51849 Class 115 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Midland Railway Butterley	Location History	Mid Norfolk Railway (County School) Mar 93-Apr 97
Current Location	Midland Railway Butterley		Colne Valley Railway Apr 97-Nov 99
Current Status	Stored		Spa Valley Railway Nov 99-Mar 19
Current Livery	Green (Full Yellow End)		Midland Railway Butterley Mar 19-Present
TRA Designation	5
Partner Vehicle(s)	51669
Owner
Website	None
Record Last Updated	19 October 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51849 was preserved in 1993 as a 3-car set with 59664 & 51669 at the Mid Norfolk Railway’s northern outpost at County School station. Limited restoration work on the vehicle was immediately undertaken, with the engines running shortly after arrival. By 1994 the vehicle was operating trains on the short running line. Purchased by Suburban Preservation, the set was moved to the Colne Valley Railway where it joined a large fleet of suburban vehicles from several classes. This was to be the last time 51849 operated under its own power. The set was later split up with centre car being moved elsewhere. 51849 & 51669 were sold and moved to the Spa Valley Railwayin November 1999. On arrival at the Spa Valley 51669 was selected from the two vehicles to be tacked first, so 51849 was put into store awaiting restoration. Other commitments with 51669 and the line's Class 207 unit resulted in 51849's condition deteriorating considerably in the bodywork department. In 2008, 51849 made limited test runs with 51669 operating effectively as a trailer car, proving that some of the mechanical and electrical systems were still alive, however the bodywork by this stage was in a very poor state. In 2012, the difficult decision was made to consider 51849 as a restoration too far, and any plans for future restoration were abandoned. It was planned to strip 51849 for spares to secure the long term mechanical future of operational partner 51669 and other DMU's. However problems with the restoration progress with 51669 led to the entire project being parked, so 51849 was left alone in storage, joined by partner 51669. After a further seven years in storage, with a continued deterioration in condition, the owning group deemed the restoration of any of the Class 115 vehicles too geater task and 51849 (with partner 51669) was put up for sale. In 2019, with a suitable buyer found, 51849 & 51669 were moved to their new home at the Midland Railway Butterley. 51849 remains in storage at Butterley, awaiting its restoration to begin.
Future Plans Once other restoration projects are completed, it is intended to fully restore 51849 back to operating condition, after which it can join other Derby built sets already resident and in service at the Midland Railway Butterley.

	51849 being overtaken by tree growth at Swanwick Junction, during the Railcar Convention, 20/9/24. Chris Moxon

	Derby suburban comparison: on the left Class 115 51849 is stored at Butterley alongside stabled Class 127 M51591, 12/7/20. Darren JB

	51849 shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849 stored at Groombridge, 3/8/13. Nigel Gould

	51849 in storage at Groombridge. The vehicle had seen further bodywork deterioration and a grafitti attack, 15/11/12. Mark Jenkins

	M51849 on a test run with M51669, 2009. Mark Jenkins

	During the summer of 2008 the Spa Valley had the opportunity to couple up both their 115 power cars and do a couple of runs up and down the line. It's believed to be the first time 51849 had been used on the line, working 115 51669 has been in use with a Class 101 DTC. They didn't manage to fire up 51849, but all the electrical systems worked in multiple with the operational half, and they were very surprised when they jumpered up and the handbrake buzzers started going off and the air and axle lights illuminated, 2008. Stuart Pay

	During the summer of 2008 the Spa Valley had the opportunity to couple up both their 115 power cars and do a couple of runs up and down the line. It's believed to be the first time 51849 had been used on the line, working 115 51669 has been in use with a Class 101 DTC. They didn't manage to fire up 51849, but all the electrical systems worked in multiple with the operational half, and they were very surprised when they jumpered up and the handbrake buzzers started going off and the air and axle lights illuminated, 2008. Stuart Pay

	51849, 59664 & 51663 with the engines running at County School station, the set still in Network SouthEast livery, 3/5/93. Chris Boon

Interior

	51849's cab shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849's cab shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849's passenger saloon shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849's passenger saloon shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849's guards van shortly after arrival at Butterley, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51849's unrestored passenger saloon, 12/12/12. Mark Jenkins

	51849's unrestored guards van, 12/12/12. Mark Jenkins