51104 Class 119 Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway	Swindon & Cricklade Railway	Location History	Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Sep 94-Nov 01
Current Location	Swindon & Cricklade Railway		Swindon & Cricklade Railway Nov 01-Present
Current Status	Stored
Current Livery	BR Green (Plain End)
TRA Designation	2
Partner Vehicle(s)	None
Owner	Gloucester Railcar Trust
Website	facebook.com/groups/8642346869180453
Record Last Updated	16 November 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information Preservation of Class 119 vehicles has not been easy. The entire fleet was insulated with blue asbestos from new, subsequently removed during refurbishment by British Rail. Although preserved in September 1994 after being set aside a Gwent Demolition (Margam), fundraising for a complete 119 set continued for several years, but sadly insufficient funds were raised to save a historically correct 3-car formation, with the last centre car, 59435, being scrapped in January 1996. 51104 and partner 51074 had however survived, becoming the only 2-car set in preservation, at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in Wales. In September 1999, the vehicle moved under its own power “in the compound” at Blaenavon during the diesel gala weekend. Some restoration work was undertaken at the P&BR, before the set was moved to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway in 2001. Since arrival at the S&CR 51104 received bodywork and a repaint into BR Green. In 2005 a Class 117 TCL, 59514, was acquired to run with 51074 & 51104 when the restoration was completed. In July 2005 the vehicle was operating test runs on the line. By 2012, 51104 was in he process of receiving a full mechanical overhaul and work on the interior was progressing well, with the vehicle having been partially re-panelled. Progress continued to be steady and it was not until spring 2018 that 51104 received a successful fitness to run certificate from the railway to allow its use. This passed, the summer season saw the first proper runs of the unit in a long time. Unfortunately several of the early days had to be cancelled or run as hauled stock after problems with either the unit or crew. However the unit later settled down and started to operate regularly. From 2019-2022 the set saw limited use as required, working off-peak services and also running extra services which the railway has never run before, such as extra mid week days in August. The restoration work to improve the 51104's condition continued on an ongoing basis in between running days. In 2023, partner 51074was withdrawn from service and entered the shed for some cab end bodywork repairs so more recently 51104 has been operational but unable to run with anything. In 2024, 51104 was withdrawn from service for more thorough restoration work to be undertaken. This was made possible with the arrival of 51073 onto the railway, which allowed 51104 to be withdrawn and still operate a Class 119 2-car set on the railway. 51104 is currently awaiting restoration work to begin.
Future Plans It is planned to give 51104 more thorough restoration work than it has had previously, after which it can re-enter service paired with DMBC 51073, which would be most fitting as that pair ran as a set (L594) for a long period in BR days (1977-1994).

	W51104 stored at Blunsdon, with newly formed 2-car set W51073/W51074 in the background, shortly after W51073 arrived on the railway bringing all three surviving Class 119 vehicles together, 12/11/24. Paul Martin

	51104 "stored servicable" whilst work is ongoing to 51074, 15/4/23. Chris Bull

	51104/51074 in service at Blundsdon, 18/9/22. Ken Jones

	51104/51074 at Blundsdon on one of its running days, 17/7/19. Neil Jones

	51104 stabled at Blunsdon, 19/5/19. Chris Walker

	An alternative view of 51104 at the very end of a summer's day once services had finished. The north/south direction of the line means photos with sun shining on the front end of 51104 are very rare. The day was intended to be one of the unit's first passenger running days, but sadly mechanical issues prevented its use at the final hour. However the railway were to be credited for still putting the unit out as coaching stock, as this meant that for this photographer at least, the visit (which couldn't be reversed due to accommodation being booked!) still allowed a ride on the unit and a full interior inspection to be made! 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	51104 under restoration at Blunsdon. 51104 has been partially re-panelled and is undergoing a mechanical overhaul. The plan is to complete repanelling on the 2 outer compartments and then transfer seats from storage in the centre compartment to their respective locations, November 2011. Jim Poor

	51104 under restoration, 10/5/09. David Beardmore

	51104, 59514 & 51074 stabled at Hayes Knoll, 21/3/09, 2/10/09. Roger Budd

	51104 stabled at Hayes Knoll, 21/3/09, 2/10/09. Roger Budd

	51104, 59514 & 51074 undergoing a test run on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, 10/7/05. Jim Poor

Interior

	51104's front saloon, 18/9/22. Ken Jones

	51104's middle saloon, 18/9/22. Ken Jones

	The cab, drivers side, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	The cab, secondmans side, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	The first of two second class smoking saloons, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	The second of two second class smoking saloons, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon