51135 Class 116 Driving Motor Brake Second (Scrapped)
Last Location |
Swansea Vale Railway |
Location History |
Private Site: Coed Bach (Wales) Dec 92-Jul 94 |
Current Status |
Scrapped at Ammanford Metal Recycling April 2009 |
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Swansea Vale Railway Jul 94-Mar 09 |
Last Livery |
Bare Metal |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Record Last Updated |
8 August 2020 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Also acquired for use at the Swansea Vale was the original centre car from the set, 59445, but it is thought the vehicle was never used, being utilised in the loco hauled rake instead. 51135 & 51148 became the operational DMU set on the railway, and were painted into BR Green for this purpose. Their first run was in June 1996. In 1999, the set was joined by Class 117 59490. During the 2000's the railway struggled to keep on top of a long series of vandal attacks, the situation made worse by the lack of undercover accommodation and security. 51135 did not escape the attacks, with smashed windows being a typical example. Volunteers chose to try and keep the operational set in reasonable condition, so 51135 continued in service while other vehicles on site sadly deteriorated. In June 2008 the railway was hit by a serious arson attack and all seven of the DMU vehicles on the railway were damaged to varying degrees, ranging from light external damage to fully gutted vehicles. Following this incident, the railway later ceased operations and agreed to close the site and relocate the salvageable assets to the nearby Gwili Railway. 51135 was considered as being damaged beyond repair, so in Spring 2009 the vehicle was dispatched to Ammanford Metal Recycling where it was scrapped. 51135 was not unique, but its demise left only two Class 116 DMBS vehicles left in preservation. |
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After the arson attack, some vehicles were so badly damaged it became difficult to identify them from photographs. This is believed to be 51135 (left) and Class 121 55026 (right) lying derelict on the closed Swansea Vale Railway just a few months before scrapping and total site clearance, 14/2/09. Richard Wilson |
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51135 after the arson attack, 2/11/08. Mac Winfield |
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Believed to be 51135 stored at Swansea, 16/2/08. Rob Phillips |
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51135 stabled at Six Pit, 25/7/03. David Beardmore |
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51135, 59490 & 51148 at Six Pit, 21/3/02.David McGuire |
Interior
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After the arson attack, some vehicles were so badly damaged it became difficult to identify them from photographs. This is believed to be the guards compartment of 51135, which it can clearly be seen has suffered total destruction, 14/2/09. Richard Wilson |
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After the arson attack, some vehicles were so badly damaged it became difficult to identify them from photographs. This is believed to be the guards compartment of 51135, which it can clearly be seen has suffered total destruction, 14/2/09. Richard Wilson |