51147 Class 116 Driving Motor Second (Scrapped)

Last Location

Swansea Vale Railway

Location History

Private Site: Coed Bach (Wales) Sep 93-Jan 96

Current Status

Scrapped at Ammanford Metal Recycling April 2009

Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway Jan 96-Sep 00

Last Livery

BR Green

Swansea Vale Railway Sep 00-Mar 09

Partner Vehicle(s)

51134

Record Last Updated

8 August 2020

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
51147 was latterly part of set C392 running in the Cardiff area. Preserved with partner 51134 in 1993 by the Llanelli & District Railway Society, the set was initially stored at a private site before being placed on loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for five seasons where it is believed the vehicles saw some use. It would appear some external restoration was completed, as 51147 received a coat of red primer.

In 2000 the vehicles were returned to the society's base at Six Pit on the Swansea Vale Railway. 51147 began to deteriorate and was withdrawn from service. It is not known if the vehicle ever operated at Swansea.

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. 51147 did not escape the attacks, with smashed windows and consequent water ingress being a typical example. While volunteers concentrated on keeping the operational Class 116 set reasonable, 51147 continued to deteriorate.

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 shells. Following this incident, the railway later ceased operations and agreed to close the site and relocate the salvageable assets to the nearby Gwili Railway.

51147 was considered as being damaged beyond repair, so in Spring 2009 the vehicle was dispatched to Ammanford Metal Recycling where it was scrapped. 51147 was not unique, but its demise left only one Class 116 DMS vehicle left in preservation.

After the arson attack, some vehicles were so badly damaged it became difficult to identify them from photographs. This is believed to be 51147 lying derelict on the closed Swansea Vale Railway just a few months before scrapping and total site clearance, 14/2/09. Richard Wilson

Believed to be 51147 stored at Swansea, 16/2/08. Rob Phillips

Believed to be 51147 stored at Swansea, 16/2/08. Rob Phillips

51147 coupled to 51134 in the sidings at Toddington. It would appear some external restoration has been completed, with the vehicle sporting a coat of red primer, 1996. Kevin Jarvis