51213 Class 101 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway

East Anglian Railway Museum

Location History

East Anglian Railway Museum Oct 03-Present

Current Location

East Anglian Railway Museum

Current Status

Operational

Visited Railways

Severn Valley Railway Oct 04

Current Livery

BR Blue/Grey

Peak Rail (Contract Overhaul) ?-Mar 16

TRA Designation

4

Partner Vehicle(s)

56358

Owner

Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Limited

Website

None

Record Last Updated

16 November 2024

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
Withdrawn from service in August 2000, 51213 was selected as the best available DMBS at MOD Shoeburyness - it also as a bonus had a history of running on the Marks Tey to Sudbury line. The vehicle arrived at EARM in October 2003 and had the batteries charged, brakes tested and a mechanical inspection ready for service within 2 days.

The interior and exterior condition has slowly been returned to its 1970's condition. The restoration work has included a repaint into BR Blue in March 2004, the return of the original tungsten lighting, route indicator box & sprung buffers, and new ceiling panels.

51213 was launched into public service with 56358 in March 2004. While work was underway to return partner vehicle 56358 to 1970’s condition, 51213 was paired with Green Class 108 DTCL 56223.

In October 2004, the vehicle visited the Severn Valley Railway for the spectacular Railcar50 celebrations which involved a never-to-be-repeated line up of DMUs from all around the country at one gala event. This was only possible due to generous funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

During 2011 the vehicle was repainted, keeping its BR Blue colour scheme.

In early 2016 the vehicle was sent to Peak Rail where it received contract bodywork repairs and a repaint into Blue & Grey livery. It returned home during the summer.

The vehicle operates semi-regularly on the short demonstration line at Chappel with partner 56358.

Future Plans
To maintain in service. The vehicle will likely receive a repaint before too long.

E51213 undergoing some minor repairs outside the shed at Chappel, 29/9/24. Ken Jones

E51213 from a different angle at Chappel, 29/11/23. Tony Rispoli

E51213/E56358 in service at Chappel, 18/7/21. Chris Boon

E51213/56358 in use on the demonstration line at Chappel. The set was operating services with 56358 in a part completed state to run festive trains whilst the railway completed corrosion repairs to the Mark 1 coaches normally used on those services, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

E51213 in service during the line's diesel day, 29/9/19. Mark Cornell

E51213 working at Chappel, 30/4/17. Carl Watson

E51213 at Chappel having returned from contract bodywork and repaint into Blue & Grey colours, 23/3/16. Mark Cornell

E51213/E56358 stabled at Chappel, 30/12/14. Richard Moxon

E51213 & E56358, looking very 1970's, stabled at Chappel, 20/9/12.Graham Bell

A cab end view of E51213, looking very 1970's, stabled at Chappel, 20/9/12.Graham Bell

E51213 & E56358, looking very 1970's, stabled at Chappel, 20/9/12.Graham Bell

51213 mid repaint at Chappel, 15/8/11. Andy Neil

51213 in the workshops at Chappel, 9/7/11. Andy Neil

A corridor end view of E51213, stabled at Chappel, 31/7/10. Nigel Gould

In service at Chappel, 28/11/09. John Law

Operating services with 56223 for the Railcar Convention weekend, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

Operating services with 56223 for the Railcar Convention weekend, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

E51213 on thomas duty, 30/8/06. Andy Cole

51213 is seen during the Spanning the Century event at the East Anglian Railway Museum, 17/3/05. Darren Johnson

51213, 56358, 53170 & 53253 in service at Bewdley during Railcar50, 16/10/04. David Beardmore

At Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway for the Railcar50 event, 16/10/04. Simon Edwards

At Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway for the Railcar50 event, 11/10/04. Stuart Mackay

51213/54358, mid restoration, make their preservation passenger debut at Easter at the East Anglian Railway Museum, 14/3/04. James West

Well presented second class seating inside E51213 (front saloon) during festive trains, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

Well presented second class seating inside E51213 (middle saloon) during festive trains, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

The guards van inside E51213, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

E51213 middle salon and tungsten lighting during the line's diesel day, 29/9/19. Mark Cornell

E51213's middle saloon looking towards the front saloon and the cab, 20/9/12. Graham Bell

View of the guards van, containing display panels describing the restoration work and showing details of the group, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon