51405 Class 117 Driving Motor Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Mid Hants Railway May 01-Oct 11 |
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Current Location |
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Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Oct 11-Present |
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Current Status |
Operational (For Sale) |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
7 September 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Following a period in storage 51405 was moved to the Mid Hants Railway in 2001 where it was refurbished and repainted into BR Green alongside 51363. The 2-car set was later returned to its original 3-car formation with the addition of TCL 59510 from the West Somerset Railway. Between 2006 and 2008, 51405 was occationally substituted for 51400, which was on the line at this time as a spare powercar. Due to a change in employment in 2011, the owner left the MHR to take over the role of looking after steam loco 70000 Britannia, which resulted in the entire MHR DMU fleet being reluctanctly sold. The MHR itself were offered first refusal to buy 51405, but had to turn the offer down as funds had already been allocated for other projects on the railway. The 3-car set was purchased complete by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd, who relocated the vehicle to the landslip-stricken Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in October 2011. In 2012, a Kenlowe fan was fitted on the No2 engine, and several stepboards replaced. 51405 saw much use operating the "northern section" of the temporarily divided railway, and was part of the celebrations after the railway of two halves was reconnected in October 2012. Gradually throughout 2015 the interior passenger saloons inside 51405 received a visual boost when the seating was fully reupholstered into authentic BR blue/green material. This work was completed in November 2015. After a period of sucessful service 51405 was taken out of the set again at the end of the 2017 season for further improvement works. These were mainly undertaken by the line's carriage & wagon department who undertook a large amount of work on the interior and exterior of the vehicle before work had to stop for other commitments. In May 2019 work was able to resume in the carriage & wagon workshops with 51405 emerging in the August completed from the floor upwards, repainted in green. Further mechanical repairs were required however, so the vehicle spent the remainder of the season receiving further repairs to ready it for a return to traffic. Early 2020 saw an "M exam" carried out on 51405 and it then returned to service formed in its normal 3-car set once again. Following a few years use, 51405 was taken out of service in August 2023 for some mechanical repairs. DMBS 51360 covered for 51405 whilst it was out of traffic. The following year 51405 was returned to service. In June 2024, the livery was changed slightly with 51405 gaining speed whiskers. Unexpectedly, 51405 was put up for sale in September 2024 along with partners 59510 & 51363, the group wishing to reduce the size of their fleet to a manageable level. 51405 is currently for sale in an operating condition with its future, at the GWSR at least, in doubt. |
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Future Plans |
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W51405/W59510/W51363 arrive into Toddington from Cheltenham, 13/7/24. Peter Evans |
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W51405/W59510/W51363 stabled at Toddington, 24/4/22. Chris Moxon |
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W51405 calls at Gotherington, 7/11/21. Dave Bickley |
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W51405 at Toddington having an M exam, after which it would return to service after a period of two years out of service, 26/1/20. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51405 fresh from release from the Carriage & Wagon department having had much interior and exterior work completed, 4/8/19. GWSR DMU Group |
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W51405/W51363 stand at Winchcombe, 26/7/15. Kevin Gale |
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W51405/W59510/W51363 in service at Winchcombe, 5/6/14. Neil Jones |
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W51405/W51510/W51363 passing Hailes, 26/7/13. Nigel Gibbs |
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W51405/W59510/W51363 operating services at Toddington, 26/7/13. Nigel Gould |
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W51405/W59510/W51363 operating services at Toddington, 9/6/13. Nigel Gould |
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W51405 & W51363 arrive into Ropley whilst operating some of their final trains on the Mid Hants Railway, 22/9/11. Keith Duke |
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W51405/W51363 stabled in the dock at Alresford, 31/7/05. Simon Edwards |
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W51405/W51363 & W55003 at Alresford, 29/6/03. Robert Frise |
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W51405/W51363 at Medstead & Four Marks. Chris Moxon |
Interior
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Freshly reupholstered seating inside 51405, 27/11/15. GWSR Carriage & Wagon Blog |
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Cab view, drivers side, inside 51405, 4/10/13. Chris Moxon |
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Cab view, secondmans side, inside 51405, 4/10/13. Chris Moxon |
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The front passenger saloon, inside 51405, 4/10/13. Chris Moxon |
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The middle passenger saloon, inside 51405, 4/10/13. Chris Moxon |
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The rear passenger saloon, inside 51405, 4/10/13. Chris Moxon |