51950 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway Jan 92-Jul 12 |
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Current Location |
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Telford Steam Railway Jul 12-Jun 23 |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Peak Rail Jun 23-Present |
Current Livery |
Non Authentic Chocolate & Cream |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Private |
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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 By the late 1990’s 51950 had been repainted into green with speed whiskers and was operational, providing winter services on the GWSR. 51950 performed this role for several seasons before being withdrawn from traffic in 2002 requiring overhaul. Sadly this was not forthcoming and the set was placed into store at Winchcombe for nearly 10 years. In 2010 however 51950 was moved closer to the workshops at Toddington, it was believed that a return to service was in the pipeline. However this proved to be unfounded and the vehicles were put up for sale. In 2012 51950 & 52062 were purchased for use on the Telford Steam Railway being relocated in July. On arrival it was noted that 51950 was mechanically more complete than 52062, but the interior was in poorer condition. After only 10 days of being on site 51950 moved under its own power for the first time in 4 years. During the autumn the cab was stripped and rotten metal removed. New metal was welded in then filled and sanded to original profile. The interior of the cab was cleaned and rust-proofed. The original BR grey painted cab panels were replaced with new Formica cut to the original patterns. During 2013, work moved onto replacing damged ceiling panels in the interior. Externally the rotten cab end was cut out and repairs made to the framework before a new skin was fitted where required. The whole area was then finished off in yellow. 2014 saw 51950 continue to progress externally, the roof was repainted and the vehicle bodysides painted in primer in May. The following month saw the vehicle in full chocolate & cream colours with the repaint completed in September. In 2015, 51950 saw the renewing of the interior completed, testing and adjustment of the braking system and a full mechanical exam. It then entered service in April. 51950 & 52062 ran for an eight year period (Covid excepting) but running dates were few and far between, particularly in the 2020's, with a limited number of open days being shared by an increasing stable of different traction based on the line. Some years 51950 was used on just one day or weekend in public service. In June 2023 a deal was struck for 51950 & 52062 to move to Peak Rail on hire under a new support group the "Rowsley Class 108 DMU Group". Members of that group purchased the vehicles the following year. Over a 12 month period a variety of minor works were undertaken to 51950 to prepare it for Peak Rail service, and it debuted at their diesel gala in April 2024. |
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Future Plans |
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M51950/M52062 on a cold and crisp morning being prepared for a debut into Peak Rail service the following month, 24/3/24. David Horton |
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M51950/M52062 at Rowsley South yard shortly after arrival from Telford, 23/6/23. Adam Bennett |
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M51950 stands at Horsehay & Dawley station, 10/9/22. David Bellamy |
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M51950 nose to nose with 144013 at Spring Village in the snow, 24/1/21. Ben Hopkinson |
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M51950 stabled at Spring Vilage. It has not worked during 2020 due to the Covid-19 situation, 9/2/20. Chris Moxon |
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M51950/M52062 stabled at Spring Village. The set ran for just one weekend in passenger service that year, 15/9/19. Ian Heighway |
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M51950/M52062 in service, 10/9/16. Andy Miles |
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M51950/M52062 stabled at Spring Village, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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M51950/M52062 on the new extention at Lawley Village, 4/4/15. Alistair Grieve |
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M51950 (right) stabled at Spring Village, 3/4/15. Zoe Hunter |
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M51950/M52062 seen at Lawley Common after the completion of the repaint, 19/9/14. Ian Heighway |
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51950/52062 on test at Lawley Common, 27/7/14. Ian Heighway |
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51950 with newly applied Chocolate & Cream colours, 16/6/14. Ian Heighway |
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Corridor view of 51950 with the Chocolate now applied, 14/6/14. Ian Heighway |
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Corridor view of 51950 in primer, 13/6/14. Ian Heighway |
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51950 with yellow applied to the cab end and the bodysides in primer, 31/5/2014. Ian Heighway |
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W51950 after its cab end repairs were completed, 2013. Ian Heighway |
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The rotten cab end being attended to: new panels welded in and in prmer, 2013. Ian Heighway |
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The rotten cab end being attended to: panels cut back, framework repaired and in primer, 2013. Ian Heighway |
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Some of the effects of a long period in storage at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway have recently been recorded. Here, cab corner corrosion is seen on W51950, 6/6/11. Trevor Daw |
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Some of the effects of a long period in storage at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway have recently been recorded. Here, cab corrosion is seen on W51950, 6/6/11. Trevor Daw |
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Some of the effects of a long period in storage at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway have recently been recorded. Here, the flaking number is seen on W51950, 6/6/11. Trevor Daw |
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W51950/W52062 in store, 28/8/10. David Beardmore |
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W51950 at Toddington on the GWR, 21/4/02. FreeFoto |
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W51950/W52062 stabled at Toddington, 8/95. Hugh Llewelyn |
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W51950/W52062 at Toddington 19/3/95. David McGuire |
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W51950, 5/6/94. John Cordrey |
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Now repainted into green, W51950 on the GWR. Jim Poor |
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51950 at Toddington on the GWR, 25/2/92. Robert Frise |
Interior
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The cab of 51950, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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The cab of 51950, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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The front saloon of 51950, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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The middle saloon of 51950, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |
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The guards compartment of 51950, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon |