51392 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway

Swanage Railway

Location History

Private Site: Winfrith 04-Mar 07

Current Location

Swanage Railway

 

Weardale Railway Mar 07-Nov 09

Current Status

Stored

 

Private Site: Allelys Heavy Haulage Nov 09-Dec 14

Current Livery

Network SouthEast

 

Swanage Railway Dec 14-Present

TRA Designation

5

 

 

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

Visited Railways

Eastleigh Works Feb 15-Feb 20

Owner

 

 

 

Website

swanagerailway.co.uk

   

Record Last Updated

22 September 2023

   

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
Latterly seeing service around London as 2-car set 117701, 51392 was stored for many years before preservation in 2004.

The vehicle was purchased by Dorset County Council who wished to obtain three 3-car Class 117 sets for a proposed community rail link between Swanage and Wareham. 51392 was joined by two other vehicles from different sets, TCL 59492 from 117313 and DMBS 51356 from set 117702.

In 2004 the 3-car unit was moved to a private site in Dorset where all nine of the Class 117 vehicles were being stored in readiness for the Swanage Railway's Wareham extension to bear fruit.

However in 2007 the site had to be cleared with one set relocating to the Weardale Railway and the other two to the Midland Railway Butterley, all for storage. 51356, 59492 & 51392 was the set moved to the former location in March 2007.

51392 remained in store, with no work being undertaken on the vehicle. After many years out of use, the vehicle had deteriorated in condition.

In 2009, the whole set was moved to Allelys yard in Warwickshire, for continued storage.

By 2011 it was understood that Dorset County Council would no longer be proceeding with the plan to operate the nine Class 117 vehicles, and the six other vehicles were sold. However, 51392 was not disposed of and remained in store.

In December 2014, 51392 was moved to the Swanage Railway for spares recovery, moving to Eastleigh works in February 2015 for the same purpose where it assisted with the mainline regestration of DMS 51388. It wasn't expected that 51392 would return from Eastleigh, however upon the completion of the project to restore a 3-car set to mainline standards in 2020, 51392 was tripped back to Swanage along wirth the considerably better looking overhaulled set.

51392 is now stored at the Swanage Railway where it continues to be used as a source of spare parts.

Future Plans
It is expected that 51392 will continue to provide parts before being disposed of.

 

A poor image of the now derelict 51392 stored in the sidings outside Norden on the section of line that links with the mainline at Worgret Junction. The area is completely inaccessible other than to Swanage Railway volunteers, with record images such as these only possible through the glass of passing trains! 20/5/23. Chris Moxon

   

A "drone view" of 51392 in storage, 6/5/22. Darren JB

   

A corridor end view of 51392 at Eastleigh Works, being prepared for a return to Swanage, 3/2/20. Carl Watson

   

51392 lingers outside Eastleigh Works, 18/10/19. Carl Watson

   

51346 & 51392 at Eastleighh, both spare parts donors and now in a poor condition, 11/9/18. Robert Harwin

   

51392 outside at Eastleigh being stripped of parts for the Swanage mainline 117 project, 24/3/17. Carl Watson

   

51392 outside at Eastleigh being stripped of parts for the Swanage mainline 117 project, 24/3/17. Carl Watson

   

51392 inside the shed at Eastleigh being stripped of parts for the Swanage mainline 117 project, 3/3/15. Carl Watson

   

51392 at Swanage for component recovery, 12/14.Keith Mitchell