140001 - 55501 Class 140 Driving Motor Second

Home Railway	Keith & Dufftown Railway	Location History	Keith & Dufftown Railway Feb 95-Present
Current Location	Keith & Dufftown Railway
Current Status	Under Restoration
Current Livery	BR Blue & Grey
TRA Designation	E
Partner Vehicle(s)	55500
Owner	Banffshire Rolling Stock Limited
Website	None
Record Last Updated	9 December 2015
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 55501 & 55500 were the only members of their class, experimental in nature, and never saw regular passenger service. After a short life of publicity exercises and trials, 55501 was latterly used as the Leeds Neville Hill driver training set before withdrawal in October 1990. Stored for some time before preservation, the set was preserved at the Keith & Dufftown Railway, arriving in 1995. A lack of resources prevented any restoration work on 55501 & 55500, which in the early 2000's were moved to the extremety of the line, the Dufftown headshunt, and made accessible on a static basis. The track leading to the vehicles was later disconnected. In March 2011 the area 55501 was stored in was required for redevelopment, and the vehicle was moved the short distance into the main platform at Dufftown. This triggered renewed interest in the set and it was immediately heavily cleaned externally to improve its appearance. In 2012, a group of Keith & Dufftown Railway volunteers undertook some conservation/investigation work on 55501. Using a compressor the doors were sucessfully tested and the lighting on the vehicle was also found to be operational. The engine has also been started but has isues and some spare parts have been obtained to make a future revival practical. In May 2014 the cab end was prepped and resprayed yellow, with the bodysides repainted during August.
Future Plans Although constrained by a lack of resources, members of the Keith & Dufftown Railway have long term aims to return 55501 to operational condition.

	55501 during its respray, 8/8/15. Ben Angus

	140001 stabled between work parties,6/6/15. Neil Ferguson Lee

	55501 masked up having been resprayed round the cab front, 31/5/14. Ben Angus

	55501 & 55500 at Dufftown, 9/4/12. Anon Mouse

	55501 & 55500 stored at Dufftown, 3/6/11. John Carter

	140001 (55501/55500) stored at Dufftown, 17/5/08. David Beardmore

	55501 stored on the Keith & Dufftown Railway, 19/2/99. On tour with th class 13 army