50645 Class 108 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Great Central Railway (North)	Location History	Bodmin & Wenford Railway Aug 93-Dec 97
Current Location	Great Central Railway (North)		Great Central Railway (North) Dec 97-Present
Current Status	Under Restoration
Current Livery	BR Blue (Full Yellow End)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	50926
Owner	Ruddington DMU Group
Website	None
Record Last Updated	23 November 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 50645 was preserved at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in 1993 where it was reportedly initially partnered with DMBS 51947. However there are no reports that the set ever saw any passenger service, and they were presumably stored. In 1997 the set was split up, 50645 was sold and moved onto the GCR(N) and partnered with 50926. During the first 15 years at the GCR(N), the vehicle appears to have seen little if any use. However in 2011 the vehicle came under control of a new management team who aim was to actively push forward the restoration of the vehicle to operational condition. The team was made up of two of the original owners plus two new members with all four parties owning a quarter share. That year, work was concentrated on the roof of the vehicle so as to ensure it is water tight before interior work starts. A large number of the rivets which join the sheet sections together were been replaced with modern polyurethane sealant being used between the roof joints to ensure a water tight joint. All the original roof covering was removed and then painted with a specialist etch primer and multiple coats of undercoat and top coat. In 2012 50645 was moved undercover where the dome and windscreens were removed and the rotten metal work around the drivers end cut out. Whilst parts were being sourced, the air system was pumped up to check for leaks. Sadly this revealed a hole in the in-board main reservoir tank and a missing 4th gear EP valve both of which needed addressing. With these leaks were temporarily plugged, the system held pressure successfully. By Winter 2012/13, work was concentrating on repairing a damaged cab end bufferbeam which was distorted following BR era accident damage, the two buffers were also removed for overhaul. By 2014 work was focussing on the cab end, with the roof dome removed and all the steelwork receiving heavy repairs. 2015 saw progress made on rebuilding the two engines, with ongoing progress on stripping paint, cleaning and painting of all the lower sections of the bodysides. By 2019 the vehicle was back inside the shed where a fresh push was had on the replating of the cab front end. In 2022 the bodysides had reached an undercoat stage. Cab metal skin work was complete with window frames and gutters attached. The cab dome was then repaired prior to refit with a modern epoxy coating applied. The bodyside doors were removed and overhauled and the first engine overhaul was completed. 2023 was spent back on the front end with the repaired steelwork being brought up to fresh (yellow) gloss. In 2024, the focus remained on the cab front, with the dome being refitted. This allowed most of the cab interior to be reassembled, including wall panels, the inner dome, varnished window surrounds and destination blind box.
Future Plans The second engine from 50645 is currently removed and will be rebuilt ready for fitting.

	Finishing touches to the cab front exterior rebuild project in the form of blue squares, 12/23. Mark Russell

	50645's front end after painting yellow, 23/6/23. Mark Russell

	50645's cab roof dome being prepared for refitting, 23/6/23. Mark Russell

	50645 starting to look much more externally complete, with bodywork completed and blue undercoat applied, 23/9/22. Mark Russell

	50645 starting to look much more externally complete, with bodywork completed and blue undercoat applied, 23/9/22. Mark Russell

	50645 looking a bit more like a Class 108 once again at the front end, with the frsh progress on framework renewal and skin replacement, 15/12/19. Mark Russell

	One of 50645's engines stripped down for overhaul, 24/5/15. Mark Russell

	53645 now stripped back at the front end showing framework repairs, 21/714. Mark Russell

	53645, showing the frame repairs and removed roof dome, 4/5/14. Mark Russell

	A replacement bufferbeam is test fitted onto the cab end of 53645 prior to rivoting, 21/2/13. Mark Russell

	53645 undergoing major cab end bodywork repairs, 15/4/12. Mark Russell

	53645 awaiting shed space at Ruddington, 11/2/12. DC-7C

	53645 undergoing restoration work at Ruddington, 15/5/11. David Beardmore

	53645, now having had some cab platework done at Ruddington, 17/5/09. Simon Edwards

	50645 in store at Ruddington, 3/5/04. Simon Edwards

	50645 in store at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, Ruddington, 20/7/01. Stuart Mackay