51401 Class 117 Driving Motor Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Nene Valley Railway Apr 97-Mar 09 |
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Current Location |
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Gwili Railway Mar 09-Present |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Welsh Railway Trust |
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Website |
None |
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Record Last Updated |
1 February 2022 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information In 1999, the vehicle was joined by TCL 59508 returning the set to a historically accurate 3-car formation. During the 2000’s, the set was the primary operating DMU on the Nene Valley, operating many low season services. In 2009, the Nene Valley decided to replace the set with a Class 107 instead, and 51401 was sold to the Llanelli & District Railway Society, whose own Class 116/117 fleet had been lost to arsonists. The vehicle moved to the society’s new base at the Gwili Railway. After arriving at the Gwili Railway, the railway's drivers were trained on its operation within a month and 51401 entered service quickly. In 2013, 51401 was repainted into BR Green livery to better reflect the era which the railway sought to portray. For ten years 51401 operated regularly as part of the railway’s main 3-car operating set seeing use during the summer as well as during a range of special events. It oprated both under its own power and as hauled stock with the number of doors being particularly welcome for quick loading/unloading at Thomas events. By 2019 51401 had developed faults on both of its gearboxes. It was decided to take the vehicle out of traffic. At this point its owners agreed to transfer the whole 3-car set to the Welsh Railway Trust who would be better placed to undertake the repairs on the vehicle. 51401 is currently stored awaiting overhaul work to its gearboxes to allow a return to traffic. |
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Future Plans |
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W51401/W51347 stabled at Bronwydd Arms. W59508 is out of the set and stabled behind, is it out of use? 24/7/20. Peter Dickinson |
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Seeing in the New Year are W51401/W59508/W51347, 1/1/19. Neil Bunt |
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W51401/W51347 in service, 10/10/15. Chris Walker |
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A corridor end view of W51401, 25/4/15. Geoff Clark |
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W51401 stabled at the Gwili, 30/10/12. Chris Walker |
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W51401 stabled at the Gwili, 30/10/12. Chris Walker |
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W51401 at Llwyfan Cerrig after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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W51401 at Llwyfan Cerrig after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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Cab view of W51401 at Llwyfan Cerrig after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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W51401 at Llwyfan Cerrig after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |
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51401 creates its own cloud as it leaves Peterborough, 6/10/07. John Law |
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51401, 59508 & 51347 in service, 3/3/07. Simon Edwards |
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51401, 59508 & 51347 in service at Orton Mere, 7/10/06. Simon Edwards |
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51401 stabled on the Nene Valley Railway, 1/12/01. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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A view of W51401's front saloon shortly after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips |