51485 Class 105 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
West Somerset RailwayApr 82-Feb 97 |
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Current Location |
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East Lancashire Railway Feb 97-Present |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Plain End) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Private |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 January 2022 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Until the end of 1983 the set ran in BR blue, but was then painted a non standard light green with full yellow ends. In 1990, 51485 was repainted into BR Green sporting a strange (smaller) half yellow panel. In the early 1990's, all of the first generation DMU’s on the WSR were taken out of service because of asbestos content. 51485 was viewed as one of the vehicles the railway did not wish to retain, and the railway decided to standardise on DMU types; choosing to replace the DMUs with a fleet of 115/117 suburban vehicles. Whilst on the WSR, 51485 & 56121 ran over 200,000 miles in traffic. Luckily, as 51485 & 56121were the only complete Class 105 set in preservation, they were purchased by the East Lancashire Railway in 1997 and were moved and stripped of asbestos shortly after. Sadly, asbestos stripping leaves vehicles as empty shells, and 51485 was no exception. A full rebuild to top standards was considered as the only way forward, appropriate given the set's historical significance. By 2012 the exterior welding work was 90% complete, with only a small area around the guards comparment and the cab front remining to be renewed. The cab front had been delayed slightly while the group made arrangements for the original two character headcode box to be manufactured. On the interior, a major setback had been discovered in the form of the guards van floor, which unexpectedly was found to be completely beyond repair. Its complete removal also revealed accident damage to the dragbox (unusual for a corridor end of a vehicle) which required further work. However progress elswhere had been healthy with Formica being returned to the interior, brand new heater ducting and the cab almost complete. By 2013 the cab metalwork was complete and all but the brake-van doors had all been removed, fully rebuilt and refitted. The vehicle was nearly watertight as several windows had also been reinstalled. The collision damage to the rear end of the vehicle (which added 12 months to the project) had been completed and a new floor welded into the guards van. Interior restoration had progressed in the guards area with new panels and a ceiling installed. Further bodywork progressed throughtout 2014-2016 and by the end of 2016 the vehicle was externally completed. 2017 was to prove the year that was the final push for the restoration. During January the lights were refitted and seats laid out for fitting. In March there was a week long working party which saw many of the seats fitted, most of the undeframe components picked out in the correct shades of paint, and the vehicle exterior lined out. In April the signwrighting was undertaken with all the vehicle's numbering and lettering applied. With all details and transfers applied, the final varnishing was completed in May. A second 5-day "working blitz" was also completed in May, during which mechanical components were concentrated on, the result being the vehicle moved forwards and backwards for the first time in many years. The heaters were also fitted. June and July saw a return to the interior with the unfinished brake van area being tidied and repainted. During September 51485 was coupled to partner 56121 properly (i.e. with all connections) for the first time in two decades. The steel floor of the brakevan was also painted and new hard "concrete like" floor compound mixed up and applied. After curing, this was in turn painted the following month.The vehicle's batteries were also repalced as they were life expired. On 20th October 2017, it was the moment of truth for the Class 105 set restoration when the two cars made a successful test run from Bury down the "main line" to Heywood and back. The set was relaunched into service following the conclusion of its 21 year major restoration on Saturday 4th November 2017. 51485/56121 now operate as the railway's flagship DMU set. |
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Future Plans |
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Sc51485/E56121 crossing the river Irwell on a Remembrance themed service, 14/11/21. Keith Valla |
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Sc51485/E56121 at Bury forming the 2J69 16:25 Heywood-Rawtenstall during the DMU event, 9/11/19. Chris Moxon |
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Sc51485 near Irwell Vale, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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Sc51485 calls at Burrs Country Park, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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Sc51485 at Ramsbottom on its first every passenger service following its 21 year restoration, 4/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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Sc51485 glowing in the sunshine at Bury during shunting, 8/9/17. Kevin Dowd |
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Signwriting gives Sc51485 it's full original identity at last! 4/4/17. Kevin Dowd |
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51485/56121 inside Buckley Wells shed with exterior bodywork and repainting now completed, 5/3/17. Bury Unit Team |
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51485 seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. The vehicle still requires some door repairs and bodywork to complete the exterior. With the trailer car in an advanced state, the main focus of restoration work is now on 51485 and getting the vehicle watertight is now close, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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Corridor end view of 51485 seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. The vehicle still requires some door repairs and bodywork to complete the exterior. With the trailer car in an advanced state, the main focus of restoration work is now on 51485 and getting the vehicle watertight is now close, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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51485 under restoration in Buckley Wells shed. The exterior welding is now 90% complete, with only a small area around the guards comparment and the cab front remining to be renewed. The cab