Vehicle 51312
Class 118
Builder: BRC&W
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30543
Diagram: 534
Allocations
| Jun-60 | New to | 83D (Laira) | |
| Sep-63 | Depot code change | 84A | |
| May-73 | Depot code change | LA | |
| 11/03/86 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 11/05/86 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 04/10/87 | Transferred to | BR (Bristol Bath Road) | |
| 3w/e 20/05/88 | Transferred to | CF (Cardiff Canton) | |
| 13/02/90 | Withdrawn from | CF (Cardiff Canton) PZQZ |
Modifications
11/10/73 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 25/06/77 - WR AWS removed
Disposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam at Cardiff Canton
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51312 | 59479 | 51327 | As delivered to WR - Jun-60 | ||||||
| LA401 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at Laira - Aug-60 | ||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 16th March 1970 | |||||||
| LA401 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at Laira - circa May-71 | ||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 23/10/1971 - 1550 Paignton to Kingswear | |||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 03/07/1973 - at St. Blazey1 | |||||||
| 51312 | 59346 | 51327 | Noted 04/07/1973 - at Penzance1 | ||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 08/1974 - at Plymouth2 | |||||||
| P481 | 51312 | 51327 | Noted 27/08/75 - on Laira depot3 | ||||||
| P481 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at LA - 01/05/1976 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Noted 22/07/77 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at LA - 31st December 1977 | ||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 15th October 1979 | |||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at LA - 03/03/80 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Noted 31/07/80 - on 13:25 Plymouth - Gunnislake4 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Noted 12/10/1980 - R.P.P.R. The Mayflower Railtour P470+P480 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at LA - 15/12/1982 | ||||||
| 51312 | 51327 | Noted 21st November 1984 | |||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at LA - 01/01/85 | ||||||
| P480 | 51312 | 59551 | 51327 | Formation change - circa Jul-85 - add W59551 (ex-spare) | |||||
| P480 | 51312 | 59551 | 51327 | Noted 16/11/19855 | |||||
| B480 | 51312 | 59480 | 51327 | Transfer to BR - 11/03/86 - from LA | |||||
| B480 | 51312 | 59480 | 51327 | Noted 08/05/19865 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 51327 | Transfer to CF - 11/05/86 - from BR, was B480 | ||||||
| C480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at Cardiff (Canton) - Summer 1986 | ||||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59470 | 51327 | Noted circa 01/19875 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59470 | 51327 | Noted 11/04/1987 - Monmouthshire Railway Society The Tower Toad Railtour with C465 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59470 | 51327 | Listed at CF - Aug-87 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59470 | 51327 | Noted 10/10/1987 - Monmouthshire Railway Society The Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Groaner Railtour C465+C480 | |||||
| B480 | 51312 | 59479 | 51327 | Formed at BR circa 10/87 | |||||
| 51312 | 59470 | 51327 | Transfer to BR - Oct-87 - from CF | ||||||
| B480 | 51312 | 59479 | 51327 | Listed at BR - 29/02/1988 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59479 | 51327 | Transfer to CF - circa May-88 - from BR was B480 | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 51327 | Noted circa Jul-88 | ||||||
| C480 | 51312 | 59383 | 51327 | Noted 10/12/88 - at Cardiff | |||||
| C480 | 51312 | 51327 | Listed at CF - 15/05/89 |
Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
12th August 1969
The terminus at Kingswear, photographed on 12 August 1969. The branch train in the platform is a 2-car Class 118 unit with 51312/51327. The Paignton-Kingswear line was sold by BR to the Dart Valley Railway on 30 December 1972. An initial service on the branch, which became the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway, commenced on 1 January 1973. Lewis Bevan.
29th May 1972
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51312 + 51327) in Gunnislake station on 29 May 1972. Image taken by J Dawson. Stuart Mackay Collection.
