140001 - 55500 & 55501 Class 140 Driving Motor Second Lavatory & Driving Motor Second

Home Railway	Keith & Dufftown Railway	Location History	Keith & Dufftown Railway Feb 95-Present
Current Location	Keith & Dufftown Railway
Current Status	Stored
Current Livery	BR Blue & Grey
TRA Designation	E
Owner	Banffshire Rolling Stock Limited
Website	None
Record Last Updated	1 August 2022
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 140001 was the only member of its class, experimental in nature, and never saw regular passenger service. After a short life of publicity exercises and trials, the set was latterly used as the Leeds Neville Hill driver trainer 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 140001, which never entered preservation service, in the early 2000's being 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. Other than occasional cleaning, the set continued its static role but was steadily deteriorating in condition. In March 2011, the area 140001 was stored in was required for redevelopment, and the set was recconnected to the rest of the world and moved the short distance into the main platform at Dufftown. This triggered renewed interest in it and the set was immediately heavily cleaned externally to improve its appearance in its new location. In 2012, a group of Keith & Dufftown Railway volunteers undertook some conservation/investigation work on 140001. Using a compressor the doors were sucessfully tested and the lighting on the set was also found to be operational. The engines were also started, 55500's being in good condition however 55501's had issues, so some spare parts were obtained to make a future revival practical. However the expertese to undertake the repair itself was not present at the time so mechanical revival of the set was stopped at that point. In May 2014, the cab end of 55501 was prepped and resprayed yellow, with the bodysides repainted during August 2015, in an effort to protect the exterior and further improve 140001's appearance, which had become poor up to that point. Despite the good progress, the restoration work sadly stalled shortly afterwards and 140001 was returned to storage in the sidings at Dufftown and proceeded to slowly deteriorate again. In 2022, 140001 was shunted out of its siding and moved closer to the shed, prompting rumours that plans were being put into place for a renewed restoration effort. However no such reports have been received.
Future Plans Members of the Keith & Dufftown Railway have suggested they do not have the expertese to repair 140001's failed engine and wiring problems, and also do not yet have the time/resource to undertake the additional exterior and interior works required to return 140001 to passenger carrying condition.. Nevertheless the railway still has long term aims to return 140001 to operational condition.

	140001 stored at Dufftown, 12/9/21. Andrew Freeman

	140001 stored at Dufftown, 8/10/18. Deborah Stokes

	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

	55500 & 55501 stored at Dufftown, 19/8/11. Ian McLoughlin

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

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

	55500/55501 stored at Dufftown, 29/5/09. Brian Battersby

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

	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

Interior

	The partly stripped interior saloon inside 140001, 12/9/21. Andrew Freeman

	A passenger vestibule inside 140001, 12/9/21. Andrew Freeman