51909 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Private Site: MOD Long Marston Mar 94-Nov 11 |
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Current Location |
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Midsomer Norton Nov 11-Oct 13 |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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East Somerset Railway Oct 13-Present |
Current Livery |
BR Blue (Half Yellow Panel) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 April 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information This service did not immediately materialise, in the mean time 51909 was stored with much of the railway’s other reserved stock at the Ministry of Defence’s Long Marston site. When a DMU service was finally introduced in 2008, 51909 & 56271 were found to be in poor condition, so a Class 107 set was hired to fulfil the role instead, 51909 therefore continued to be stored at Long Marston with an uncertain future. However 2011 saw a surprise revival for the vehicle, in the form of a long term loan agreement with the growing Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust, who were seeking a DMU to provide passenger trains at their expanding railway at Midsomer Norton. 51909 saw rapid restoration progress both before and after the move in November 2011, with the tired graffiti stricken livery replaced by green primer along with repairs to the cab. By December the vehicle was moving under its own power and was in use for driver training and Santa Specials. In 2012 & 2013, 51909 & 56271 were operating the passenger services at Midsomer Norton. In May 2013, 51909's primer was finally coated with BR green gloss complimented by a (non authentic) white bodyside stripe. The chassis was also repainted black and the bufferbeams red. September 2013 saw the vehicle sold and moved to the East Somserset Railway, where overhaul work was quickly started. 51909's middle saloon seats were reconfigured to include facing seating "bays". Tables were also fitted. In 2014, 51909 received a full mechanical exam and undertook its first test runs on the ESR in January, with interior work including the repainting of the seat frames. In April, the vehicle operated its first passenger services on the line, and continued to operate on several weekends. However in September restoration work restarted with the two passenger saloons being stripped out before the heater ducting was restored, bulkheads repainted, new lino fitted and perhaps most significantly, the corridor end was fully rebuilt with new metal replacing severe corrosion and a new refurbished gangway fitted. At the end of the 2019 running season 51909 was withdrawn for the long awaited contract bodywork and repainting. The group spent the winter dismantling the cab fittings and doing as much preparation work as possible on the vehicle, after which in March 2020 it was moved undercover for rapid metal replacement. This was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which put the schedule out to later in the year, nevertheless the work was completed by the August when the vehicle was outshopped in BR early blue with half yellow panel to match partner 56271 (which had already been treated 12 months earlier). The remainder of the year was spent "replumbing" all the cab electrics and fittings which had to be disturbed during the work - this was not at the expense of any running days as the railway was shut that year in any case. In November 2023, 51909 was taken back into the shed to repaint the end and one side following a failure of the original paint. This was done rapidly and the vehicle returned one month later. 51909 & 56271 continue to regularly operate services at the East Somerset Railway. |
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Future Plans |
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51909/56271 at Cranmore working a Branch Line Society charter around as much unusual track on the site as possible, 22/3/24. Jason Smith |
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51909 inside the shed having failed paintwork on one side and one end rectified, 15/11/23. The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909/56271 stabled at Cranmore, 15/8/21. Keith Vincer |
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Newly painted 51909 (right) coupled cab-to-cab with partner 56271 for a change, during works to "replumb" the control gear back into 51909, 13/8/20.The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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A corridor end view of the completed 51909, 4/8/20.The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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With the Covid-19 lockdown relaxed for workers, contract restoration on 51909 has continued, the vehicle now up to undercoat, 3/7/20. The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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In just a few weeks, 51909's newcab front was essentially fitted, 20/3/20. The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909 stipped of components and ready to head undercover for contract bodywork and repainting, 2/3/20. The Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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A particularly fine view of 51909 in service with a recently repainted 56271. 51909 is due for the same treatment in 2020. Paul Weston |
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51909/56271 at journey's end, 17/10/18. Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909/56271 in service on the East Somerset Railway, 18/6/17. Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909, separated from its partner between running days, at Cranmore, 4/9/16. Chris Moxon |
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51909/56271 stabled at Cranmore, 14/3/15. Ian Stoate |
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51909 with its corridor connection removed to allow steelwork repairs to be made, 3/10/14. Tom Bailey |
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51909/56271, undergoing final test runs on the East Somserset Railway, 16/4/14. Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909, on an inspection pit for the first time in many years, being examined for a return to service on the East Somserset Railway, 14/1/14. Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |
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51909, now at the East Somerset Railway, 22/12/13. Nigel Gould |
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51909 & 56271 stabled at Midsomer Norton, 29/9/12. Daniel Deacon |
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51909 having received some green primer and restoration work, 4/9/11. Tony Tranter |
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51909 in storage at Long Marston, 7/6/08. Chris Moxon |
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51909 in storage at Long Marston, 9/6/07. Simon Edwards |
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51909 in storage at Long Marston, 3/9/06. Simon Edwards |
Interior
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Rearranged seating and new tables fitted to the middle saloon, 17/11/13.Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group |