50517 Class 104 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	East Lancashire Railway	Location History	Chester (storage) Mar 93-Aug 94
Current Location	East Lancashire Railway		Churnet Valley Railway Aug 94-Nov 14
Current Status	Operational		East Lancashire Railway Nov 14-Present
Current Livery	BR Blue (Full Yellow End)
TRA Designation	4	Visited Railways	Severn Valley Railway Oct 04
Partner Vehicle(s)	50455
Owner	Kevin Dowd
Website	www.brcw.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 April 2024
Preservation Modifications External fire extinguisher mounted below jumper cables on corridor end.
Preservation Information 50517 was preserved in March 1993 in a bulk buy of 12 Class 104 vehicles by private individuals Kevin Dowd and Robert Simpson. The fleet was eventually distributed over three heritage railways and after a year in storage at its previous BR depot, Chester, 50517 was located on the Churnet Valley Railway in 1994. The vehicle was recognised to be in the best condition of all the preserved Class 104 vehicles so was selected as the very first vehicle to be restored at the Churnet Valley Railway. From the start it was always intended to be a full restoration to a high standard rather than simply making the vehicle operaional. Due to the lack of facilities at the time, it took seven years to strip the vehicle to a metal shell and complete the bodywork restoration. All of the windows were removed during this time and the metalwork attended to. A two year setback was discovered in the form of the whole front end of the cab being rotten beyond repair, an ailment now known to be common amongst preserved Class 104's but not known at the time. However by 1999 the vehicle had emerged from undercover with a fully repaired body in primer, rebuilt doors and a new cab end. The opportunity was taken to reinstate the 2-character headcode box during these repairs. Between 1999 & 2002, the interior restoration was progressed in tandem with the restoration of partner DMBS M50455. Many components were removed and restoration of the myriad of individual interior bits and pieces completed. Mechanically, the vehicle was made operational with the revival of both of the engines. The vehicle also moved under its own power for the first time in a good few years during this period. The big news for summer 2002 was the gloss painting and lining of 50517, completed in the shed at Oakamoor, which brought the external restoration of the vehicle to a close. The repaint was made possible following a final 3-week marathon of sanding and filling during May, and also after the final cleaning and painting of the roof. During the diesel gala in September 2002, the vehicle was put on static display showing off its brand new paint scheme. Inside the vehicle, the new veneered panelling had arrived and was being fitted over the winter, in preparation for the “home straight” of seat fitting. 2003 saw the last of the interior work completed. The cab also received a final coat of paint. Mechanically, teething troubles were starting to be tackled in preparation for a return to service. The brake blocks were changed amongst other, smaller, components. 2004 saw a final push to make the vehicle mechanically fit for regular traffic. By August the unit was undertaking test runs having had final preparations such as new oils and filters. After one last external clean and polish, the unit was complete. Five years after the start of the restoration project, during the last weekend of September 2004, M50517 was launched into traffic. M50455 was also completed at the same time, forming a 2-car "power twin" set. In October 2004, the vehicle visited the Severn Valley Railway for the spectacular Railcar50 celebrations which involved a never-to-be-repeated line up of DMUs from all around the country at one gala event. This was only possible sue to geneerous funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In 2005, both main vacuum cylinders were replaced with fully rebuilt examples. During 2005 and 2006 the vehicle ran over 8,000 miles in traffic as part of an ambitious timetable where the set ran throughout the summer and during the low season when a steam service was not viable. Since 2007 the vehicle has settled into a routine of roughly 30-40 days traffic a year, covering about 2,000 miles per annum. 2011 saw the No1 engine replaced with a fully rebuilt example. During 2013 the sliding windows were all dismantled, resealed, drain holes redrilled, lubricated and refitted. This took several months as only one window could be undertaken per day. The work was deemed a priority as any water ingress was deemed very detrimental to the wooden interior. Following discussions with the owning group's home railway where many issues that had arisen during ten years of running could not be satisfactorily resolved, 50517 was moved in 2014 to the East Lancashire Railway to join the operating fleet there as a 2-car set with 50455. It operated at its new home for four days during 2015 before partner 50455 was withdrawn from traffic in May 2015 for a bodywork overhaul and repaint. Between May 2015 and August 2017 the vehicle was out of service whilst 50455'sbodywork repairs were being undertaken. 50517 remained operational during this time but was not used. Throughout September 2017, with repairs to 50455approaching completion, 50517 was repainted into BR Blue to match. This also included some minor bodywork repairs and was done rapidly due to the task being contracted out to Heritage Painting. November 2017 saw the vehicle re-launched into service with its exterior repairs completed, freshly painted in BR blue livery, the first time it had carried the livery in preservation. In 2024, 50517 spent part of the year out of service undergoing a major (M) exam to set it up mechanically for the next few years. M50517 & M50455operate regularly in service at the East Lancashire Railway.
Future Plans At some point the seating is due to be reupholstered as it is starting to become poor. It is planned for the 2-car set to be returned to its as-built 3-car configuration following the completion of the restoration of TCL 59137, although no target date has been set for this aim.

