52048 Class 108 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Garw Valley Railway	Location History	Swanage Railway Oct 93-Nov 03
Current Location	Garw Valley Railway		Barry Island RailwayNov 03-Jun 09
Current Status	Operational		Garw Valley Railway Jun 09-Present
Current Livery	BR Blue (Half Yellow Panel)
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	51919
Owner
Website	None
Record Last Updated	18 April 2022
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 52048 was preserved with its partner 51919 in 1993 by the Purbeck Diesel Support Group who wished to operate the set on the expanding Swanage Railway in Dorset. After arrival, the vehicle was made operational and painted into non standard Southern Green livery. 52048 was launched into traffic in 1995, following which it worked many of the Swanage Railway’s diesel diagrams. Some time later, with its duties largely taken over by Class 108 set 51933/56504 (also resident on the line on a long term loan), the set was removed from traffic and put into storage. In 2003, 52048 had been sold to the Barry Island Railway where it was returned to traffic sporting a new colour scheme of BR Blue. In 2008, the lease on the Barry Island Railway was terminated, and the DMU fleet of three sets was disbanded. 52048 was put up for sale, and was purchased the following year along with partner 51919 by the embryonic Garw Valley Railway. Since arrival at the Garw Valley Railway some interior work was completed on the vehicle, involving refurbishment of the seating, seat frames, flooring, walls, roof and window surrounds. The vehicle was also periodically started up to keep the mechanics servicable. In 2015, 52048 & 51919 were put up for sale, but strangely were withdrawn shortly afterwards after the sale of other stock. A long period without news followed, before in April 2022 it was revealed that volunteers had restarted limited work to the interior and mechanical equipment on 52048 & 51919.
Future Plans The interior and mechanical refurbishment process is ongoing until the railway opens for passenger operations, when it is hoped that 52048 will be used both in its own right and as loco hauled stock.

	52048 appears to have deteriorated very little after spending almost ten years inactive inside it's shed, 2017. Owen Dyckhoff

	52048 at Barry Depot, 6/5/07. Daniel Adkins

	52048 & 51919, 11/6/05. Simon Edwards

	52048 in Barry shed soon after arrival from the Swanage Railway, 23/11/03. Stuart Mackay

	52048 tabled at Corfe Castle, 1999. Robert Frise

Interior

Work has taken place on the seats and seat frames, new upholstery and attention to the window frames. The flooring has been deep cleaned and the original colour restored, April 2010. Nick Weedon