51434 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Composite
Home Railway |
Location History |
Swindon & Cricklade Railway Dec 96-Jun 02 |
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Current Location |
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Mid Norfolk Railway Jun 02-Present |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue & Grey |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Matthew Smith Class 101 Fund |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
13 January 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications Internally, disabled access has been improved in the vehicle by removing all of the (wider) triple seats in the second class saloon, and replacing them with two-seaters. First class seats have been installed in the front saloon, replacing the previous second class accommodation, in a fashion mimicing 53155 in the late 1980's. The combination of these changes has resulted in the seating capacity of the vehicle being reduced from 52 to 36 (12 first and 24 second). The partition between the guards van and the passenger saloons has been widened to take wheelchairs easily. |
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Preservation Information The power twin set was later joined by 59117 becoming the first Class 101 3-car set in preservation. The trailer cars remained rare and even with over 40 Class 101 vehicles now in preservation, there are only three 3-car sets. In 2001 the vehicle was repainted into Blue & Grey livery. Tragically in 2002, Matthew Smith lost his battle with cancer and 51434 was transferred to the “Matthew Smith Class 101 Fund”. 51434 was named after him and the exterior of the guards van carries a suitable nameplate. The set was moved to the Mid Norfolk Railway in 2002 where it saw an extraordinary amount of use for the rest of that decade, at times working 90% of the railways services. After the introduction into traffic of the MNR's own Class 101 set in 2008/2009, the workload was reduced on 51434 and the vehicle was withdrawn for some much needed maintenance. The vehicle was kept operational during the repairs until mid 2011 when the requirement to undertake heavier work resulted in a withdrawal from service. The brakevan was stripped away revealing major damage sustained in a collision at Reading in BR days, which had left both the bodyside and its framework badly out of alignment. During 2012 limited work was undertaken to the secondman's side of the guards van, due to the poor summer weather! (the lack of undercover accommodation at the MNR resulted in this welding work having to be undertaken outside). The roof and cab end (including windows) were however resealed during this period. In 2013 the welding work was completed on the guards van, which was once again watertight after the windows had been refitted. The vehicle was made operational again and could operate services with 59117 & 51503. However 51434 was locked out of use due to seating, panelling and ceiling repairs still being required to the interior. Although nominally operational, no services were operated during 2014 as 51434's bodywork continued to progress. The No2 side was completed during the year and a first coat of sealing paint applied. In 2015, the No1 side was also progressed with all windows out, body repairs completed and the vehcile made watertight once more. The guttering was also removed and returned to its original configuration. Work on the higher parts of the body was greatly assisted in the spring when the vehicle was shunted into the loading dock at Dereham, which allowed more easier restoration at platform height of the No1 side to be undertaken. 51434 briefly returned to service for a bus event in April 2016, albeit with the interior locked out of use. The restoration of the interior continued apace during the next few years. With the Mid Norfolk's own Class 101 51226/51499 becoming ever more tired and requiring overhaul work, 51434 was reintroduced into traffic, albeit before the planned full repaint could be undertaken, for the 2019 season with 51503in a 2-car formation. By then, the MNR had been making more and more use of steam hauled services, so the DMU service requirement was not as great as before. Nevertheless a good number of low season services were operated alongside supporting services during the summer. The Covid pandemic halted all operations in 2020 and 51434 was withdrawn from service and stored. The Mid Norfolk were slower than many other railways to reopen and despite the best efforts of members of the owning group 51434 did not return to service when operations restarted, with the recently arrived Class 142 set operating off-peak services instead. 51434 has been out of service ever since. Some limited work has been undertaken on the vehicle at selected times and it is believed to still be in mechanically sound condition, however the vehicle remains stored in the yard at Dereham. |
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Future Plans |
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A somewhat forlorn looking 51434 stored in the sidings at Dereham, 2/12/23. Chris Moxon |
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51434 stabled in the bay at Dereham. The railway was shut due to Covid-19, 19/9/20. Peter Singlehurst |
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51434/51503 working the 15:45 Wymondham Abbey-Dereham through the private station at Hardingham. The set was deputising for steam loco 75006 due to a lack of crew, 26/8/19. Chris Moxon |
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51434 at Dereham whilst interior reassembly continues, 28/8/17. Chris Moxon |
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51434's restoration continues in the bay at Dereham, 5/1/16. Chris Moxon |
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51434 sporting a recentl;y repainted yellow front, 13/9/15. Richard Moxon |
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51434 on static display during the Multiple Matters gala, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon |
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Primer applied to 51434 at Dereham, 10/8/14. Richard Moxon |
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51434 showing the area being repaired, 29/3/13. GT47581 |
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51434 undergoing repairs in the bay at Dereham, 17/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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51434 undergoing repairs in the bay at Dereham, 3/7/11. Chris Moxon |
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51434 undergoing repairs in the bay at Dereham, 3/7/11. Chris Moxon |
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Possibly its last passenger use before bodywork repairs, 51434 is dragged during an MNR gala weekend, 14/5/11. Andy Neil |
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51434 & 59117 out of service at Dereham, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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51434 out of service at Dereham, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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A view of 51434's name at Dereham, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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At Dereham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, awaiting departure for Wymondham, 2/8/07. Daniel Adkins |
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51434, 59117 & 51503 at Dereham, 17/3/06. David Beardmore |
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51434/59117/51503 stabled at Dereham, 12/3/05. Stephen Hughes |
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51434 & 51503 at Wymondham, June 2003. Chris Boon |
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51434 on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, undergoing a repaint into Blue & Grey, 1/12/01. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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The middle saloon, stripped out for ceiling/roof repairs, 17/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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The guards van, stripped out for collision repairs, 17/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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View of the cab controls, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The cab, secondmans side, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The front saloon, note the first class seating in what would have been a second class saloon, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The middle saloon, note the 2+2 seating in what would have been a 2+3 saloon, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The guards van, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The guards van, note the modified doorway intio the passenger saloon which allows wheelchair access, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |