51566 Class 108 Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway	Dean Forest Railway	Location History	Peak Rail Apr 93-Jun 08
Current Location	Dean Forest Railway		Dean Forest Railway Jun 08-Present
Current Status	Operational
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	59387 & 51914
Owner	Dean Forest DMU Group
Website	deanforestrailway.co.uk/dmugroup
Record Last Updated	13 January 2024
Preservation Modifications 12 first class seats have been removedfrom the front passenger saloon and replaced with 19 second class seats by the DFR, in a conversion very similar to the Regional Railways declassifications to Class 101's in the early 1990's. In 2008 the toilet fittings were removed and the area converted into a store. In 2012 a buffet counter was installed in the rear saloon with the vehicle's seating capacity reduced by 9 as a result. Overall the vehicle's seating capacity has reduced from 64 to 62.
Preservation Information 51566 was withdrawn in December 1992 and preserved the following year by Mike Hancocks. The veicle and moved to Peak Rail. The fleet consisted of four sets (three 2-cars and a 3-car) and 51566 was the DMCL in the 3-car set, along with DMBS 50933 and TSL 59387. It is believed that the 3-car set was the only set to run in passenger service at Peak Rail. In 2008, the Peak Rail fleet was quickly sold and disbanded, the three car set being purchased by the Dean Forest DMU Group. They sold 50933 but retained 51566 and unique 59387, 51566 moving to the Dean Forest Railway shortly after purchase. During 2008 the exhaust stacks and pipes were chemically cleaned and the roof vents blanked. The door locks were removed and renovated. The multiple unit jumpers were overhauled. Internally, all the internal seats were stripped out and all damaged ceiling and wall panels removed. The roof water tanks and the toilet were also removed as the DFR do not require these in service. In Autumn 2009 "rain caps" were fitted to the tops of the engine exhaust pipes to prevent water getting into the exhaust system. By April 2011, 51566 was mechanically refurbished enough for a non passenger test run to Parkend which was succesful. Later in the year the roof was stripped and repainted. During the summer a new cab front fabricated from aluminium (to replace the rotten steel example) was fitted to the vehicle, which reprtesented about half of the external bodywork restoration. During 2012, work on the interior restoration of 51566 progressed. Damaged lino in the cab and vestibule areas was replaced, and efforts to install a buffet (along with associated main electrical wiring and other facilities) were made. A lot of Formica panel repairs were also made. Restoration work on 51566 continued in 2013. Both engines were removed, cleaned, inspected, tested, any repairs made and finally refitted to the vehicle. An important repair was also made to the chassis after a crack was noticed, requiring a special strengthening plate to be designed and fitted. Bodywork was completed after steelwork repairs to the corridor end were completed in the spring and the aluminium bodysides cleaned and prepared for repainting. In 2013 the vehcile was completed and entered traffic, being narrowly beaten by Class 119 51073 as the Railcar of the Year for 2013. During 2015, 51566 ran with 59387 & 51914. It ran for over 1,300 miles over the year. During January 2016 the buffet area of 51566's interior was refurbished and repainted. In 2017, 51566 ran a total of 473 miles as part of a 3-car set, less than in previous years. In 2018, 51566 operated every DMU service with 50619, supplemented by 59387 as required, and ran a total of 1,099 miles. In 2019, 51566 again operated every DMU service with 50619, supplemented by 59387 as required, and ran a total of 1,142 miles. With 51914/56492 expected to re-enter service in 2020, 51566 was withdrawn from traffic at the end of 2019 for essential maintenance. It was however returned to service on a temporary basis during October 2020 to form a 3-car set with 51914/56492 which was required in order to provide additional capacity during the socially distenced times. The following year a replacement engine, radiator and bogie was fitted. 51566 returned to service in April 2021 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of DMU's on the Dean Forest Railway, formed with 59387 & 51914. In 2022, 51566 operated 226 miles, mainly in the 3-car set though there were also some interesting 6 car formations. Unfortunately 51566 had to sit part of the year out, due to teething issues with the replacement engne recently fitted. 2023 saw 51566 only used on four occasions with a modest 112 miles being run, however this was due to operating demand with the vehicle being available for traffic all year.
Future Plans To maintain in service.

	51566 (left) alongside 56492 at Norchard, 17/9/22. Darren JB

	51566 (left) alongside M56492 at parkend during the DMU Gala, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon

	51566/59387 rests at Norchard, 23/10/21. Darren JB

	51566 in an unusual formation with 56492 & 51914 making up a 3-car set at Norchard, 10/20. Alan Pace

	51566 & 50619 make a pleasing site passing under the recently instated bridge at St Marys Halt, 31/7/19. Alan Pace

	51566 is going nowhere in the snow at Norchard! 18/3/18. Chris Walker

	51566 leads the longest DMU formation on the Dean Forest Railway to date: a six car set all formed of Derby built vehicles, 17/9/16. Chris Walker

	51566/59387/51914 at Norchard, 7/3/15, Chris Walker

	51566/59387/51914 depart Parkend, 1/3/15, Chris Walker

	The full Dean Forest DMU fleet in all its glory: 51566/59387/50619 on the high level line near Norchard pass 56492/51914, 22/3/14. Stan Acaster

	51566/59387/50619 pass the visiting Class 150 at Parkend, 22/3/14.Chris Walker

	51566/59387/50619 pass the visiting Class 150 at Parkend, 22/3/14. David Slater

	A view of the cab end of M51566 with bodywork around the brand new front end progressing, 20/4/13. Chris Lings

	A view of the corridor end of M51566 after welding repairs had been completed, 20/4/13. Chris Lings

	One of M51566's engines removed to be cleaned, inspected, tested and any repairs made, 20/4/13. Chris Lings

	An important repair being made to the chassis after a crack was noticed, requiring a special strengthening plate to be designed and fitted, 15/4/13. Chris Lings

	An important repair being made to the chassis after a crack was noticed, requiring a special strengthening plate to be designed and fitted, 15/4/13. Chris Lings

	One of M51566's engines removed to be cleaned, inspected, tested and any repairs made, 15/4/13. Chris Lings

	M51566's new aluminium cab end now ready for dispatch to the DFR, 6/9/11. Chris Bull

	M51566's new aluminium cab end being fabricated in Yorkshire, 27/7/11. Chris Bull

	M51566's new aluminium cab end being fabricated in Yorkshire, 27/7/11. Chris Bull

	M51566's new aluminium cab end being fabricated in Yorkshire, 27/7/11. Chris Bull

	M51566 & E50619 make an interesting pair at Parkend, 6/4/11. Alan Pace

	The vehicle arriving at Lydney. The lorry took away 56495 to the Midland Railway Butterley, 9/6/08. Chris Bull

	The vehicle being unloaded at Lydney. The lorry took away 56495 to the Midland Railway Butterley, 9/6/08. Chris Bull

	51566 being unloaded at Lydney, 9/6/08. Dean Forest DMU Group

	51566 being unloaded at Lydney, 9/6/08. Dean Forest DMU Group

	51566 being shunted at Lydney, 9/6/08. Dean Forest DMU Group

	51566 at Rowsley South, 8/4/07. David Beardmore

	51566 stabled at Rowsley, 23/4/05. David Bellamy

	51566 in service at Rowslwy South, 19/9/04. Simon Edwards

	51566/53933 stabled at Rowsley South, 27/7/03. Nick Wilcock

	51566 outside the Peak Rail carriage shed, 10/6/02. Stuart Mackay

	51566 at Peak Rail. Ian Francis