56062 (renumbered 79263) Class 101 Driving Trailer Second Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
North Norfolk Railway Aug 03-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Under Overhaul |
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Current Livery |
BR Green |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
15 December 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 56062, along with partner 51228, settled into an intensive programme of use on off peak services. Being the only first generation DMU on the railway, mechanical work had to be done as and when required, the set never spending particularly long out of traffic if possible. This was reflected with reasonably high mileage figures, with 6,509 miles being run in 2005, 5,755 miles in 2006, 4,381 miles in 2007 and 4,917 miles in 2008. 2009 saw a further 2,543 miles operated before the set was taken out of service for more extensive repairs. Because 51228 was covered more thoroughly in 2004, 56062 had the majority of repairs. The vehicle was stripped down in the carriage works, with much bodywork around the windows (which were all removed) and other vulnerable areas. Many original features were re-instated, including the short gutters above the doors, the tungsten interior lighting, and 4-light marker light arrangement on the cab (56062 became the first 101 in preservation to have these fitted). The overhaul was completed after a repaint into original lined green livery with speed whiskers, the vehicle returning to traffic in June 2010. 56062 continued to see intensive use during the 2010 (1,917 miles), 2011 (5,713 miles) & 2012 seasons operating as a second train at off-peak times, along with evening duties during the tourist season plus winter running. That final year saw the NNR's DMU mileage record broken with 56062 clocking up an unprecidented 8,591 miles! In late 2012 partner 51228 was withdrawn for mecanical and body overhaul, so 56062 spent a period out of service (remaining operational) while the powercar received the required repairs. Winter 2013/2014 was spent undercover in the railway's storage facility. In 2014, 56062 was required in service with 51192 for the summer season, as the latter's partner was withdrawn for repairs. These were completed in October, 56062 returning to store once again. Between June and August 2015, the vehicle received light bodywork repairs and a full repaint, keeping its BR Green but with the later (BR) style of lining. In 2015 & 2016, 56062 was "warm stored" awaiting the completion of partner 51228's overhaul. Unfortunately during this period, some minor items such as switches, fuses and gauges were removed to keep other vehicles on the line operational, so 56062 was no longer available for service if needed. During 2017, the other trailer car on the railway, 56352, had to be withdrawn from service for a repaint, so 56062 had its missing parts replaced and was returned to service for a brief period. It also ran as a hauled coach for the diesel gala, used for shunter shuttles. After the gala, 56062 was kept in the yard as an operational spare for 56352, but was not required in the end. In July 2018 the overhaul of partner 51228 was finally coming to an end, 56062/51228 ran the full length of the line for the first time in six years during a test run, and the set was relaunched into full passenger service the following month. After those previous years of mixed use, 56062 had returned to being used intensively again. In April 2020 the North Norfolk Railway sold 56062 to it's supporting charity: the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society. This was done to raise funds during the desperate times created as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A "run and maintain" agreement was reached which ensured that nothing day-to-day would change in the operation of 56062. For the first half of 2022, 56062 temporarily ran with 51188 whilst repairs to normal partner 51228 were undertaken. The sets were subsequently reformed correctly. 56062 ran 765 miles that year (from 2012-2021 mileage details for trailer cars were not recorded, only their parent powercars). In March 2023 after just 10 miles run that year, it was decided to remove 56062 from traffic for another bodywork overhaul as its exterior appearance had become poor and rust was starting to show along the bodysides. Sadly the window repairs undertaken in 2009 had not lasted as long as expected and serious corrosion had attacked most of the window bottoms, some areas further down and many of the doorways. The drivers side was particularly bad with a 12 inch strip below the windows requiring replacement the full length of the vehicle and extensive doorway repairs to all three doors along that side. Repairs continued well into 2024, but by July there was light at the end of the tunnel, with all repairs completed which was followed by a repaint. Other works completed included a cab interior repaint and freshen up of all the components. Most notably, 56062 was also cosmetically converted to represent one of the lost "yellow diamond" Met-Camm lightweight sets. This involved fitting of a lower bufferbeam steel valance, false waist height jumper cable sockets below the cab windows and modified battery box covers. At this point, the vehicle's identity was changed to 79263. Final interior preparations for a return to service are now underway. |
