51914 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Dean Forest Railway Mar 94-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Half Yellow Panel) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Dean Forest DMU Group |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
13 January 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Within days of the arrival of the vehicle in 1994, a challenge was made to restore it to working order, and within 3 weeks parts were being sourced from railway scrap yards. In 1997 work included restoration of the front saloon panels, with original blinds and luggage racks being refitted, the ceiling repainted and aluminium cleaned. the removal of paint in the cab exposed the original formica and hardwood surfaces. the "hydraulicked" engine had the injectors undone and was barred over which appeared to clear the problem. After over five years work, the vehicle was launched into traffic in October 1999. It had been repainted into Green during May that year. In Spring 2001, the guards compartment was refurbished and a wider access to the passenger saloon was created with an additional opening door in the bulkhead, this was to allow wheelchair access to the saloon. A seat was removed to give a suitable area in the saloon. In August 2002, tthe roof was stripped down and repainted. The summer of 1996 saw the vehicle repainted again. In 2003, the Halon engine fire system was removed, and later replaced (in 2005) by a dry powder installation following approval. In Autumn 2009 "rain caps" were fitted to the tops of the engine exhaust pipes. Replacement exhausters and a new gearbox oil seal were also fitted. In September 2010 the vehicle's tyres were turned. During 2015, 51914 mainly ran with 59387 & 51566 and accumulated over 1,200 miles in service. In September, 51914 was withdrawn from traffic and the cab and front saloon stripped out internally to allow the cab front to be replaced. After interior dismantling it was soon found that the partition between the cab and the passenger saloon needed replacement as this had rotted. However the cab front itself and framework was found to be in better condition than the group's 2014 cab project (50619), mainly due to the fact that a lot of work had already been done to 51914 back in 1999. However the summer of 2016 revealed further problems in the passenger compartment behind the cab, which delayed the rebuilding work. A huge effort was made and the vehicle returned to service, repainted (minus some fittings) in time to muster a full fleet of 5 cars for the Railcar Convention event which was being held at the railway during September that year. Following the event 51914 was brought back into works for the finishing touches to be made. These lasted longer than anticipated and during 2017, 2018 and 2019 the vehicle didn't operate any passenger services. A concerted effort was made during the first half of 2020 to finish the outstanding work on 51914. It reentered service, for a time paired with 56492, in the latter half of 2020. For 2021, it returned to the 3-car set. In 2022, 51914 operated 252 miles, mainly in the 3-car set though there were also some interesting 4 & 6 car formations. 2023 was an unusual year in that 51914 was available for traffic but not actually required to run in service at all. |
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Future Plans |
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M51914/59387/M51566 at Lydney Junction during the DMU Gala, 24/4/22. Alan Pace |
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M51914/59387/M51566 at Lydney Junction during the DMU Gala, 23/4/22. Chris Moxon |
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51914/56492 in service at Lydney, 23/10/21. Darren JB |
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A typical "Dean Forest" view of 51914/56492 running through the forest, 26/5/21. Dan Winter |
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51914/56492 on their first day back in regular passenger service, seen at parkend, 5/8/20. Alan Pace |
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51914/56492 departing Lydney Junction with a crew refresher service, just prior to the railway reopeneing to passengers after the Covid-19 lockdown, 15/7/20. Chris Walker |
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51914 receiving work at Norchard, 18/2/20. Nigel Benning |
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51914 at norchard, 18/9/19. Nigel Benning |
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51914 after the new cab front panelwork had been fitted, and the front re-glazed, 2/4/16. Chris Walker |
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51914 after the new cab front sheeting had been attached, 3/1/16. Chris Bull |
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The cab now down to framework, 9/10/15. Chris Bull |
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Work starts on stripping off the rotten panelwork from the cab, 8/10/15. Chris Bull |
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The cab dome removed, 8/10/15. Chris Bull |
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The new cab front for 51914, 23/9/15. Chris Bull |
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A different shot of 51914/59387/51566 departing Parkend, 1/3/15. Chris Wallker |
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51914 leads a four car set north of Norchard, 16/6/12. Chris Walker |
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51914 tails a four car set at Lydney town, 16/6/12. Chris Walker |
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51914 & 59387 on the left at Lydney Junction, with 2-car set 50619 & 56492 on the right during Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 16/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 at Parkend on Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 16/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 at Lydney Junction on Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 16/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 on a test run the day before Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 15/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 deep in the Forest of Dean on a test run the day before Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 15/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 stop at the recently rebuilt Whitecroft station on a test run the day before Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 15/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914, 59387, 50619 & 56492 stop at the recently rebuilt Whitecroft station on a test run the day before Railcar Day, the debut into traffic of 59387, 15/6/12. Alan Pace |
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51914 at Norchard, 13/3/10. Dean Forest DMU Group |
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Covered in ice from a severe overnight frost the Dean Forest Railway's 51914 awaits departure to Parkend. The DMU was a replacement for the steam locomotive which could not run due to "Severe Weather Conditions", 28/12/09. Griffin-Images |
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51914 in service with 56492 at Lydney, 27/9/08. Roger Budd |
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51914 at Lydney Junction, 3/9/07. Dean Forest DMU Group |
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51914 in the forest.Dean Forest DMU Group |
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51914 stabled at Norchard, 26/6/04. Simon Edwards |
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51914 & 56492 are the first over Tufts, 12/10/03.Dean Forest DMU Group |
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51914 at Whitecroft, 14/12/03. Dean Forest DMU Group |
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51914 on the Dean Forest Railway, just after it was repainted from it's 'Blobby' livery, 17/7/99 Stuart Mackay |
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51914 under restoration at Norchard carrying what became known as its "Mr Blobby" livery. Brian Battersby |
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51914 during its early years on the line.FreeFoto |
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51914 being extracted from Bletchley depot, bound fot preservation, 1/3/94. Dean Forest DMU Group |
Interior
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New partitioning being produced, 27/2/16. Chris Bull |
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The cab controls being stripped out! 31/12/15. Chris Bull |
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Scenes of devastation in the front saloon! 11/10/15. Chris Bull |
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The midde saloon of 51914 during stripping out for a new cab front to be fitted, 12/9/15. Chris Bull |
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The front saloon of 51914 during stripping out for a new cab front to be fitted, 12/9/15. Chris Bull |
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The cab interior of 51914 during stripping out for a new cab front to be fitted, 12/9/15. Chris Bull |
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The cab interior of 51914 during stripping out for a new cab front to be fitted, 12/9/15. Chris Bull |