51618 Class 127 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Llangollen Railway 84-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
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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 |
18 August 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications The 1990’s saw a corridor connection added and a connection into the saloon to allow through access in the vehicle. |
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Preservation Information In 1985, the vehicle was repainted into BR Green. During the late 1980’s, being the railway’s only operating DMU set, 51618 & 56456 saw a lot of use, and some of 51618’s doors were locked out of use and the footboards were removed. In 1990 the vehicle saw some restoration work to keep it in good condition. During the early 1990’s the out-of-use doors and footboards were reinstated, and in 1994 other DMUs started to join the operational fleet, lessening the workload on 51618 and allowing it to settle down to a more sustainable pattern of running. In 1997 the vehicle was refurbished again, with one of the rare Rolls Royce engines (No2 engine) being replaced with a reconditioned example. In 2000 the seating was reupholstered. In 2007 the No1 engine which wasn’t replaced ten years earlier was reconditioned. The rear final drive was also swapped following its failure in traffic. In 2009 the vehicle was repainted into the lighter (earlier) shade of BR Green, having operated in standard BR Green for nearly 25 years. This was to match its new partner, Class 108 DTCL 56223, after 56456 was withdrawn for a full rebuild. In 2010 the external refresh was completed with a roof repaint, which included the cab roof dome which was painted white. During this period the roof was extensively repaired, particularly around the gutter and cab areas. New elbows were fitted to one side of the exhaust system and both sides had new exhaust stacks made during 2011. This was in response to 51618 developing several exhaust leaks over the past few years. 2012 saw 51618 receive a replacement throttle cable, heater, and a brand new air and axle panel fitted inside the cab. Heavier mainenance in 2013 included a vacuum reservoir tank change, due to the original having suffered a crack which was causing vacuum leaks. Some areas of the guards van were repanelled having become careworn. A new windscreen wiper and alternator were also fitted. A spare bogie was also removed from store with work started to overhaul it as a replacement for an example which had become very worn on 51618. During 2014 work was completed on improving the look of the wooden parts of the interior, involving rubbing down and then revarnishing all the individual window surrounds and door pieces. Loose panels were also been resecured inside. June saw the roof repainted, having not been so treated for four years. The replacement bogie also reached an advanced stage, with the vacuum cylinder being refitted following refurbishment and the brake gear being reassembled. A few more years of service followed before the declining bodywork could not be ignored any longer. The owning group decided upon a staged approach with a different section of bodywork cut out and repalced each winter. The first stage was the cab and first two passenger windows on the drivers side, which was undertaken over the 2017/18 winter. The vehicle then returned to limited gala only services until winter 2019/20 where the guards van area on the drivers side was tackled. The onset of Covid-19 and the cancellation of several events led to 51618 not being required for the 2020 season, allowing uninterrupted restoration to be tackled once the national lockdown had been lifted. The bodywork to the guards area continued, with the guards doors themselves also being repaired. The bodywork continued to the first passenger bays next to the guards area, and a lot of supporting work also completed on the interior at the same time, such as the cutting and fitting of new interior panels and trim for the repaired and disturbed areas. Other tasks incuded the needle gunning and repainting of the bufferbeam and the replacement of one of the battery boxes (which had disintegrated!). Following the resumption of services after the pandemic, it was decided to keep 51618 out of service and push towards completing the overhaul. A lot of further welding and bodywork was undertaken along the bodysides to reverse decades of slowly creeping corrosion. 51618 was relaunched back into passenger service at the line's annual Railcar Gala in October 2023, with a freshly applied livery of BR green with speed whiskers. This contrasted with the lighter multiple unit green the vehicle previously carried and the two shades could be compared whilst coupled to regular partner 56223. With 51618 in better condition, in 2024 for the first time in many years the set was used more frequently rather than events only use. 51618 continues to operate regularly in a hybrid formation with 56223. |
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Future Plans |
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M51618/M56223, M51933/M54504 & E50416/E56171 in an all-green 6-car formation outside Pentrefelin shed, 11/8/24. John Joyce |
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Newly relaunched M51618 at Corwen tailing three Class 108 vehicles on the 19:50 Corwen-Llangollen, 7/10/23. Chris Moxon |
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Repairs continue to M51618 inside Pentrefelin works, 13/7/21. Aaron Browning |
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Fresh, primed bodywork visible on the side of M51618 inside Pentrefelin shed, 27/7/20. Llangollen Railcars |
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M51618 departs Berwyn for Llangollen, 14/9/19. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 near Berwyn, 3/6/18. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 depart Berwyn, 4/6/17. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 at Llangollen Goods Junction, 23/10/16.Karl Latham |
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M51618/M56223 depart Llangollen, 20/6/15. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 during a driver experience trip at Llangollen, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 having a roof repaint, 9/6/14.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618/M56223 at llangollen during the Teddy Bear's Picnic event, 11/5/14.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618/M56223 call at Berwyn, 24/3/14.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618/M56223 depart Berwyn, 22/3/14. Peter Dickinson |
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The replacement bogie receives an overhauled vacuum cylinder, 3/2/14. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The replacement bogie during repainting, 27/1/14. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The replacement bogie being dismantled for overhaul, 9/12/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618/M56223 in the sunshine at Llangollen, 18/8/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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Investigating the vacuum reservoir which had been leaking, 6/5/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618/M56223 pass M51907/M54490 near Llangollen during a reshuffle at the depot, 28/1/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 in service at Glyndyfrdwy, 9/7/12.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 at Berwyn during the Railcar Gala, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 at Carrog during the Railcar Gala, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 passes M51907 at Deeside, 2/2/12. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The Railway called on the DMU group to work the steam timetable on Saturday due to the lack of a crew for draw-off turns at Carrog. Currently it is necessary to have another locomotive there to pull trains back as run rounds are not possible due to scaffolding under the bridge at the end of the station. The bridge is being repaired prior to the extension to Carrog being opened next year. The 127 is seen enjoying the sunshine at Carrog on a day which saw a record 433 passenger journeys on the two-car unit, 15/10/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The Railway called on the DMU group to work the steam timetable on Saturday due to the lack of a crew for draw-off turns at Carrog. Currently it is necessary to have another locomotive there to pull trains back as run rounds are not possible due to scaffolding under the bridge at the end of the station. The bridge is being repaired prior to the extension to Carrog being opened next year. The 127 is seen enjoying the sunshine at Carrog on a day which saw a record 433 passenger journeys on the two-car unit, 15/10/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The remains of an engine which originally came out of 51618. The engine put a "leg out of bed" and damaged the block but there is still much which can be re-used, 3/8/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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In the countryside near Garth-y-dwr the class 127 power car, with its Rolls-Royce engines, hauls class 108 trailer 56223. The roof of the class 127 had recently been reliveried to its original condition, 26/6/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The headcode box on the 127 has been rubbed down and given a final gell coat of white and the gutters repainted as they'd been damaged when sanding the roof, 13/6/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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In 2009 51618 was repainted in Medium Brunswick Green livery. The relivery was completed in 2010 when the roof was fully repainted in grey gloss and the white headcode box was reinstated. During this period the roof was extensively repaired, particularly around the gutter and cab areas. The vehicle is seen departing Glyndyfrdwy in 2010. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618, running for only the second time with class 108 trailer 56223 calls during the Railcar Gala, June 2010. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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Two Derby cars at Llangollen, on the left class 108 vehicle 51907 and on the right class 127 51618. The 108 has Leyland engines and the 127 has Rolls Royce, June 2010. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 & M56223 approach Glyndyfrdwy during the Railcar Gala, 26/6/10. Chris Moxon |
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The 2009 season was the last that M51618 was to be paired with the class 105 trailer for some time as the class 105 is to be rebuilt. The pair are seen climbing up the riverbank below Berwyn station, 2009. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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A comparison in front ends. The steam autocoach is seen at Carrog in the company of the class 127 Derby suburban unit, May 2009. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 & M56456 alongside visiting Class 122 W55001 at Carrog during the Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 & M56456 pass Garthydwr during the Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 & M56456 pass Garthydwr during the Railcar Gala, 17/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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M51618 is seen in service at Carrog, June 2008.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 is seen in service at Carrog, June 2008.Llangollen Railcar Group |
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It is amazing how many people think that preserving a diesel train is a matter of getting in it and turning a key! The first job in changing 51618's rear final drive was to remove the bogie, onto which the gearbox is fixed - this involved using a 50 ton crane to lift the rear of the unit so that the bogie could be disconnected and rolled out, December 2007. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The replacement final drive gearbox. Llangollen Railcars were very lucky to be able to locate a reconditioned unit through the Midland Railway DMU Group, December 2007. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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The completed bogie being rolled back into position under 51618 so that the crane can lower the body back down onto the wheels, December 2007. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618, M56456 & M50528 stand at Llangollen during the Railcar Gala, 9/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M51618, M56456 & M50528 call at Berwyn during the Railcar Gala, 9/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M51618, M56456 & M50528 arriving into Carrog during the Railcar Gala, 9/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M51618, M56456 & M50528 call at Berwyn during the Railcar Gala, 9/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's new No1 engine at Llangollen during the Railcar Gala, 9/6/07. Chris Moxon |
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An unusual three-car set ran briefly during the 2006 season while Cravens trailer M56456 was out of traffic for maintenance. The set was made up of M51618 and Class 104 vehicles M50454 and M50528 and ,as all the cars were powered, the set had no less than 1,100hp available. It is seen here leaving Carrog, 2006. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618, running with its Class 105 trailer, is crossing the River Dee at Pentrefelin and is beginning the 1 in 80 climb towards Berwyn station. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618 at Carrog, 28/6/97. Stuart Mackay |
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M51618/M56456 crossing the Dee Bridge, 1993. Llangollen Railcars |
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M51618 & M56456 stabled at Llangollen, 29/8/88. Tony Willmore |
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M51618/M56456 stabled at Llangollen, 6/87. Mike Martin |
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51618 & 56456 still in blue at Llangollen, working a service to Berwyn, 1985. Llangollen Railcar Group |
Interior
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Work progressing on the inter repairing unsecure panels, 7/4/14. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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51618's guards van received some restoration work over the winter 2012/2013, seen here after the area had been repainted, 29/4/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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Repanelling the guards area, 7/1/13. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618's cab, driver's side, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's cab, secondman's side, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's passenger saloon, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's passenger saloon, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's guards van, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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M51618's guards van, 24/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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A new air axle panel being fitted to M51618, 18/6/12. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618's driving cab. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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M51618's passenger saloon, reupholstered in 2000. Llangollen Railcar Group |