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Future Plans It is planned for 79263 to run with DMBS 51192 for two years whilst its usual partner 51228 is out of traffic for bodywork overhaul. Once 51228's repairs are complete, it is the intention to run a matching 2-car set recreating an East Anglian Met Camm Lightweight unit during the mid 1950's. |
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Repairs complete and repaint underway, 56062 is inside the carriage & wagon shed in primer. Also visible are newly fitted yellow diamond waist height jumper cable sockets, part of the vehicle's conversion to Met Camm lightweight appearance, 4/7/24. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 rubbed down ready for repainting following the completion of the bodywork repairs, 1/3/24. Chris Moxon |
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E56062's drivers side having all the window bottoms replaced with new laser cut repair sections, 27/4/23. Chris Moxon |
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E56062/E51228/M56352/M51188 at Weybourne operating as a 4-car set at the Mixed Traction Gala. Due to engine failures, 4-car formations were very rare in 2022, 11/6/22. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 seen under stars during the early hours of the morning in the yard at Sheringham. The Class 101 sets were being stabled at Sheringham for part of the winter when out of service in order to gain space at Weybourne depot, 27/11/21. Brad Wright |
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E56062 (right) crossing M56352 at Weybourne during the Mixed Traction Gala, which saw the first passing of two Metro Cammell sets along the line since BR days, 25/7/21. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 departing Holt during the Mixed Traction Gala. Class 08 D3935 is alongside, 25/7/21. Keith Ward |
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E56062 leads E51228, M56352 & M51188 at Weybourne. This was the first 4-car DMU to run in passenger service on the line since the 1960's and was made possible for the Mixed Traffic Gala event with the hire of powercar 51188 and substantial electrical repairs to the multiple working located in the cabs of 51228 & 56352, both of which were damaged, 14/6/19. Chris Moxon |
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E56062/E51228 looking very at home in rural East Anglian surroundings, early morning on a Weybourne-Sheringham empty coaching stock working before the day's services begin, 22/2/19. Chris Moxon |
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E56062/E51228 pause at Holt for mechanical checks during the set's test run after passenger services had finished. This was the first time they had worked as a pair to Holt for six years, 23/7/18. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 at Weybourne, freshly repainted, 24/8/15. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 painted in first coat of gloss, 25/6/15. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 painted in undercoat, 11/6/15. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 during the rubbing down process, 4/6/15. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 & E51228 descend Kelling Heath bank on a Holt-Sheringham service, 20/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 & E51228 rest during the ample turnaround time at Sheringham prior to another trip to Holt, 20/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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E56062 & E51228 pass the imposing distant signal at Sheringham Golf Course, 20/6/12. Chris Moxon |
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Stabled in the yard during a shunt at Weybourne, 12/8/10. Chris Moxon |
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View of the recently refurbished cab end showing the four marker lights, 1/8/10. Chris Moxon |
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Stabled in the yard at Weybourne, 1/8/10. Chris Moxon |
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At Weybourne, 11/8/08.Daniel Adkins |
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Catching the sun at Weybourne, 5/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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Departing Weybourne bound for Sheringham, 5/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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Waiting for another train at Weybourne bound for Holt, 20/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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Rear view of the vehicle at Weybourne, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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Underframe view of the vehicle at Weybourne, 2/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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56062 & 51228 in service at Weybourne, 3/10/04. David Beardmore |
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During restoration at Weybourne, 12/9/03. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
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The cab, drivers side, 26/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The cab, secondmans side, 26/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The front saloon, 26/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The middle saloon, 26/7/08. Chris Moxon |
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The rear saloon, 26/7/08. Chris Moxon |