51887 Class 115 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
West Somerset Railway Jun 93-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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Current Livery |
Non Standard Carmine & Cream |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
None |
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Owner |
West Somerset Railway |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
9 July 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 51887 was repainted into a plain green livery and it is not clear during the 1990's whether 51887 was in a general pool of vehicles or if it was formed into a second fixed set, paired with either 51663 or 51852. It wasn't long before cars started to fall out of the service and one set was concentrated on going forwards. 51887 was later repainted into a non authentic carmine & cream colour and saw use as a third powercar for the railways main operating set (51859/59678/51880), possibly when maintenance of 51880 or 51859 was required. 51887 performed for many years operating WSR services and became the last powercar from the "second set" in the 1990's to survive. 51887 later fell out of use and spent several years in storage. In 2009 the vehicle was selected for the most thorough rebuild ever undertaken on the WSR Class 115 fleet. 51887 was moved to Minehead where it received major bodywork repairs. Much work to re-skin and replace the steel framework was progressed on the No2 side. The idea was to have three powercars on rotation, with one under overhaul and two in service. However in an unfortunate case of history repeating itself yet again (the West Somerset on three separate occasions in the past had invested in overhauling Class 100, 103 and 115 vehicles only to halt the work and either sell or scrap the vehicles) the overhaul work on 51887 was stopped and a change in direction saw the vehicle instead stored outside for a long period of time allowing further water ingress. By the late 2010's the railway, who up to that point had maintained that the vehicle would be restored if resources allowed, finally classed the vehicle as a spares donor that was not for restoration. 51887 remains in storage where presumably it provides spare parts for the operational Class 115 powercars on the line. |
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Future Plans |
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51887 stored in the back siding at Minehead. It is seen alongside sister W51859 which has fared better of late! 29/6/24. Chris Moxon |
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51887 stored at Minehead, 6/8/22. Ian Dobson |
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51887 stored at Minehead, the same year the railway announced the vehicle was to be a spares donor rather than a going concern, 21/6/19. Chris Moxon |
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51887 looking rather sorry for itself, 24/10/18. Micahel Hughes |
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51887 stored at Minehead, awaiting its restoration to restart, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon |
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Serious restoration work: view of the cab (drivers side) which has been stripped revealing corrosion to be repaired, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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Serious restoration work: view of the cab (secondmans side) which has been stripped revealing corrosion to be repaired, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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Serious restoration work: view of the No1 side guards van, which has yet to be tackled, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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View of the No2 side engine in the C&W works at Minehead, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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Serious restoration work: view of the No1 side re-skin which is progressing well, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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Serious restoration work: view of the No1 side re-framing which is progressing well, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |
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51887 stripped down with bodywork repairs progressing at Minehead, 4/10/09. Bill Pugsley |
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Thought to be 51887, now sheeted, in storage at Minehead, 15/8/06. Carl Watson |
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51887 in storage at Minehead, 24/9/05. Simon Edwards |
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51887 after arrival at Minehead. The plain green livery is freshly applied and there are NSE liveried vehicles in the formation behind. The rear car will likely be either 51663 or 51852, 1995. Mark Turner |
Interior
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View of the interior which is currently stripped to enable a full body rebuild to take place, 4/9/10. Paul Moxon |