front has been delayed slightly while the group made arrangements for the original two character headcode box to be manufactured. It will be from the same company who have produced the mechanism for Class 100 DTCL 56097 (another rare Ex West Somerset DMU undergoing complete rebuild!), 19/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485 under restoration in Buckley Wells shed. The exterior welding is now 90% complete, with only a small area around the guards comparment and the cab front remining to be renewed, 19/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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View of the cab (secondman's side) which is currently stripped for welding repairs, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the cab (driver's side) which is currently stripped for welding repairs, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the rear of the vehicle around the brakevan area, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the rear of the vehicle around the brakevan area, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the rare AEC engine fitted to 51485, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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51485 in store at Castlecroft, 25/5/98. Andy Cole |
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At Minehead with an interesting interpretation of a small yellow panel! 1990. Robert Chilton Collection |
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51485/56121 in Minehead station, Jul 90. Ian Francis |
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51485/56182 leads 56097/51118 into Williton, 23/8/87.David McGuire |
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Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway, and 51485 & 56121 await departure, 8/6/86. David Underwood |
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51485 & 56121 in service at Bishop's Lydeard, 2/9/85. Michael Wadman |
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51485 & 56121 in service at Williton, 1984. Michael Wadman |
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51485 & 56121 stand at Bishop's Lydeard during the 1980's. Brian King |
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51485 & 56121 seen stabled at Minehead whilst 56168 & 50414 arrive on a passenger service during the 1980's. Brian King |
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51485, 56121, 56168 & 50414 stand at Bishop's Lydeard during the 1980's. Brian King |
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51485 & 56121 at Bishop's Lydeard. Phil Trotter |
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51485/54121 arrive into Williton bound for Minehead, 4/4/83. Bill Pugsley |
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51485/54121, still in patchy BR Blue livery, in service at Bishop's Lydeard, 1983. Michael Wadman |
Interior
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Making history: Sc51485's first passengers following restoration, shortly after departing Bury on the 09:00 departure, 4/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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Painted steel brakevan floor, 12/9/17. Bury Unit Team |
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Repainted walls and cage doors, 9/7/17. Bury Unit Team |
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51485's driving desk, seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. The cab is now 90% completed internally with just a few finishing touches such as lino and seat to install, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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51485's secondmans desk, seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. The cab is now 90% completed internally with just a few finishing touches such as lino and seat to install, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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51485's front saloon, seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. Heater ducting repairs are now complete and the upper panels installed. Only lower panels, lino, seating and finishing touches are now required to complete this area, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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51485's middle saloon, seen at Bury on public display for the first time in over 10 years. Heater ducting repairs are now complete and the upper panels installed. Only lower panels, lino, seating and finishing touches are now required to complete this area, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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51485's cab desk, now virtually completed, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485's front saloon. The ceilings are completed, and insulation has been fitted. The upper panels of Formica, which required some attention as they were badly warped, have also been refitted, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485's middle saloon. The ceilings are completed, and insulation has been fitted. New stepboards for the vehicle can be seen on the right, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485's middle saloon. This is a view of the brand new heater ducting, which is an unusual design running under the floor on a Class 105. The originals had corroded, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485's guards van, which is currently a sobering sight. 2012 had seen a major setback discovered in the form of the guards van floor, which unexpectedly was found to be completely beyond repair. Its complete removal also revealed accident damage to the dragbox (unusual for a corridor end of a vehicle) which will require further work. However good progress has been made removing the inferior floor, the area now ready for the renewed material and repairs to the dragbox, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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51485's drivers cab under restoration, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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51485's front saloon under restoration, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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51485's middle saloon under restoration, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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51485's guards van under restoration, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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Specially made "Cravens Limited" plates, these go in the doorways, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |