55012 Class 122 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Weardale Railway Apr 12-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
Visited Railways |
Rail Restorations North East (Contract Restoration) Oct 09-Sep 11 |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
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National Railway Museum (Shildon) Sep 11-Apr 12 |
TRA Designation |
North Norfolk Railway May 13-Oct 13 |
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Owner |
Mike Wood |
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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Oct 13-May 14 |
Website |
None |
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Record Last Updated |
1 August 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information Modifications for 55012's departmental role along with the time in storage meant that an immediate (re)entry into passenger service was not possible, and the vehicle was therefore sent to Rail Restorations North East in Shildon for a full contract restoration. The restoration saw all areas tackled including mechanical, interior and exterior work. All components were refurbished and the departmental modifications reversed. In September 2011 55012 emerged resplendent in BR Green livery. It was loaned to the National Railway Museum's Shildon site, where it briefly operated some shuttle services linking the car parks with the main museum site. April 2012 saw 55012 moved to the owner's home railway at the Weardale Railway. However at the end of that season the railway declared it was discontinuing ordinary heritage railway running, consequently the vehicle was offered for sale or lease, the latter offer being taken up by the North Norfolk Railway who had been struggling with DMU availablility following protracted trouble with resident Class 101 vehicles. 55012 moved to the NNR in May 2013, however its visit was nothing short of disasterous with the unit consistantly suffering major failures. Despite weeks of remidial work, reliability continued to be poor. Following an engine failure being the final straw, the railway eventually terminated the loan in October, 55012 having operated less than five days in traffic whilst visiting the NNR. 55012 moved to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for further contract repairs, which were completed relatively quickly with sucess. The vehicle on an extended stay operated services at the EVR, interestingly in the company of fellow Class 122 55006, a preservation first. In May 2014, 55012 returned to its home line the Weardale Railway where it now operates on reintroduced heritage services. |
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Future Plans |
Interior