51947 Class 108 Driving Motor Brake Second (Body Only)

Home Railway

East Somserset Railway

Location History

Bodmin & Wenford Railway Aug 93-Jul 21

Current Location

East Somserset Railway

East Somserset Railway Jul 21-Present

Current Status

Stored - Body Only

Current Livery

BR Blue

Owner

Mendip Traction & Rolling Stock Group

Website

facebook.com/TheMendipTractionandRollingStockGroup

Record Last Updated

9 July 2024

Preservation Modifications
51947 is heavily stripped and is now in use as a stores vehicle, having lost its bogies and all underframe equipment.

Preservation Information
51947 was preserved in 1993 for use by the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, being purchased by their supporting organisation the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Trust. Photographic evidence would suggest that the vehicle was partnered with DMCL 50645 which has since moved on. Any further information of this possible arrangement would be welcome.

The vehicle was never made operational and is understood to be a spares vehicle to keep operational set 50980/52054 in good order. The vehicle has therefore deteriorated in storage at Bodmin General with no plans for a return to service.

In 2014 or 2015, the vehicle's windows were plated over and the exterior painted green to improve its appearance.

By 2019 the railway were exploring whether there would be any interest in selling 51947 on as it had been deemed surplus to requirements. A short time later this became official and the vehicle was duly advertised for sale. It received no takers as a going concern (as expected!) but there was interest from several groups looking for spare parts.

In July 2021, 51947 was relocated to an area where it could be more easily accessed and the stripping of spare parts started. Much was removed before the vehicle then relocated to its new home at the East Somserset Railway, where it continued to be stripped down.

By November 2022, the stripping of 51947 had been completed. With no underframe components left, the body of the vehicle was craned onto the floor and the bogies reclaimed as spares. The vehicle was slightly too long for its new location, so the cab and bufferbeam were also removed in order to shorten it a bit

2023 saw the vehicle made watertight, painted into BR blue and converted to a workshop, a role it now continues to provide.

Future Plans
To maintain as a workshop in support of 51909 & 56271.

51947 at Cranmore in use as a workshop, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

A close up of the severed front of 51947 at Cranmore, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

51947's secondmans side at Cranmore in use as a workshop, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

51947's drivers side at Cranmore in use as a workshop, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

51947 after having the cab front removed as part of its new purpose as a grounded body, 21/11/22. Ian Stoate

51947 having the cab front removed as part of its new purpose as a grounded body, 21/11/22. Ian Stoate

Following stripping, 51947 being lifted off its bogies and into its new home as a grounded body, 21/11/22. Ian Stoate

Following stripping, 51947 being lifted off its bogies and into its new home as a grounded body, 21/11/22. Ian Stoate

51947 at Cranmore a few months after it arrived from Bodmin, 19/9/21. Ken Jones

A start being made on stripping useful parts off 51947, 3/7/21. Ian Stoate

51947 during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

51947 during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

51947 during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

51947 during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

51947's windows have recently been plated over and the exterior painted green to improve its appearance, 31/10/15. Pete Renaut

51947 stored at Bodmin, 28/9/13. Stuart

51947 stored at Bodmin, now wth a considerable amount of glass broken, 4/11/12. Chris Walker

51947 stored at Bodmin, 12/6/10. David Beardmore

51947 stored at Bodmin, 8/9/07. Simon Edwards

51947 & 53645 at Bodmin Road, 11/8/94. David McGuire

The cab, now in very poor and incomplete condition, during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

The cab, now in very poor and incomplete condition, during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

The front saloon, now in very poor and incomplete condition, during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

The middle saloon, now in very poor and incomplete condition, during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown

The guards van, now in very poor and incomplete condition, during a photographic survey which was undertaken when the vehicle was finally put up for disposal, 2/6/19. David Nelson-Brown