51859 Class 115 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	West Somerset Railway	Location History	West Somerset RailwayAug 95-Present
Current Location	West Somerset Railway
Current Status	Operational
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	59678 & 51880
Owner	West Somerset Railway
Website	www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 August 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 51859 was preserved by the West Somerset Railway in 1995 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. 51859 soon became part of a core 3-car set along with 59678 & 51880. It is thought that 51887 was also used when maintenance of 51859 or 51880 was required. In Spring 1996 51859 was repainted into a non authentic carmine & cream colour scheme, and performed for many years operating WSR services. In 2007, with the exterior of the 3-car set having become worn in appearance, 51859 was repainted into the more appropriate BR Green. 2008-2013 saw 51859 operate all DMU services in 3-car formation with 59678 & 51880, and could on occation be strengthened to 4-cars with the addition of 59493. During Winter 2013/2014, 51859 received some remidial work, with the cab interior restored and bodywork completed. In March 2014 the vehicle was out-shopped and re-entered service. In 2019 51859 suffered a transmission failure putting it out of service. Over the 2019/20 winter period a spare gearbox from the chassis of donor 51663 was removed and sent to GB Marine for overhaul. They sourced numerous spares and returned a reconditioned gearbox which was subsequently fitted to 51859. They also sent back a bonus.....when they stripped it down they found a wallet inside, complete with BR Identity Card too dating back to about 1992 and confirming that it had received attention at Wolverton Works! Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 3-car set never returned to full traffic and fell out of service requiring more repairs, seeing no use in 2021. 51859 was however given some treatment and was returned to service in August 2022. One of the noticable changes was a cab end repaint which coincided with a change from half yellow panel to speed whiskers. By the 2024 running season, 51859 was out of traffic once again for repairs, but returned in August of that year.
Future Plans To maintain in service.

	W51859/W59678/W51880 looking good externally but withdrawn for repairs at Minehead, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

	51859/59678/51880 at Bishops Lydeard working event shuttles to Norton Fitzwarren, 6/8/22. Ian Dobson

	W51859 rests at Minehead, 27/10/20. Dave Bickley

	A rather worn final drive component found during transmission repairs to 51859 in 2020. Paul Fleet

	Corridor end view of W51859 stabled at Williton during the diesel gala, 22/6/19. Chris Moxon

	W51859 calls at Crowcombe, 27/3/18. Dave Henwood

	W51859 in service at Minehead, 11/6/17. Carl Watson

	W51859 waits to depart Bishops Lydeard with the 12:20 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	51859 in service on the WSR, 1/6/12. Sicco Dierdrop

	51859/59678/59493/51880 make an impressive 4-car formation, 16/5/12. Bill Pugsley

	51859, 59678 & 51880 depart Watchet bound for Bishops Lydeard, 9/6/11. Darren Harris

	51859 on the front of a 9 coach mixed DMU/Mk1 formation at Minehead. The DMU was booked to operate Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren shuttles during the railway's Late Summer Weekend gala, but mechanical problems prevented the runs from happening on the Saturday. However, these had been resolved by late afternoon, so in order to position the DMU at the other end of the line for Sunday's turns, the 3-car set was attached to one of the service trains! 4/9/10. Chris Moxon

	51859, 59678 & 51880 arrive into Bishops Lydeard, 13/6/10. David Beardmore

	51859 in service on the WSR, 18/6/09. Rabbi WP Thinrod

	51859, 59678 & 51880 approach Blue Anchor with a Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service, 24/8/08. Alan Padley

	51859 stabled at Minehead, 6/10/07. Rob Phillips

	51859 stabled at Minehead, 6/8/04. Simon Jones

	51859 stabled at Minehead, 4/10/03. David Beardmore

	51859 at Minehead, 15/8/03. David McGuire

	51859 in operation at Bishops Lydeard, 2002. Simon Jones

	51859 in operation on the WSR, 1/10/99. Stuart Mackay

	51859 in 1997. Ian Hooper

	51859, 59678 & 51880, freshly repainted, stabled at Minehead, 25/8/96. Michael Wadman

	51859, 59678 & two unidentified vehiclesarrive into minehead in a 4-car formation during a Thomas event, 7/7/96.Peter Thompson

Interior

	A cab view of 51859 at Bishops Lydeard, 27/3/18. Dave Henwood

	51859's front passenger saloon, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	51859's middle passenger saloon, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	51859's guards van, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon