51352 | 59504 | 51394 | Noted 30/04/75 - at Royal Oak1 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 15/12/1982 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 01/01/85 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted 23/11/1985 - Hertfordshire Rail Tours The Anglian Vibrator Railtour L411+55021+L412 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted 05/04/19862 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at Reading - Summer 1986 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted 21/06/1986 - at Slough3 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted 29/07/1986 - at Birmingham New Street - as 6 car set with TS6183 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted circa 08/19862 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - Aug-87 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted circa 08/19872 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 15/05/89 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at RG - 21/01/91 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted 01/04/91 - at Royal Oak1 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at OO - 12/08/92 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Noted circa 09/19922 | |||||
51346 | 59498 | 51388 | Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX |
Formation Sources
1: Gerald Brown
2: Eddie Knorn
3: Robert Chilton
During the era of DEMU operation, WR dmus occasionally appeared on Reading-Tonbridge trips that were worked by Reading crews. It was quite common for one to appear on a Bank Holiday, as here at Edenbridge on 3rd May 1975 with L411 (presumably 51394 + 59504 + 51352). Note the use of the relevant SR two-character headcode. The DMMUs struggled to keep the DEMU schedule and when they replaced the Tadpole units the timings had to be extended. Tony Watson.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) arriving into Didcot station with an Oxford service on 2 November 1979. Brian Daniels.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) pass Acton Main Line station on the 13:29 Paddington-Reading service on 11 April 1981. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 DMU set L411 at Culham on 25 June 1981. The two vehicles visible are presumably 51346 and 59498. Brian Daniels.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 and presumably 59498 + 51388) at Oxford on 15 January 1982. Brian Daniels.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) approaching Maidenhead station during February 1985. Paul James.
51346 and 59498 at North Elmham while working the 'Anglian Vibrator' railtour on the 23rd November 1985. Chris Lings.
Hertfordshire Railtours 1G30 King`s Cross to Wisbech, Dereham and North Elmham `Anglian Vibrator` charter leaving the Wisbech branch at March Whitemoor Junction on 23 November 1985. Six Bells Junction lists the vehciles as W51346 + 59498 + 51388 / 55021 / 51347 + 59499 + 51389. Phil Bevan.
Set L411, 51346/59498/51388 with Set L121, 55021, and Set L412, 51347/59499/51389 out of sight, at North Elmham, Norfolk, with ‘The East Anglian Vibrator’ on 23 November 1985. Rob Paterson.
Set L411, 51346/59498/51388, at rear of Set L412, 51389/59499/51347 and Set L121, 55021, at Hardingham, Norfolk, with ‘The East Anglian Vibrator’ railtour on 23 November 1985. Rob Paterson.
In rapidly fading light the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Anglian Vibrator' railtour is seen during a photostop at what was once Dereham station on the Mid Norfolk line. This DMU tour on November 23, 1985, was a seven car formation comprising Western Region sets L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) + L121 (55021) + L412 (51347 + 59499 + 51389) and ran as train 1G30 07.35 London Kings Cross to London Kings Cross covering primarily the Wisbech and North Elmham freight branches. The 16 mile North Elmham branch from Wymondham taking 3hrs 10mins to cover out and back because of the multitude of manual crossings operated by the traincrew. Adrian Nicholls.
L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Wisbech on The Anglian Vibrator railtour, 23/11/85. Chris Lings.
A 7-car DMU formation made up of 2x3-car 117 sets + 1-car 121 are seen in the GN & GE joint line platforms at March with the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Anglian Vibrator' railtour on November 23, 1985. The train had just returned from traversing the freight only branch to Wisbech, and closest is set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388). Adrian Nicholls.
On a damp autumnal afternoon (November 23, 1985) Western Region class 117 DMU set no. L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen at the closed North Elmham station with the Hertfordshire Railtours 'Anglian Vibrator' railtour. This tour managed to traverse the full extent of the then remaining Wymondham to Wells-next-the-Sea line which by this date was a freight only line and truncated here at the former North Elmham station. The line had survived further north as a freight only line to grain sidings at Fakenham but that section closed on 03/04/1980 being cut back to Ryburgh. The sidings here still served the Seaman's Grain Co. but they to ceased moving traffic by rail and the branch was further cut back on 20/01/1989 to Dereham where there was a rail served fertilizer depot. Adrian Nicholls.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51388 + 59498 + 51346) seen at Oxford on 12 May 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 Gatwick Airport 22 Nov 1986 Set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) departs with a Reading working. Alistair Ness.
Class 117 set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) makes an unusual sight at Higham on the emergency diesel shuttle service from Rochester to Gravesend on 13 February 1988. Brian Creasey.
Class 117 set No.L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) departs Higham working an emergency diesel shuttle service between Rochester and Gravesend on 13 February 1988. Brian Creasey.
Network Southeast Class 117 set No.L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51386) heads away from Higham working an emergency diesel shuttle service between Rochester and Gravesend on 13 February 1988. Brian Creasey.
Class 117 unit L411 (51388 + 59498 + 51346) approaches London Bridge working a route learning duty from Purley to Blackfriars on 18 February 1988. Brian Creasey.
Class 117s at Maidenhead on 5 May 1988. On the left sits L411, presumably with 51346 + 59498 visible, while L407 (presumably 51342 + 59494 + 51384) arrives - many doors already open. Andrew Malloy.
Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Didcot on June 5, 1988. John Carter.
Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen at Didcot North Junction with the 16:36 Reading - Oxford service on August 30th 1988. Hamish Stevenson.
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 and presumably 59498 + 51388) departs from Maidenhead heading to Reading in October 1988. Andrew Malloy.
Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) arrives into London Paddington station on October 27th, 1988. Rex Holt.
Class 117 set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen near Gatwick on October 3rd, 1988. Rex Holt.
Back in the early 90's there was prolonged heavy rain in the South East, which resulted in Higham Tunnel being flooded. The water reached the height of the conductor rail which discharged the current, so electric trains could not be run. Some very unusual motive power was drafted in and a Rochester - Gravesend shuttle was instigated; here a Class 117 DMU (set L411 presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) borrowed from West London stands at Rochester. Stuart Pearce.
Back in the early 90's there was prolonged heavy rain in the South East, which resulted in Higham Tunnel being flooded. The water reached the height of the conductor rail which discharged the current, so electric trains could not be run. Some very unusual motive power was drafted in and a Rochester - Gravesend shuttle was instigated; this is a WR Class 117 unit leaving Higham, set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388). Stuart Pearce.
51388 (set L411) at Reading Triangle Sidings, from the Solent Growler rail tour. Set L595 in background. David Miller.
Do you have any images of the set you can add?