51351 Class 117 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway

Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway

Location History

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Nov 94-Jan 97

Current Location

Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway

 

Private Site: MOD Long Marston Jan 97-Oct 01

Current Status

Stored - For Sale

 

Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Oct 01-Present

Current Livery

Primer

 

 

TRA Designation

4

   

Partner Vehicle(s)

51397

 

 

Owner

Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway

 

 

Website

www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk

   

Record Last Updated

18 August 2024

   

Preservation Modifications
The roof vents are mounted 90 degrees different from original.

Preservation Information
51351 was preserved in 1994 By Alan and Tracey Lear who based the vehicle, along with partners 59520 & 51397, at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.

It is not known if the vehicle operated in passenger service whilst at Chinnor.

In 1997, the vehicle was stored at the MOD’s Long Marston site, intended for the future Stratford & Broadway Railway scheme.

In 2001, the vehicle was sold to John Down and moved to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, where it was restored to operational condition, receiving a repaint into BR unlined Green livery. A number of areas of restoration were undertaken, including making good the guttering and also re-panelling the interior.

The vehicle was tentatively launched into traffic in 2008, although further restoration work was required to make the vehicle fully serviceable. However a change in the owner's circumstances meant the vehicle never saw much use in service, and was out of action the following year, “stored serviceable” and being unpopular for passenger duties on the line.

In June 2010, the set lost its centre car, 59520, which had been sold.

In April 2012 following the owner's death it was acquired by the railway itself and authorisation was obtained to embark on restoration to passenger service.

A replacement set of batteries were fitted followed by the sucessful starting of both engines and testing of the gearboxes and final drives. The period of inactivity threw up a long list of minor mecanical issues which had to be worked through. The vehicle moved under its own power for the first time in several years during October 2012.

In February 2013 the vehicle entered the workshops for a full bodywork overhaul. The first part of the year saw roof work including the reinstatement of blanked off vents and resealing. The rear corners of the vehicle saw major welding repairs and repanelling, as did the cantrail areas which had rotted badly. The cab front started to be patched, but in May the descision was made to repanel the entire end. By Augut large sections of the secondmn's bodyside were being replaced with framework repairs made as required. In October, the bogies were cleaned up and repainted black. Other exterior parts such as air tanks and chassis members were also treated during the winter. Interior work included repanelling parts of the guards compartment and repainting.

2014 saw the major overhaul continue. The cab roof dome/headcode box was cleaned, reglazed and refitted. By spring, bodywork had progressed to the stage where areas on both side of the vehicle were emerging in primer. On the interior front, the seats were stripped and repainted green, and the cab was cleaned up and repainted.

The restoration then slipped firstly into a on/off pattern with periods stored outside sheeted over between periods of progress, before later being abandoned altogether. 51351 continued to be stored and its condition sadly deteriorated again.

Eventually, in August 2024, it had been decided to not continue with a DMU in the railway's future strategy and 51351 was put up for sale.

Future Plans
Uncertain.

 

51397 in storage awaiting its restoration to recommence, 15/9/19. Stephen Godber

   

A general overview of the No2 side, where most work has taken place, showing the lare areas of replaced metal and the increasing areas finished in primer, 27/5/14. Mark Vrettos

   

Rapid progress made on the No1 side, with large areas now in primer, 2/3/14. Mark Vrettos

   

Some of the first areas appearing in primer, 28/1/14. Mark Vrettos

   

Repainting underframe equipment, 13/11/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The driver's side before bodywork commenced, 14/10/13. Mark Vrettos

   

One of the bogies during repainting, 14/10/13. Mark Vrettos

   

Large area of bodyside panel beingreplaced from the guards van area, 11/8/13. Mark Vrettos

   

Large area of bodyside panel removed from the guards van, 7/8/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The completed cab front, 5/6/13. Mark Vrettos

   

Cab front progressing well, 29/5/13. Mark Vrettos

   

New metal being attached to the front, 19/5/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The cab front entirely cut away for full replacement, 12/5/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The cab front being patch repaired, 3/5/13. Mark Vrettos

   

A repaired rotten strip that ran down the guards compartment, 3/5/14. Mark Vrettos

   

New stepboards being fitted, 3/5/14. Mark Vrettos

   

The cab front being patch repaired, 15/3/13. Mark Vrettos

   

51351 inside for some bodywork attention, 10/2/13. Matthew Callaghan

   

51351 prior to moving inside for some attention, 27/1/13. Matthew Callaghan

   

51351 & 51397 under restoration, 4/11/12. Matthew Callaghan

   

51351 & 51397 coupled up in multiple for the first time in a few years, 30/9/12. Matt Callaghan

   

51351, now in railway ownership, sees renewed enthusiasm and increased restortion activity, 26/2/12. Matt Callaghan

   

51351 in use during the DMU Gala, 20/4/08. Alistair Grieve

   

51351 in use during the DMU Gala, 20/4/08. Alistair Grieve

   

51351/51397 in use during the DMU Gala, 20/4/08. Alistair Grieve

   

51351 under restoration at Blaenavon, 2/7/05. Stuart Mackay

   

51351 under restoration at Blaenavon, 2/7/05. Stuart Mackay

 

Interior

 

The driver's side of 51351, showing the cleaning and repainting work, 5/1/14. Mark Vrettos

   

The secondman's side of 51351, showing the cleaning and repainting work, 5/1/14. Mark Vrettos

   

Repainting work completed inside the guards van, 14/4/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The cab prior to restoration, 15/3/13. Mark Vrettos

   

A replacement interior panel fitted below the window where the originals had deteriorated, 15/3/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The interior saloon prior to restoration, 15/3/13. Mark Vrettos

   

The guards van prior to restoration, 15/3/13. Mark Vrettos