56208 Class 108 Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
Caerphilly Railway Centre Jun 94-Dec 96 |
|
Current Location |
|
Severn Valley RailwayDec 96-Present |
|
Current Status |
Stored |
||
Current Livery |
BR Green (Speed Whiskers) |
Visited Railways |
Peak Rail (Contract Overhaul): Apr 15-Jun 15 |
TRA Designation |
|||
Partner Vehicle(s) |
|
|
|
Owner |
|
|
|
Website |
|||
Record Last Updated |
1 December 2023 |
||
Preservation Modifications |
|||
Preservation Information However following the closure of the centre, it was transferred to DMU Group West Midlands, 56208 moving to their base at the Severn Valley Railway in December 1996. The vehicle was the last of five Class 108 vehicles to be aquired, and enabled the group to form two operating sets, one 2-car and one 3-car set. Due to 56208 being a trailer car, it is almost always formed in the 2-car set, although it can run with either of the group's (DMBS) powercars. The vehicle was repainted into BR green and entered service in July 1997. In 2004, 56208 participated in the very successful Railcar50 event, operating as a 5-car Class 108 which included all of the SVR 108 vehicles. The highlight was a 12 car special which was the longest DMU formation ever to operate in preservation. In 2007 56208 went into Kidderminster carriage works for a C3 overhaul. In 2009, the driving cab of 56208 was given a through clean and a fresh coat of paint. The corridor end received repairs. A bespoke buffet counter to enable the sale of drinks plus hot and cold light snacks was also designed, manufactured and fitted to the vehicle. In 2010, the first class saloon was partially refurbished. 56208 was treated to a new set of batteries during 2014. April 2015 saw 56208 moved to Peak Rail for contract bodywork and a repaint, the vehicle returning to the SVR just two months later. Prior to the start of the 2019 running season, an engineering inspection of the Class 108 vehicles based on the SVR led to the whole fleet being withdrawn from service until mechanical repairs had been undertaken, specifically to the bogies and running gear. With resources only available to repair one vehicle at a time, 56208 was stored out of use until it could be dealt with. |
|||
Future Plans |
|||
 |
A slightly sorry looking M56208, stored out of service at Bewdley, 22/5/22. Chris Moxon |
 |
M56208 lines up at Bewdley alongside 37190, 16/5/21. Darren JB |
 |
M56208/M50933 stabled at Bewdley, 5/10/18. Anthony Christie |
 |
M56208/M50933 taking part in a photo charter at Arley, 29/9/17. Kevin Gale |
 |
M56208, fresh from repainting, leads a 4-car formation out of Bewdley, 25/6/16. Tony Carwithen |
 |
M56208 on the Rock Siding at Bewdley, 17/11/15. Kevin Gale |
 |
M56208 after being rubbed down at Rowsley, 19/4/15. Paul Moxon |
 |
M56208 being transported to Peak Rail for contract overhaul, 16/4/15. Kevin Gale |
 |
56208 leads a 4-car formation into Bewdley, 2/4/15. Kevin Gale |
 |
56208 stabled at Bewdley during the diesel gala, 6/10/12. Chris Moxon |
 |
56208 at Bridgnorth during the 2010 Railcar Convention Fish & Chip Special, 9/10/10. Chris Moxon |
 |
56208 at Bewdley during the 2010 Railcar Convention, 7/10/10. Chris Moxon |
 |
56208 stabled at Bewdley, 10/10/09. David Beardmore |
 |
56208 & 52064 at Highley, 25/4/08. Simon Edwards |
 |
At Bewdley during the Railcar50 event, 14/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
 |
56208 & 51935 at Highley, 2/10/04. Simon Edwards |
 |
At Bewdley, 5/10/02. Simon Jones |
 |
56208 on the Severn Valley Railway, 14/4/00. Stuart Mackay |
Interior
 |
Cab top rail corrosion, 8/5/15. Trevor Daw |
 |
The dome removed to attend to corrosion of the cab front, 8/5/15. Trevor Daw |
 |
Thought to be the bar in 56208, 13/2/10. Rob Phillips |