51663 Class 115 Driving Motor Brake Second (Underframe Only)

Home Railway	West Somerset Railway	Location History	West Somerset RailwayApr 93-Present
Current Location	West Somerset Railway
Current Status	Stored - Underframe Only
Owner	West Somerset Railway
Website	west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Record Last Updated	9 July 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51663 was preserved by the West Somerset Railway in 1993 for use on off peak services. The railway had previously run an interesting variety of different DMU sets but wished to standardise on maintenance, so aquired five Class 115 powercars along with several trailer cars as a direct replacement for the earlier sets. 51663 was repainted into a plain green livery and it is not clear during the 1990's whether 51663 was in a general pool of vehicles or if it was formed into a second fixed set, paired with 51887. It wasn't long before cars started to fall out of the service and one set was concentrated on going forwards. During the late 1990's the vehicle was withdrawn for a heavy overhaul which was to be undertaken in the workshops at Williton., however the work was later abandoned and the body of the vehicle was scrapped in December 2004. The underframe survives, stored as a mechanical source of spare parts.
Future Plans None

	Increasingly difficult to photograph from public vantage points is the remains of 51663, in the back siding at Minehead surrounded by other vehicles including fellow donor 51887 to the left and restored sister W51859 behind, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

	The underframe of 51663, extracted from the bushes and "proudly" on display at Minehead during the diesel gala, visible from passing trains and proving that it still survives! 21/6/19. Chris Moxon

	51663 becoming increasingly entangled in the undergrowth, 11/6/17. Carl Watson

	51663 still surviving as an underframe, seen in storage in the long siding between Dunster and Minehead, 4/9/10. Chris Moxon

	51663 stored at Dunster, 4/10/09. Bill Pugsley

	51663 undergoing heavy restoration in the Swindon shed at Williton on the West Somerset Railway, 2/10/99. Stuart Mackay

	51663 at Minehead, 6/8/96. Tony Willmore

	51663 in multiple with Class 105 51485/56121 at Crowcombe Heathfield, 3/10/94. Andy ?