56356 Class 101 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory (Returned to Mainline use)

Last Location

Barry Island Railway

Location History

Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway Apr 97-Nov 11

Current Status

Observation Car, Locomotive Services Limited

Great Central Railway (North) Nov 11-Aug 13

Last Livery

Non Standard Green & Cream

Barry Island Railway Aug 13-Aug 22

Record Last Updated

1 October 2022

Preservation Modifications
Heavy modifications in BR days to enable the vehicle to be an observation saloon have not been reversed in preservation.

Preservation Information
Converted into an observation saloon and renumbered 6300 by British Rail, the vehicle was very heavily modified before withdrawal in 1993. It was latterly stored at Inverness from 1993-1996 where several windows were broken.

In 1996 the vehicle was purchased for preservation by Andrew Goodman and was moved to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway via MC Metals for asbestos contamination inspection.

For seven years (until 2003) the vehicle was historically significant as being the only Class 101 driving trailer vehicle in preservation, however this importance was lost following the mass preservation of ex-Manchester Class 101 sets where nine further DTCL vehicles were saved from scrap.

Whilst at the G&WR, the vehicle never operated in passenger service and remained in storage as a long term project. The vehicle deteriorated considerably over the years and ended up in a poor condition.

In 2011, following a change of plans, the vehicle was put up for sale and was purchased by the Great Central Railway (North), relocating to their base at Ruddington in November of that year. It was planned for the vehicle to retain its role as an observation saloon, and form part of the GCRN’s coaching stock where, following refurbishment and re-fit,it would be used in conjunction with the MK1 vacuum braked set. However the work was not undertaken and the vehicle was put up for sale again in February 2013.

In 2013, the vehicle was purchased and relocated to the Barry Island Railway who started work to improve 6300's condition. However yet again the restoration efforts did not appear to make a great deal of progress, and the current state of 6300 is believed to be stored inside the large shed at Barry.

Eventually, the returning of most of the Barry Island Railway's site to mainline use forced a drastic reduction in the preserved rolling stock and 6300 was put up for sale. Not expected to find any takers, it was surprising when 6300 was sold back into mainline use, being transferred to Locomotive Services Limited.

In August 2022, 6300 was transported to its new owners at their mainline base at Crewe, therefore exiting preservation.

A final view of 6300 at Locomotive Services Limited's facility at Crewe, returned to the mainline and exiting preservation, 26/8/22. Tim Barrett

6300, undergoing restoration inside the depot at Barry, 7/2/14. Nick Wilcock

6300 stored at Ruddington, 11/2/12. Mike Gill

6300 in store at Winchcombe, 17/12/05. Simon Edwards

6300 / stored at Winchcombe on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway, 5/11/05. Carl Watson