 51372 was diminishing. In July 2003 the vehicle was put on display during the Annual Railcar Convention. Over the next five years 51372 continued to see occasional use in the line's passenger train as locomotive hauled coaching stock. Deemed surplus to requirements in 2009, 51372 was sold and moved onto a private site at Titley Junction where the station area was being brought back into use under the title “The Kingfisher Line”. The site was not normally open to the public except on selected open days and was essentially a private project. There appears to be no evidence that 51370 ever operated in passenger service at Titley Junction and after several years it was confirmed that 51372 was indeed out of use and in storage. 2017 saw 51372 sold to Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd and was moved to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway shortly afterwards, becoming the fifth Class 117 vehicle to arrive on the railway. Upon purchase, 51372 was assessed by its new owners with a view to deciding its future. Despite some loose plans for possible restoration as a third DMU set for the railway (unusually partnered with Class 107 52029) this option was eventually discounted when in 2021 it was officially announced that 51372 was a spares donor and would remain stored to provide parts for the operational Class 117 & 122 fleet as required. In 2023, as expected, 51372 was declared surplus to requirements and put up for sale. 51372 remains in storage at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway where it is for sale, but it has yet to attract a buyer. |
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Future Plans |
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W51372 out of traffic at Toddington, 24/4/22. Chris Moxon |
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W51372 in a long row of vehicles trapped at Toddington during the Covid 19 "lockdown" measures, 1/6/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51372 stored at Toddington, 24/3/18. Chris Walker |
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W51372 soon after being unloaded at Toddington following its recent sale and movement to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, 25/7/17. GWSR DMU Group |
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51372 stabled at Brownhills West, 15/6/08. David Beardmore |
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51372 stabled at Brownhills West, 22/7/07. Kevin Boyd |
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51372 in use as a hauled coach on the Chasewater Railway, 16/9/06. Richard Moxon |
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51372 in use as a hauled coach at Brownhills West, 16/9/06. Richard Moxon |
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51372 at Brownhills West, 15/5/04. |
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At Brownhills West with 59444 behind during the 2003 Railcar Convention, 12/7/03. Paul Moxon |
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At Brownhills West with 59444 behind during the 2003 Railcar Convention, 12/7/03. Steve Hodgson |
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With 59444 during the 2003 Railcar Convention, 12/7/03. Ian Francis |
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51372 stabled on the Chasewater Railway, 2/2/99. Stuart Mackay |
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Thought to be 51372, 1995. John Law |