26th October 1974
Set number: P481
A BRCW suburban dmu (W51312 visible) forms 2B71 the 12:12 to Plymouth from Gunnislake on Saturday 26 October 1974 (from a very over-exposed slide). Mr Deltic.
August 1975
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51312 + 51327) sits in Gunnislake station in August 1975. Tony Watson.
August 1975
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51312 + 51327) sits in Gunnislake station in August 1975. Tony Watson.
18th October 1975
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51312 + 51327) in Bere Alston station on 18 October 1975. George Woods.
18th October 1975
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51312+51327) sits in Gunnislake station on 18 October 1975. George Woods.
Unknown date
Set number: P480
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P480 (51312 and presumably 51327) at Barnstaple Junction circa late 1970s. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
5th June 1978
Set number: P480
1978 June 5th – Class 118 DMU set P480 (presumably 51312 + 51327) at Tamerton Foliot on the Gunnislake branch. Keith Miller.
1st May 1979
Set number: P480
Laira Class 118 set P480 (W51312 + W51327) at Gunnislake on 1 May 1979. This is the end of the line, the continuation to Callington where I am standing having long since closed. In fact what you see here has all now been redeveloped and the branch cut a few hundred yards shorter out of sight to the right of my shot. Alistair Ness.
24th July 1980
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (W51312 + W51327) at Plymouth whilst on Gunnislake duties on 24 July 1980. Brian Daniels.
August 1980
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 with W51312 nearest the camera (presumably with 51327) at Gunnislake, Cornwall, terminus of the branch from Devonport. Gerard Fletcher.
9th April 1981
Set number: P480
Set P480 at St Ives on the 9th April 1981. It consists of 51312 and 51327. Chris Lings.
9th April 1981
Set number: P480
At St.Erth on the 9th April 1981 is W51312 as part of set P480. Chris Lings.
20th July 1981
Set number: P480
W51312 / 51327 at Gunnislake on 20/7/81 with the 13:15 ex-Plymouth. Sparegang.
3rd August 1981
Set number: P480
P480 is seen at Gunnislake, formed of 51312 / 51327. 3/8/81. Shayne Lewis.
Unknown date
Set number: C480
Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Class 118 Suburban 3-car dmu reduced to a 2-car set No.C480 (presumably 51312 + 51327) in BR Rail Blue & Grey livery and all yellow front ends at Chepstow on a Gloucester - Cardiff service, 09/86. Hugh Llewelyn.
4th December 1982
Set number: P480
Power-twin class 118 set P480, DMBS W51312 & DMS W51327, on St.Ives branch duty at the bay platform at St.Erth on a miserable Saturday 4th December 1982 Iain Reid.
4th December 1982
Set number: P480
Power-twin class 118 set P480 (DMBS W51312 + DMS W51327) at St.Ives having just arrived from St.Erth. Needless to say the beaches were deserted on this miserable Saturday 4th December 1982 Iain Reid.
31st May 1983
Set number: P480
The end of the line at Gunnislake in Cornwall on what was former Southern Region territory, as a 2-Car Class 117 formed of cars W51312 & W51327 stands in the platform having worked the 14 miles from Plymouth on May 31st 1983. The station seen here at Gunnislake was relocated in 1994 to eliminate the bridge over the A390. The old station site is now covered with a housing development. Martyn Hilbert.
31st May 1983
Set number: P480
A tidy-looking two-car Class 118 DMU formed of cars W51312 & W51327 had arrived at Gunnislake, following their 14 mile journey from Plymouth on May 31st 1983. Gunnislake only had one side of its former island platform in use by then. Until November 1966 trains ran beyond Gunnislake to the terminus at Callington. All part of the then run-down of the former Southern Railway routes in the far-west. The station seen here was closed in 1994 and relocated several hundred yards away to eliminate an adjacent road underbridge that had low headroom. Martyn Hilbert.
