51138 Class 116 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Great Central Railway (North)	Location History	Colne Valley Railway Dec 95-Sep 01
Current Location	Great Central Railway (North)		Great Central Railway (North)Sep 01-Present
Current Status	Under Restoration
Current Livery	BR Green (Half Yellow Panel)	Visited Railways	East Kent Railway Jul 97-Nov 98
TRA Designation	3
Partner Vehicle(s)	59501 & 51151
Owner	Nottingham Railcar Group
Website	None
Record Last Updated	8 August 2020
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51138 was preserved in 1995 along with partner 51151 which had latterly been running as set T003 on the BR network. The set joined the rapidly expanding fleet of Pressed Steel Heritage based on the Colne Valley Railway. 51138 was originally intended to be run with Class 117 51347, with 51151 being a spare parts donor. Just over a year into preservation, 51138 was placed on loan to the East Kent Railway for a period of 12 months before returning to the Colne Valley Railway. In 1999, the set was expanded to 3 cars with the addition of Class 117 TCL 59501. At some point during the late 1990's, the vehicle was reupholstered. Surplus to requirements, 51138, 59501 & 51151 were sold onto the Nottingham Railcar Group in 2001 and moved to their base at the Great Central Railway (North) who set about on restoration tasks on the vehicle. In July 2002 the set was relaunched into traffic at the GCR(N). By 2011 the vehicle was reported to be out of traffic undergoing repairs, which were sporadic. In 2014 the vehicle's overhaul started in earnest. A start was made on some bodywork, particularly around the cab and guards areas, and the roof was fully stripped and repainted. Defective OLEO buffers were removed andsent away for overhaul. By 2016 a great deal of exterior restoration to both bodywork and doors had been undertaken, with the vehicle reaching the gloss green stage. Much interior restoration of the guards van had also been completed. From 2017 restoration updates reduced as the process had slowed considerably, with members helping out on other projects around the railway. It is not currently known if the restoration is still in progress at a modest pace, or if it has stalled and 51138 temporarily stored.
Future Plans 51138 will be overhauled and returned to service, eventually with partner 51151 following.

	51138's front end, now at the green gloss stage, 28/1/17. Nottingham Railcar Group

	51138's rear end, now at the green gloss stage, 28/1/17. Nottingham Railcar Group

	A general view of 51138 under restoration inside the shed at Ruddington, 20/2/16. Brian Battersby

	51138 painting progresses well at Ruddington, 5/9/15. Nottingham Railcar Group

	51138 painting progresses well at Ruddington, 22/8/15. Nottingham Railcar Group

	51138 having a steam clean underneath which will aid the mechanical restoration work ahead, 23/11/14. Alan Pitt

	Bodywork on the No1 side of the brake van area is progressing inside the hed at Ruddington, 11/9/14. Alan Pitt

	View of the front solebar and bufferbeam which has been stripped back to metal and repainted. Overhauled OLEO buffers have been fitted and new cab step brackets fabricated. The jumpers have been repanted and the cab end is now flat again following the application of filler, 30/8/14. Alan Pitt

	The No2 side guards doors, which are receiving corrosion repairs where required, filler and repainting in primer, 30/8/14. Alan Pitt

	W51138 under restoration outside the shed at Ruddington, 18/6/14. Zoe Hunter

	W51138 undergoing restoration work at Ruddington, 15/5/11. David Beardmore

	W51138 on the Colne Valley Railway, 31/5/01. Stuart Mackay

Interior

	The guards van interior approaching completion, 28/1/17. Nottingham Railcar Group

	A nicely refurbished luggage door, 10/1/15. Alan Pitt

	An unconventional brake handle seen in the cab desk of W51138, 20/9/14. Alan Pitt