55023 Class 121 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway	Location History	Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Mar 97-Present
Current Location	Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
Current Status	Stored	Visited Railways	East Somerset Railway (Contract Overhaul) Jul 03-Sep 03
Current Livery	BR Green (Half Yellow Panel)
TRA Designation	4
Owner
Website	None
Record Last Updated	22 September 2023
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 55023 was one of the few Class 121 vehicles to be preserved without departmental modifications. Latterly operating as set L123 from Bletchley, near London, the vehicle was preserved for the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in 1997 where it replaced Class 122 55003. In fact, the same lorry bringing 55023 in was used to take 55003 out. It is thought that little work was required to the vehicle and that it entered traffic relatively quickly, settling down to off-peak running on the line. In 2003 the vehicle was sent to Cranmore (East Somerset Railway) for a contract overhaul. The vehicle returned to the C&PR resplendent in BR Green livery, where it recommenced services. Between 2003 and 2019 55023 provided much use and was the favourite traction for the first train of the day during much of the year. It was repainted again during this period of running and was regularly maintained to allow it to continue. However larger deferred tasks started to stack up, and sister vehicle 55024 was bought in 2013 and restored to step into 55023's shoes. In 2019 the launch of 55024 into traffic allowed for a limited period of running the two popular bubble cars as a pair, before 55023 was, as planned, withdrawn from service to allow the due restoration work to commence. This progressed during 2020 and 2021, but was suspended in 2022 after the discovery of worse-than-expected cant-rail corrosion behind the gutters. 55023 is now stored pending a review on the restoration and further funds being allocated.
Future Plans To fund, resume and complete the overhaul, after which 55023 should be able to resume duties and be able to be used alongside 55024.

	W55023 stored outside the shed at Chinnor, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	W55023 undergoing work at Chinnor, 8/5/21. Darren JB

	W55023 in the platform at Chinnor, 17/3/18. Anthony Christie

	W55023 stabled outside the shed at Chinnor, 7/11/17. John Flynn

	W55023 & W55024 at Princes Risborough, 15/9/17. Anthony Christie

	W55023 in service at Chinnor, 2017. Wayne Pilkington

	W55023 in service at Chinnor, 16/8/15. Richard Cowen

	W55023 prepares for service at Chinnor, 19/10/13. Nigel Gould

	W55023 stabled at Chinnor, 6/4/12. Amy Adams

	55023 in service at Chinnor, 26/4/09. David Beardmore

	W55023 in service at Chinnor, 16/5/08. Q47541M

	55023 at Chinnor, 10/4/05. Simon Edwards

	55023 at Chinnor, 10/4/05. Simon Edwards

	55023 at Chinnor, 23/3/03. Roger Marks

Interior

	The drivers side of W55023's No1 cab, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	The secondmans side of W55023's No1 cab, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	The drivers side of W55023's No2 cab, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	The secondmans side of W55023's No2 cab, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	View of W55023's main passenger saloon looking towards the guards van, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	W55023's smaller passenger saloon, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	Replacement hardboard ceiling panels clad in plastic wrapping to reduce future water damage, installed during the 2020/21 restoration efforts, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon

	W55023's guards compartment, 3/6/23. Chris Moxon