Unknown date
Set number: P480
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P480 (presumably 51312 + 51327) at Liskeard. Date unknown. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
22nd June 1984
Set number: P480
The 13.18 Plymouth - Gunnislake dmu formed of unit P480 crosses the Tamar at Calstock on 22 June 1984. Robert28194.
10th July 1984
Set number: P480
Class 118 BRCW 2-car DMU 51312+51327 at Gunnislake with the 17-20 to Plymouth 10-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Class 118 set C480 (51312 / 51327) heads away from Tondu Junction on the Blaengarw Branch while working the last day trains on 13 September 1986. Image was from the Steve Davies Collection. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Class 118 set C480 (51312 / 51327) passes Tondu Junction while working the last day trains over the Blaengarw Branch on 13 September 13 1986. Image was from the Steve Davies Collection. Stuart Mackay Collection.
11th April 1987
Set number: C480
C480 (51312 + 59470 + 51327) heads C465 in a 6-car all 118 train at Mwyndy Jtn., Llantrisant and past the photographer's house, 11/4/87. Mac Winfield.
11th April 1987
Set number: C480
The Tower Toad railtour at Nantgarw on the 11th April 1987 formed of C480 (51312 + 59470 + 51327) and C465. Chris Lings.
11th April 1987
Set number: C480
The 'Tower Toad' railtour is seen at Tower Colliery with C480 (51312 + 59470 + 51327) closest on the 11th April 1987. Chris Lings.
1988
Set number: 480
A three-car suburban DMU arriving at Cardiff circa summer 1988. It appears to be Class 118 set 480 with DMBS 51312 leading. Brian Ward.
10th December 1988
Set number: 480
Class 118 set 480 has a Class 108 trailer in the consist at Cardiff Central on 10/12/88 - 51312 / 59383 / 51327. Mac Winfield.
22nd March 1989
Set number: C480
Class 118 DMU set C480 (51312 + 51327) has a Class 108 centre car (presumably 59383) when seen at Cardiff Central on the 15:35 (SX) Llandaff-Penarth service on 22 March 1989. Robert Thomas.
29th August 1989
Set number: C480
C480 (51312/51327) was returned to CF after a short spell a HT minus it’s Valley Train adornments, they were put back on (one end only) later by Canton staff. Cardiff Queen Street, 29/8/89. Mac Winfield.
5th October 1991
Set number: C480
51312 not looking too good, the vehicle is seen in the scrapline at Canton on 5/10/91, branded set C480. Note the size of the arrow compared with 472 behind. Gazza Prescott.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 11th July 1975
Set number: P481
Class 118 two coach stock nos. 51327 & 51312 built by Birmingham RC&W are seen waiting at Gunnislake before departure with the 1728 to Plymouth, July 11, 1975. Suthen Softy.
Date: 18th October 1975
Set number: P481
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P481 (presumably 51327+51312) sits in Gunnislake station on 18 October 1975. George Woods.
Date: 26th June 1976
Set number: P480
A Class 118 DMU in Gunnislake station on Saturday 26 June 1976. The DMBS is in the middle, so P480 is a two-car (presumably 51327 + 51312), at the far end is the DMS from P470 - 51328. Mr Deltic.
Date: 26th June 1976
Set number: P470
Gunnislake on Saturday 26 June 1976. The DMS from set P470, 51328, is working with set P470, 51312 + 51327. Mr Deltic.
Date: unknown
Set number: P480
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 and presumably 51312) in Plymouth station, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
Date: 25th November 1978
Set number: P480
P480 - 51327 / 51312 - in Bere Alston on a rainy 25/11/78. Ian Francis.
Date: 25th November 1978
Set number: P480
P480 - 51327 / 51312 - in Bere Alston on a rainy 25/11/78. Ian Francis.
Date: 1st May 1979
Set number: P480
Laira Class 118 set P480 (W51327 + W51312) at Gunnislake on 1 May 1979. Alistair Ness.
