51942 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Mid Norfolk Railway	Location History	Pontypool & Blaenavon RailwayApr 94-Oct 14
Current Location	Mid Norfolk Railway		Mid Norfolk Railway Oct 14-Present
Current Status	Stored
Current Livery	Network SouthEast
TRA Designation	5
Partner Vehicle(s)	56270
Owner	Brian Smith
Website	www.facebook.com/EastAnglianRailcarGroup
Record Last Updated	13 January 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51942 was preserved in 1994 on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway along with three other Class 108 vehicles. 51942 was not considered as the vehicle in the best condition so was put in storage as a second set paired with 56270. A remarkable 20 year period followed with 51942 remaining in storage, albeit relatively complete, awaiting its turn in the Gwent 108 Group's restoration queue. In January 2014, it was decided that 51942 would not be restored at its current home, so it was put up for sale. In March, a sale was agreed and 51942 moved to its new home at the Mid Norfolk Railway in the October after access issues preventing the vehicle's departure from Pontypool were resolved. On arrival at the Mid Norfolk Railway some limited conservation work to tidy the vehicle up was undertaken, before being stored to await the completion of the restoration of partner 56270. Unfortunately this second restoration attempt of the set was also aborted, with 51942/56270 being sold again in 2020, to new owners who wished to retain the set at the Mid Norfolk. in July 2020, 51942 was moved out of storage down the line at Thuxton where it had been graffitied, back up to the railway's main headquarters at Dereham where it was assessed by the new owners to plan the vehicle's restoration. Unfortunately for the third time in the vehicle's history, restoration was not forthcoming and 51942 remains in storage.
Future Plans The current owner has long term plans to fully restore the vehicle.

	51942 in storage at the extremity of Dereham yard, now almost ten years after it arrived at the railway, 2/12/23. Chris Moxon

	51942, with 54270 visible behind, at Dereham for an assessment to plan the upcoming restoration. The set had been stored at Thuxton and had been attacked by graffiti artists, 7/20. East Anglian Railcar Group

	51942 stored in the long siding at Thuxton, 5/7/18. Chris Moxon

	51942 shortly after arrival at Dereham, on static display during the Multiple Matters gala, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon

	51942 shortly after arrival at Dereham, on static display during the Multiple Matters gala, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon

	51942 getting a brush up shortly after arrival at the Mid Norfolk Railway, 27/10/14. East Anglian Railcar Group

	51942 stored at Blanaevon, 28/7/13. Nick Baxter

	51942, now with smashed windows, in store, 8/12/12. Peter Dickinson

	51942 in storage at Furness Sidings, 2/7/05. Stuart Mackay

	51942 in storage at Furness Sidings, 2/7/05. Stuart Mackay

Interior

	The cab (driver's side) of 51942 prior to restoration, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon

	The cab (secondman's side) of 51942 prior to restoration, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon

	The front saloon of 51942 prior to restoration, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon

	The middle saloon of 51942 prior to restoration, 1/11/14. Chris Moxon