55033 Class 121 Driving Motor Brake Second

Home Railway	Colne Valley Railway	Location History	Colne Valley RailwayNov 95-Present
Current Location	Colne Valley Railway
Current Status	Operational	Visited Railways	East Kent Railway Sep 96-Apr 97
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers & Half Yellow Panel)		Private Site: St Leonards Apr 97-Jun 97
TRA Designation	4		Ilford Works Sep 18-Oct 18
Partner Vehicle(s)	56287		Epping Ongar Railway Oct 18
Owner	Pressed Steel Heritage Ltd
Website	None
Record Last Updated	1 April 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 55033, notable as the last bubble car to work over the Bridport Branch in Dorset, was purchased from Tyseley in late 1995. It went first to the Colne Valley Railway but was loaned to the East Kent Railway for a few months still in its original Midline Livery. From there it was moved to St Leonards where some bodywork repairs were carried out and it was then repainted into BR Green when it was transferred back to the Colne Valley Railway. During the 2000's vehicle ran for every year that it had been in preservation and proved to be a reliable unit., paired with its sister Class 121 trailer car 56287 on busy days at the Colne Valley Railway. Whilst there the interior and cabs were restored with new Formica. The original tungsten lighting was also restored and the seating reupholstered. Mechanically, 55033 received both engine and gearbox changes. In 2018, after a period of 20 years, 55033 was on the move again, this time to Ilford Works for a brief stay over a couple of days for tyre turning. After the work was completed, the vehicle was able to continue to the Epping Ongar Railway where it was the star vistor for the 2018 Railcar Association Convention before returning to its home at the Colne Valley.
Future Plans The owners plan to undertake a repaint to 55033 in the near future.

	W55033 running during Santa season, 16/12/23. Lewis Vince

	W55033 working in multiple with the newly arrived Class 117 set at Castle Headingham, 29/5/21. Paul Hughes

	W55033 back in service at the Colne Valley, operating driver training trips, 23/7/20. Neil Bunt

	W55033 calls at the normally closed Blake Hall station during a driver experience trip at the Epping Ongar Railway, where W55033 was visiting, 5/10/18. Chris Moxon

	W55033 on a turn around at Ongar station, during a driver experience trip at the Epping Ongar Railway, where W55033 was visiting, 5/10/18. Chris Moxon

	W55033 in service at Castle Headingham. 26/5/18. Paul Hughes

	W55033 sidelined at Castle Headlingham following a horn fault (photo taken with permission), 28/4/18. Richard Moxon

	W55033 operating services at Castle Headlingham, 8/8/17. Paul Hughes

	W55033 at Castle Headingham, 1/3/15. Neil Bunt

	W55033 stabled at Castle Headingham, 9/13.Neil Bunt

	W55033 stabled at Castle Headingham, 12/9/10. David Beardmore

	W55033 in service at Castle Headingham, 28/3/10. Andy Neil

	W55033 stabled, 29/8/12. Nigel Gould

	55033 & 56287in the rain at Castle Headingham, Colne Valley Railway, during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon

	55033 coupled to 121 DTS 56287, in original fashion at Castle Headingham, Colne Valley Railway, during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 26/10/08. Chris Moxon

	55033 arriving into Castle Headingham, Colne Valley Railway, during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	55033 & 56287 at Castle Headingham, Colne Valley Railway, during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	55033 & 56287 at Castle Headingham, Colne Valley Railway, during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	View of 55033's underframe during the 2008 Railcar Convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	55033 at Castle Headingham at the end of the days services, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	W55033 & W56287 in service at Castle Headingham, 2005. Wibble45

	Class 121 W55033 in operation on the Colne Valley Railway, 31/5/01. Stuart Mackay

	W55033 at the Colne Valley Railway, 11/10/99. David McGuire

	55033 shortly after arrival at the Colne Valley, 1996. Neil Bunt

	55033 in service at the East Kent Railway, 1996. Neil Bunt

Interior

	55033's nicely reupholstered seating, 26/5/18. Paul Hughes

	New lino has been fitted, and seat frames are in the process of being refitted, 23/5/16. Neil Bunt

	Cab view (No1 end) of 55033 (driver's side), 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	Cab view (No2 end) of 55033 (driver's side), 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	The front saloon looking forwards towards the cab, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	The rear saloon looking towards the cab of the vehicle, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

	The refurbished guards van, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon