51937 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Poulton & Wyre Railway	Location History	Peak Rail Nov 94-Jun 08
Current Location	Poulton & Wyre Railway		Midland Railway Butterley Jun 08-Mar 20
Current Status	Under Restoration		Poulton & Wyre Railway Mar 20-Present
Current Livery	BR White Stripe
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	56484
Owner	Poulton & Wyre Railway Society
Website	pwrd.org
Record Last Updated	1 January 2022
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information Preserved at Peak Rail in 1994 with partner 56484 along with three other Class 108 units. It seems that this unit remained in storage there for nearly 15 years, however in June 2008 the two car unit was moved to the Midland Railway to become part of the DMU Group fleet there, with financial contribution from a private individual. By August 2008 it had moved to Butterley yard and within a short time the engines were made to run and some test runs were undertaken, up and down the yard. Other work included the cab which was stripped out and the roof dome removed to allow repairs to corrosion. The cab was then mostly put back together. Exhausts were removed from the rear end to permit start of corrosion repairs there. Much exterior paint was removed from the body and one side was painted into grey undercoat. The bogie frames, solebars and front headstock were also repainted. Internally, the front passenger saloon saw partial restoration. By 2011, the vehicle's restoration had stalled while the owners dealt with other commitments, and the vehicle was stored in the infamous "DMU headshunt" at Butterley. Further subsequent changes in circumstances resulted in the 51937 being sold in 2015 as the resources to complete the vehicle's restoration would not be available. The new owner was announced in November 2015 as the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society who had been give a match funded grant of £5,000 from Wyre Borough Council to purchase rolling stock for its new preserved railway between Poulton and Fleetwood in Lancashire. Restoration work by volunteers resumed in 2016 to ready 51937 for its new home. During 2019 the vehicle was undergoing an M exam to ready its dormant mechanicals for use once again. March 2020 saw 51937 finally arrive at its new home despite being purchased some five years previously, in a part restored state. 51937's restoration now continues at Thornton.
Future Plans The Poulton & Wyre Railway have plans to complete the restoration to passenger carrying condition after which 51937 should be capable to run the railway's first passenger trains.

	51937's restoraion has been progressing well on its section of track at Thornton, 25/9/21. Aaron Browning

	51937 being unloaded at its new home, 3/20. Poulton & Wyre Railway

	51937 inside the shed at Swanwick Junction undergoing an M exam (with thanks to MRB volunteers who allowed access to this area), 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937 inside the shed at Swanwick Junction undergoing an M exam (with thanks to MRB volunteers who allowed access to this area), 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937 reformed with 54484 and residing at Swanwick Junction, 21/10/18. Richard Moxon

	51937 back outside the sheds at Butterley for restoration work to continue, 10/12/16. Paul Hadfield

	Cleaning work progressing on the front end, 23/11/15. Poulton & Wyre Railway

	51937 awaiting restoration to restart at Butterley, 2/3/14. Zoe Hunter

	51937 during a break in restoration at Butterley, 14/7/12. Chris Moxon

	The restoration work on 51937 continues at Butterley (Midland Railway). This view of the rear end shows the completion of corrosion repairs in that area, the bulk of the metalwork being completed in one week. The rest of the paintwork has been taken back to bare metal then primed. At the same time, work has progressed on stripping old paint from the roof which is just about visible on this image taken in the evening sunlight, 16/4/11. Richard Oldfield

	51937 under restoration at Butterley, now with a yellow cab front, 23/5/10. David Beardmore

	The cab end has received a coat of yellow undercoat and is rubbed down ready for gloss, 19/4/10. Eddie Knorn

	Work has started on the rear end with the removal of the exhaust silencers, gangway faceplate and scissors to enable corrosion repairs to start soon, 19/4/10. Eddie Knorn

	The dome has been refitted, and welding repairs done to the cab front. Eddie Knorn

	The dome in the workshop for repairs. All the layers have been removed leaving the original white glassfibre, and some new gel coats have been added, 17/7/09. Eddie Knorn

	The vehicle enters the carriage shed at Butterley. The cab dome had already been removed, and under the tarpaulin it can be seen that some of the rot had been cut out of the lower front, 13/7/09. Eddie Knorn

	Front end repairs progressing with the cab roof dome now removed, 4/5/09. Eddie Knorn

	Stabled outside the sheds at Butterley, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon

	Front end repairs progressing, 1/09. Eddie Knorn

	51937/51567 stored at Matlock, 5/98. Hugh Llewelyn

Interior

	51937's cab, drivers side, prior to being moved to its new home for interior restoration to be progressed, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937's cab, secondmans side, prior to being moved to its new home for interior restoration to be progressed, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937's front saloon, prior to being moved to its new home for interior restoration to be progressed, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937's middle saloon, prior to being moved to its new home for interior restoration to be progressed, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	51937's guards van, prior to being moved to its new home for interior restoration to be progressed, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	Cleaning work progressing in the front saloon, 23/11/15. Poulton & Wyre Railway

	51937's cab, 14/7/12. Chris Moxon

	51937's cab, 14/7/12. Chris Moxon

	51937's front saloon, 14/7/12. Chris Moxon

	51937's middle saloon, 14/7/12. Chris Moxon