55001 Class 122 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Northampton & Lamport RailwayApr 98-Apr 08 |
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Current Location |
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East Lancashire Railway Apr 08-Present |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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Current Livery |
BR Blue (Full Yellow End) |
Visited Railways |
Llangollen Railway May 09 |
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 August 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Whilst at the Northampton & Lamport Railway the exterior bodywork and interior were extensively stripped as part of a full restoration, although originally the vehicle was meant for spares with plans even discussed for its conversion into an observation saloon! Much authentic material including original Formica panels was made available to reverse the departmental modifications, as sister vehicle 55003 received an all-new interior which displaced original materials that were still in good condition. However the majority of mechanical components were missing from the vehicle, and the restoration was a slow, long term, project. In 2008 a change in priorities for the owner resulted in the vehicle's sale. A consortium of DMU individuals from the East Lancashire Railway stepped ion to purchase the vehicle, which moved to their railway later that year. 55001 was then the subject of a fast-track restoration. Much of the interior and exterior had already been completed, so the task of the mechanical rebuild was started first. So much was missing that a donor vehicle was required, in the form of Class 108 DMBS 50627, which had been displaced from the Peak Rail Class 108 fleet. The power trains were removed and transplanted directly under 55001, and it moved under its own power for the first time in November 2008. 55001 debuted in February 2009 at the line's DMU Day in a demonstration capacity. It operated (mechanically successfully) in multiple with the ELR's Class 101 set, although the interior was still missing so the vehicle was unable to carry passengers. The first half of 2009 was spent reinstalling the (stripped) interior which included some more departmental reversals such as the repair of cut away bulkheads. The vehicle's bodywork was also completed and the vehicle outshopped in BR Blue, the livery it carried for the majority of its working life. In May 2009, 55001 (now fully operational) was the star guest at the Llangollen Railway's Railcar Gala. During 2009 the vehicle was joined by DTS 56289, which although strictly speaking a Class 121, is otherwise an authentic single unit trailer car to boost 55001's capacity at busy times. No Class 122 trailers survived into preservation. The pair became a stalwart of DMU operations on the line. Early 2014 saw 55001 receive an intermediate overhaul over two months with all exterior corrosion repaired followed by a repaint (the vehicle retaining its BR blue colours). The seating was also reupholstered . The vehicle returned to service in April 2014 transformed internally and externally. In April 2017 the vehicle was lifted so that its tyres could be turned (at Longsight depot) and overhauled vacuum cylinders fitted. In February 2018 a replacement engine was fitted, an overhauled example doing the honours. During 2022, 55001 was stood down from services as without 56289 it wasn't seen as too useful compared with other available sets. However the vehicle remained operational, and did feature during the DMU gala towards the end of the year. It saw more use in 2023 running in multiple with other sets with occasional mid week solo running. In 2024, 55001 was taken out of service for some minor bodywork and a repaint. Some of the work was undertook by paid contractors so was comopleted much quicker than would otherwise be the case. The vehicle was returned to service later that year, in the same colour scheme but notably losing the later high-intensity headlight. 55001 continues to operate services on the East Lancashire Railway. |
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Future Plans |
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A rather shiny W55001 operating midweek services at bury Bolton Street shortly after completion of its repaint. Note the loss of the high intensity headlight, 1/8/24. Steve Lord |
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W55001 departs Heywood whilst working the 11:23 to Rawtenstall as part of the ELR's summer midweek "orange" diagram, 2/8/23. Richard Moxon |
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A rare outing for W55001, which hadn't seen any use for the majority of the 2022 season. It was however used at the annual DMU Gala, seen at Summerseat working one of the later services after dark, 13/11/22. Mark Skinner |
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W55001 at Rawtenstall hauling a Mark 1 coach as a tail load during the DMU Gala, required due to capacity shortages such was the popularity of the event! 13/11/21. Lee Scott |
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W55001 in multiple with the Class 104 at Bury working the winter weekend services, 23/11/19. Robert Purcell |
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An overhaulled engine being fitted to W55001 at Bury, replacing a troublesome one, 26/2/18. Bury Unit Team |
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W55001 at Burrs Country Park hauling a tail load, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 at Burrs Country Park hauling a tail load, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 stabled overnight in Bury station, 3/11/17. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 lifted so that its tyres could be turned (at Longsight depot) and overhauled vacuum cylinders fitted, 3/4/17. Bury Unit Team |
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W55001 in service at Bury Bolton Street, 26/12/16. David Bellamy |
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W55001 passes Bury College en-route to Heywood with the second to last run of the day on Orange Timetable, 31/7/15. Richard Moxon |
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W55001 rolls into Bury with the last service from Heywood, 22/7/15. Richard Moxon |
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W55001 inside the shed having received minor bodywork repairs and a full repaint, 4/14. Graham Thornton |
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M51922/M51562 pass W55001 at Ramsbottom, 16/3/13. Brian Battersby |
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W55001 & W56289 await departure from Bury Bolton Street with the 10:15 to Heywood during the DMU Day, 16/3/13. Chris Moxon |
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W55001/W56289 wait to depart Bury Bolton Street (Platform 3) with the 10:10 Bury-Heywood service during the annual DMU Day, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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W55001, in multiple with trailer /W56289, wait to depart Bury Bolton Street (Platform 3) with the 10:10 Bury-Heywood service during the annual DMU Day, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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W55001/W56289 at Heywood with the 10:40 Heywood-Rawtenstall service during the annual DMU Day, 17/3/12. Chris Moxon |
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W55001/W56289 departing Bury bound for Heywood during the 2011 DMU Day, 19/3/11.Chris Moxon |
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W55001/W56289 wait time at Rawtenstall during the 2011 DMU Day, 19/3/11.Chris Moxon |
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W55001 buffered up to Class 121 DTS partner /W56289 at Rawtenstall during the 2011 DMU Day, 19/3/11.Chris Moxon |
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W55001 battles through the snow at Irwell Vale whilst operating Bury-Rawtenstall "Christmas Shopper Specials", 20/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 waiting to cross a Santa Special at Ramsbottom whilst operating Bury-Rawtenstall "Christmas Shopper Specials", 20/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 waiting to cross a Santa Special at Ramsbottom whilst operating Bury-Rawtenstall "Christmas Shopper Specials", 20/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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As the light drops, W55001 pauses at Bury whilst operating Bury-Rawtenstall "Christmas Shopper Specials", 20/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 in multiple with Class 104 M50528/M50454 at Glyndyfrdwy whilst on a visit to the Llangollen Railway for their Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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Comparing front ends: W55001crosses Class 127 M51618 at Glyndyfrdwy whilst on a visit to the Llangollen Railway for their Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 passes Garthydwr whilst on a visit to the Llangollen Railway for their Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 leads Class 109 E50416/E56171 at Garthydwr whilst on a visit to the Llangollen Railway for their Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001 leads Class 109 E50416/E56171 at Llangollen whilst on a visit to the Llangollen Railway for their Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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W55001's number, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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55001 at Rawtenstall during its first public appearance, albeit in a demonstration capacity, during the 2009 DMU Day, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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55001 at Bury during its first public appearance, albeit in a demonstration capacity, during the 2009 DMU Day, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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55001's first use on the ELR when it was used by the Guards Department for a route refresher course, which included a full length of the line trip with visits to the more remote areas not normally traversed by passengers. These included a visit to the Steam Shed yards, and over Green Lane to interface with network rail. 55001 is seen at Ramsbottom with 51192/56352, 26/9/08. Stuart McDonald |
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55001's first use on the ELR when it was used by the Guards Department for a route refresher course, which included a full length of the line trip with visits to the more remote areas not normally traversed by passengers. These included a visit to the Steam Shed yards, and over Green Lane to interface with network rail. 55001 is seen at Ramsbottom with 51192/56352, 26/9/08. Stuart McDonald |
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55001's first use on the ELR when it was used by the Guards Department for a route refresher course, which included a full length of the line trip with visits to the more remote areas not normally traversed by passengers. These included a visit to the Steam Shed yards, and over Green Lane to interface with network rail, 26/9/08. Stuart McDonald |
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55001 under restoration at Castlecroft (Bury), 9/7/08. David Beardmore |
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55001 at Pitsford, 12/8/07. Daniel Adkins |
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55001 after suffering some vandalism, with the centre cab window now boarded up, 22/4/07. Daniel Adkins |
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55001 after suffering some vandalism, with the centre cab window being smashed, 5/4/07. Ian McDonald |
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All the welding is complete on the lower half of the vehicle, 20/10/06. Ian McDonald |
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55001 at Pitsford, 23/7/06. Daniel Adkins |
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55001 at Pitsford, 19/11/05. Simon Edwards |
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55001 at Pitsford, 19/11/05. Simon Edwards |
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55001 with one end painted black with steam loco style lining at Pitsford, 30/10/05. Ian McDonald |
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55001 awaiting restoration to begin, 2/2/02. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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The newly reupholstered seating inside W55001, 4/14. Graham Thornton |
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The main passenger saloon, now fully refitted, 20/12/09. Chris Moxon |
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The No1 cab, drivers side, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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The No1 cab, note the partition which has been removed, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the main passenger saloon, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the smaller passenger saloon, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the smaller passenger saloon, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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View of the guards van, note the partition which has been removed, 7/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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The interior flooring having been replaced, 20/10/06. Ian McDonald |
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The vehicle now has a full set of seat frames back in for the first time since 1967 , 20/10/06. Ian McDonald |