52031 Class 107 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
Richborough Power Station (storage) Feb 93-Jul 94 |
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Current Location |
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East Kent RailwayJul 94-Oct 96 |
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Current Status |
Operational |
Eden Valley Railway Oct 96-Dec 97 |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Half Yellow Panel) |
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Crewe Electric Depot (storage) Dec 97-Dec 98 |
TRA Designation |
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Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway Dec 98-Mar 09 |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Tanat Valley Railway Nov 11-Jun 22 |
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Owner |
Nemesis Rail |
Private Site: Nemesis Rail Jun 22-Nov 24 |
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Website |
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Visited Railways |
Wensleydale Railway Oct 03-04 |
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Nene Valley Railway Mar 09-Nov 11 |
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Record Last Updated |
16 November 2024 |
Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Nov 24-Present |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information In 1997 when the East Kent decided to sell much of its rolling stock, 52031 & 52006 were purchased by Class 107 Ltd. 52031 entered service in BR Green with 52006 at its new home the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway. In 2000, the set was returned to its historically original 3-car formation with the addition of TSL 59791. In 2003, partner 52006 was replaced by 52005. In 2008, Class 107 Ltd vacated Embsay, and 52031, 59791 & 52005were moved on hire to the Nene Valley Railway the following year. Strangely never used at the Nene Valley, 52031, 59791 & 52005 were moved again in 2011, to Class 107 Ltd's second base, the Tanat Valley Railway where it operated all of the line's services. In 2014 the set lost its centre car which was removed to become a static cafe. During the late 2010's, it unfortunately became apparent that the DMU's did not suit the Tanat Valley operation, and 52031 fell out use. In 2021 Class 107 Ltd decided to sell up offering all five of its Tanat Valley based 107 vehicles for sale, including 52031. By the end of the year, Nemesis Rail had purchased the collection, and moved 52031 to their main base the following summer. 52031's was then brought undercover for the first serious overhaul work for some years. Considerable bodywork was undertaken along with a full repaint, the mechanical systems were serviced and the interior further restored and modified. Class 107 Ltd had turned around several of the original second class seats to form family friendly facing bays some years previously, however the conversion lacked some finesse with seats propped up on blocks to fit, incorrect handed seats sticking out into the aisle and the backs of the seats rubbing against each other as they flexed. Nemesis made the descision during the overhaul to continue with the facing bays but to change the 107 seats for suburban (ex Class 117) seating that were properly constructed for back-to-back use. This created a much more robust and thought out conversion and became a visually major part of the interior overhaul. In late 2024, 52031 (partnered once again with 52005) was completed and moved by rail to the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on a hire contract. |
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Future Plans |
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52031 stored at Nantmawr, the vehicle now for sale, 1/5/21. Darren JB |
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52031/52005 in service, 11/9/15. Robin Harrison |
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52031/52005 at the end of the day's services at the Tanat Valley, 13/7/14. Osrail |
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52031/52005 in traffic at Nantmawr, 24/8/13. Mike Froud |
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52031, 59791 & 52005 stabled at Wansford, Nene Valley Railway, 1/6/09. David Beardmore |
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52031 on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway, 15/10/00. Stuart Mackay |
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SC52031/SC52006 at Shepherdswell not long after arrival, 15/1/95. Tim Rogers |
Interior
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The first class seating inside 52031, 25/10/11. Mike Froud |