51118 Class 100 Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Apr 73-Mar 85 |
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Current Location |
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Swanage Railway Mar 85-Aug 86 |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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West Somerset Railway Aug 86-94 |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Plain End) |
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TRA Designation |
Visited Railways |
Private Site: Snetterton (storage) 94-Jul 98 |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Midland Railway Butterley (restoration) Jul 98-Present |
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Owner |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
14 March 2026 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 51118 was soon repainted into a non standard LNER Green & Cream (known as LNER “Tourist” livery). Although some 3-car mixed formations were observed, 51118 was normally paired with DTCL 56097, fixed formations being preferred mainly because the two power/trailer sets had been delivered to the railway facing opposite directions to each other, making swapping operationally inpractical! In 1979/80, 51118 was re-liveried again into a darker Green & Cream with silver roof and yellow end panels. In 1984, the railway decided to move away from DMU operation, replacing them with diesel loco hauled services. 51118 and partner 56097 were withdrawn in April of that year, having operated 888 miles that season. The set was stored for 12 months before being sold. The Swanage Railway bought 51118, along with 56097, 50341and 56099. 51118 & 56097 however were used for driver training on only a handful of services and the set sold to the West Somerset Railway the following year. At the West Somerset Railway, it was repainted into Chocolate & Cream livery and operated services for a few years before being taken out of traffic, this time replaced by Class 115 vehicles. 51118 spent four years in storage as part of an abortive preservation scheme and was at risk of scrapping. By now the vehicle was the sole surviving Class 100 power car so had gained significant historical importance. Luckily the vehicle was purchased by the Llangollen Railcar Group who stripped the interior following asbestos removal, following which the vehicle was stored for over 10 years whilst finance was sought for full restoration. In 2011 the project to restore the 2-car set was started. Initially, work was to concentrate on trailer car 56097. However 51118 did receive a cosmetic coat of green on one side to make it more presentable whilst in public view. During 2012-2015 the vehicle remained in storage whilst a comprehensive exterior rebuild was undertaken by the owning group of partner 56097. February 2016 was a milestone for 51118, with the announcement that 56097's exterior rebuild was complete and that the latter vehicle was once again watertight. This allowed 51118's restoration to commence and the vehicle entered the workshops at Butterley for a full exterior overhaul. The Spring saw the middle section of the vehicle omn the driver's side stripped down, its framework repaired, and new steel panels added. By the summer this had been completed and the rear section started, which proved more problematic requiring more extensive repairs. The front saloon (on the same side) followed allowing sanding, filling and painting of that side to be undertaken. In September the driver's side was substantially completed and the vehicle moved around the shed so that it could all be done again for the secondman's side. The front saloon and guards van areas were tackled during the autumn with the middle section being done last. By December, the welding was completed and some roof/gutter repairs were being undertaken. The vehicle's doors were also re-hung and correctly gapped. 2017 saw the exterior restoration continue to progress. During January, the complicated cab corners were rebuilt and the first new sheeting added to the front end, over the repaired framework and the secondman's bodyside was painted in gloss green. In February the rest of the front was completed and the route indicator mechanism installed. March saw the front primed and the corridor end receive the same complicated repairs to its curved corners and wasted framework. In April, the driver's bodyside and cab front was painted in green gloss, whilst the corridor end was skinned with new metal. Some glass also began to be fitted to the front and guards saloons. From 2018, with the vehicle now structurally secured and watertight, focus returned to trailer car 56097 so the activity on 51118 dropped. However limited progres continued to be made where practically possible. In 2024, with the annual railcar convention due to be held at the Midland Railway Butterley, a coat of green gloss was applied to 51118 to improve its exterior appearance in readiness for being displayed at the event including guided tours. |
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Future Plans |
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51118 at Butterley having recently been treated to a coat of green gloss to improve its exterior appearance in readiness for being displayed at that year's railcar convention event, 3/8/24. Evan Green-Hughes |
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51118/56097 paired at butterley in the yard, 10/7/22. Ken Jones |
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51118 at Butterley. It's restoration has slowed down, but not stopped, whilst work concentrates on 56097, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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51118 now back outside at Butterley following the completion of contrasted bodywork renewal, 3/5/17. Evan Green-Hughes |
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The rear end metalwork being attended to on 51118 on a contract basis, 28/2/17. Evan Green-Hughes |
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The front end metalwork now completed on 51118, 28/2/17. Evan Green-Hughes |
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The new cab front being welded onto 51118, 17/2/17. Evan Green-Hughes |
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A rare photo of Class 100's cab-to-cab in preservation, in this case 51118 and 56097, shortly before 51118 was shunted into the workshops for its exterior rebuild to commence, 2/16. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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51118 stored at Swanwick Junction, 4/5/14. Brian Battersby |
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51118 awaits completion of partner 56097, 20/8/12. Mike Gill |
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Now that the Class 100 restoration project has started, a team has given one side of 51118 a coat of paint so that the vehicle did not look quite so bedraggled. The work is purely cosmetic but will tidy things up and show that someone does care about the set. The finished product looks quite respectable with 51118 looking the best of the pair. Unfortunately much of the body is badly corroded and even one of the windows fell out whilst painting! 22/8/11. Llangollen Railcar Group |
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51118 awaiting funding at the MRB, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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Rear view of 51118 awaiting funding at the MRB, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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51118 stored at Swanwick Junction, 8/4/07. David Beardmore |
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51118 awaiting restoration at Swanwick Junction, 8 /7/06. Robert Chilton |
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51118 sits beside Derby Lightweight 975008 (ex-DTC 79612) at the Swanwick Junction site of the Midland Railway Butterley, 16/9/01. Steve Hodgson |
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51118 in storage at Snetterton. Evan Green-Hughes |
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A rare view of 51118 during its brief stay at Swanage. Paul Smith |
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51118 at Williton on the West Somerset Railway, 23/8/87. David McGuire |
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51118 & 56097 in service at Bishops Lydeard, 28/5/87. Michael Wadman |
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51118/56097 stabled at Minehead. Nigel Gould |
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51118 leads a train at Pickering, 29/8/80. David Jones |
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This is thought to be 51118 and 56097 at Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1979. John Law |
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This formation, seen leaving Grosmont, is thought to be 51118, 56097, 50341. Roy Lambeth |
Interior
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A view of 51118's cab (driver's side), 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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A view of 51118's cab (secondman's side), 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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A view of 51118's front saloon, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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A view of 51118's middle saloon, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |
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A view of 51118's guards van, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon |