51376 Class 117 Driving Motor Second

Home Railway	South Devon Railway	Location History	West Somerset Railway Mar 01-Jan 07
Current Location	South Devon Railway		Private Site: MOD Long Marston Jan 07-Nov 20
Current Status	Stored		South Devon Railway Nov 20-Present
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	51352
Owner	Alistair Parsons
Website	None
Record Last Updated	16 November 2024
Preservation Modifications The vehicle received modified as required for a number of MOD and motorail exercises.
Preservation Information 51376 was latterly part of Class 117 set 117311, and was withdrawn after final mainline use in Scotland. After a period in storage at Shoeburyness, it was purchased by the Territorial Army along with partner 51352. They were joined by centre car 59505 from set 117301 and moved to the West Somerset Railway where they were intended to provide overhaul and maintenance experience for the 275 Railway Squadron. Whilst at the West Somerset Railway 51376 was returned to passenger carrying condition, and repainted into green livery. It then shared passenger services with the operating Class 115 set, with partner 51352. The Territorial Army’s own centre car however was used in loco hauled services, with 51376 operating with WSR owned 59493 instead. In 2007 the set was re-formed into 51352,59505 & 51376 and relocated to the MOD’s site at Long Marston. Whilst at Long Marston 51376 provided use as a training vehicle for 275 Railway Squadron. It was later sold to Motorail and received some minor modifications such as what appears to be visual monitoring equipment fo testing of railway related equipment on their terst track. Understandably, the details of some of the modifications were confidential. 51376 saw limited public passenger use on a handful of occasions, being used to transport visitors around the site during annual Long Marston charity open days. The mid 2010's saw 51376 no longer being maintained in an operational condition. Centre car 59505 was later sold off leaving 51376/51352 in storage at Long Marston. In 2020 things moved on and 51376/51352 were sold privately to an individual who moved them to the South Devon Railway for a return to service. 51376 has however remained in storage.
Future Plans Future plans for 51376 are to return it to passenger service with 51352. The pair will then strengthen single unit 55000 at busier times.

	51376 under restoration at Buckfastleigh. Fellow suburbans 55000 & 51352 can be seen on the left and right respectively, 19/5/21. Stuart Smith

	51376, shunted back with 51351 in the storage sidings at Long Marston. The photo was taken on a relatively rare opportunity for public access, during an event, 23/6/19. Aaron Browning

	51376, now separated from its partner in the storage sidings at Long Marston. The photo was taken on a relatively rare opportunity for public access, during an event, 20/6/18. Aaron Browning

	51376, 59505 & 51352 in operation running passenger rides during a Long Marston open day, 7/6/08. Daniel Adkins

	51376, 59505 & 51352 in operation running passenger rides during a Long Marston open day, 7/6/08. Chris Moxon

	51376 in operation running passenger rides during a Long Marston open day, 7/6/08. Chris Moxon

	51376, 59506 & 51352 in service at Minehead, 24/9/05. Simon Edwards

	51376 leads a set working a Bishops Lydeard-Minehead service, arriving into Crowcombe Heathfield, 9/4/04. Nick Wilcock

	51376 stabled at Minehead, 15/8/03. David McGuire

Interior

The interior, 8/4/03. Roger Marks