51677 Class 115 Driving Motor Brake Second (Scrapped)

Last Location

Private Site: Kingsbury

Location History

Lavender Line Feb 93-May 98

Current Status

Scrapped at EMR (Kingsbury) October 2016

 

Epping & Ongar Railway May 98-Jun 03

Last Livery

BR Green (Half Yellow Panel)

 

Barry Island RailwayJun 03-11

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

 

Private Site: Kingsbury (Storage) 11-Oct 16

Record Last Updated

20 June 2020

   

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
51677 was preserved with partner 51655 at the Lavender Line in 1993 following withdrawal from Network SouthEast.

Little is known about the vehicle whilst at the Lavender Line however the set was reportedly available for driver experience courses in 1996, so the set was known to be operational at that point.

Around May1998 the set was sold and relocated to the Epping & Ongar Railway. Again reports on 51677 whilst there are vague.

There was a plan in 2000 for the vehicle to be moved to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre with partner 51655, and a single unit created out of the two vehicles, by cutting the cab from one and attaching it to the brake end of the other. The remains of the cabless vehicle were to provide spares. The plan was not taken forward however.

In 2003 the vehicle changed hands again, purchased by Carl Hookings who wished to restore and operate the unit at the Barry Island Railway. Much restoration work was completed and the vehicle was repainted into BR Green.

In May 2004 the vehicle made its passenger debut at Barry, as a 3-car set with (newly acquired for the purpose) TCL 59664 and DMBS 51655.

2004-2008 saw the set operating services on the Barry Island Railway.

In 2008, the lease on the Barry Island Railway was terminated, and the DMU fleet of three sets was disbanded. The whole 3-car set was put up for sale, but although the rest of the set found new homes, there were sadly no takers for 51677.

By February 2011, with no forthcoming sale, 51677 was sold to scrap merchants EMR and moved to their Kingsbury site that year. However, the company decided not to immediately cut up the vehicle as it was in far from scrap condition.

A period of time for sale followed, but with no takers 51677 was stripped of many of its parts in 2015 and its condition rapidly became derelict. In October 2016 the scrapyard required a lot more room after winning a large contract to dismantle ex-Eurostar electric sets, so the remains of 51677 were cut up to provide space. 51677 was not regarded as historically important, as at the time of its demise eight identical vehicles remained in preservation.

 

The front of 51677 after a period at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard, 19/5/15. Ian Heighway

   

51677 after a period at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard, 19/5/15. Ian Heighway

   

51677 during stripping at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard, 2/15.David Smith

   

51677 in store at Barry Island for sale, 17/3/11. Alfred Roberts

   

51677, 59664 & 51655 stabled at Barry, 11/6/05. Simon Edwards

   

51677 part way through a repaint at Barry shed, 12/6/04. Simon Edwards

   

51677, part way through repairs & repaint at Barry shed, 23/11/03. Stuart Mackay

 

Interior

 

A view of the well stripped cab of 51677 after a period at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard, 19/5/15. Ian Heighway

   

A view of the well stripped cab of 51677 after a period at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard, 19/5/15. Ian Heighway

   

In contrast, the passenger saloon of 51677 after a period at EMR Kingsbury's scrapyard is seen to be remarkably intact, 19/5/15. Ian Heighway