	M50517/M50455 stand inside the works at Bury Baron Street, as part of the vehicle's 7-year M (Major) exam, 10/5/24. Kevin Dowd

	M50517 at Bury Bolton Street waiting to head back to shed after running Santa shuttle services, 22/12/23. Kevin Dowd

	A period scene as M50517 arrives into Ramsbottom, 27/8/22. Robert Batty

	M50517's interior veneer glows in the dying light at Rawtenstall, 21/11/21. Kevin Dowd

	M50517/M50455/W55001 arriving into Ramsbottom station, 26/7/21. Robert Batty

	M50517/M50455 lead W55001 with a Santa Special Shuttle service thropugh Burrs Country Park, 5/12/19. Frank Richards

	M50517 passes through the closed Ewood Bridge station, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon

	M50517 deaprts Burrs Country park station bound for Rawtenstall, 5/11/17. Chris Moxon

	M50517 at Bury prior to the forming of the Fish & Chip Special, 4/11/17. Chris Moxon

	M50517 resplendant in its new BR Blue livery, applied by Heritage Painting. The roof is still to be repainted, 30/9/17. Heritage Painting

	M50517 part way through contract repainting by Heritage Painting, seen outside Buckley Wells shed, 24/9/17. Kevin Dowd

	M50517's rapid transformation begins: welding repairs where required being undertaken, 5/9/17. Kevin Dowd

	M50517 stored (serviceable) at Bury, 17/8/17. Kevin Dowd

	M50517 on the front of a 4-car formation containing classes 104, 117 & 122 at Bury Bolton Street, 27/11/15. Kevin Dowd

	M50517/M50455 on its first day in traffic on the East Lancashire Railway, seen arriving into Ramsbottom with a Heywood service, 14/3/15. Frank Richards

	M50517 on a road transporter at Froghall, preparing for the journey from the Churnet Valley to the East Lancs, 20/11/14. Chris Moxon

	M50517 stands at Cheddleton prior to the start of the day's services during the beer festival weekend, 12/7/14. Chris Moxon

	M50517/E59701/M50455 stand at Oakamoor (Jackson's Wood) whilst working a Canal Trust private charter, 6/4/13. Chris Moxon

	M50517/E59701/M50455 on Thomas duty at Cheddleton, 25/8/12. Chris Moxon

	M50517/E59701/M50455 alongside stored M53494 at Oakamoor, 2/6/12. Chris Moxon

	M50517/E59701/M50455 stand at Cauldon Lowe, 20/5/12. Chris Moxon

	M50517/M50455 in service at Cheddleton, 19/6/10. Chris Moxon

	M50517/M50455 at Oakamoor, 10/10/09. Chris Moxon

	M50517/M50455 floodlit at Cheddleton during an EMRPS photo charter, 3/2/08. Chris Moxon

	M50517/M50455 & M79900 head north out of Consall during the Scenic Railcar Weekend, 30/9/07. Chris Moxon

	M50517/M50455 pass Highley on a Bridgnorth service, 15/10/04. Brian Battersby

	M50517 after being outshopped into BR Green at Oakamoor, 2002. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

	50517 at Cheddleton with bodywork now largely complete and finished in primer. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

	M53517 back inside the shed at Cheddleton for its new cab front to be finished off. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

	M53517 tarped up outside at Cheddleton, during a break in shed space, 1999. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

	M53517's bodysides being filled and sanded at Cheddleton, 1998. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

	M53517 receiving a new cab at Cheddleton, during the mid 1990's. Birmingham RailCar Workgroup