Date: 3rd November 1979
Set number: P480
Class 118 set P480 (presumably 51312 + 51327) arrives into Plymouth station on November 3, 1979. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 24th July 1980
Set number: P480
Class 118 two-car DMU set P480 (presumably 51327 + 51312) seen in Bere Alston station on 24 July 1980. Brian Daniels.
Date: 24th July 1980
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (presumably 51327 + 51312) in Gunnislake station on 24 July 1980. Brian Daniels.
Date: 26th July 1980
Set number: P480
Two-car BRCW Class 118 DMU with Driving Motor Second (DMS) W51327 leading (and presumably 51312), was in the bay platform at the West end of Plymouth station with a service to Gunnislake on July 26th 1980. Martyn Hilbert.
Date: August 1980
Set number: P480
Class 118 set P480 arriving into Gunnislake station in April 1980. W51327 presumably is closest, the DMBS is W51312. Gerard Fletcher.
Date: 12th October 1980
Set number: P470
The RPPR "The Mayflower" railtour at Plymouth Cattewater on 12 October 1980. The Six Bells Junction website lists the vehicles as P470 (51313 + 59509 + 51328) and P480 (51312 + 51327). Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 12th October 1980
Set number: P470
The RPPR Mayflower railtour at Marsh Mill Curve on 12 October 1980. It was formed of Class 118 sets P470 (51313 + 59509 + 51328) and P480 (51312 + 51327). Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1st August 1981
Set number: P480
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 + 51312) at Plymouth with the 16:40 to Gunnislake on 1 August 1981. Rob Paterson.
Date: 1st August 1981
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 + 51312) at Gunnislake after arriving with the 16:40 from Plymouth on 1 August 1981. Rob Paterson.
Date: 2nd August 1981
Set number: P480
51327 leads 51312 as set P480 into Looe on 2/8/81. Shayne Lewis.
Date: 31st May 1982
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 + 51312) arriving at Gunnislake on 31 May 1982. Rob Paterson.
Date: 4th September 1982
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 + 51312) sits in Bere Alston station with the 11:57 Gunnislake-Plymouth service on 4 September 1982. The closest vehicle 51327 may have had a repair to the lower right cab corner, the marker lamps had been fitted sometime that year. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: unknown
Set number: P480
Two-car Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 and presumably 51312) at Liskeard. Date unknown. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
Date: unknown
Set number: P480
Class 118 DMU set P480 (51327 and presumably 51312) stabled at Liskeard. Date unknown. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
Date: 10th July 1984
Set number: P480
Class 118 BRCW 2-car DMU 51327 + 51312 at Gunnislake with the 17-20 to Plymouth on 10-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 10th July 1984
Set number: P480
Class 118 BRCW 2-car DMU 51327 + 51312 at Bere Alston with the 17-20 ex-Gunnislake to Plymouth on 10-7-84. On Tour With the Class 13 Army.
Date: 8th July 1985
Set number: P480
The Plymouth Laira Depot allocated class 118 DMU sets were often reduced to 2-car sets for working some of the Cornish branches likes Gunnislake, Newquay or St.Ives but when deployed further east in Devon 3-car sets were preferable because of loadings on the likes of the Paignton, Barnstaple and Exmouth branches. So here class 118 set P480 (51312+51327) has been augmented with a class 101 intermediate trailer (59551). The 3-car set is seen at Exmouth prior to departure with train 2B84 the 18.14 to Exeter St.Davids on 8 July 1985. Adrian Nicholls.
Date: 27th July 1985
Set number: P480
The first passenger train for some years to Okehampton, Class 118 DMU no P480 is seen on arrival with a special from Exmouth on 27 July 1985. The set has a Met-Camm centre car, the vehicles are presumably 51327 + 59551 + 51312. Robert28194.
Date: circa 1985
Set number: P480
A Class 118/101 hybrid DMU (presumably 51327 + 59551 + 51312) arrives into Barnstaple Junction - the driver has already changed one of the marker lights to red for the return journey. The image is undated but the Met-Camm centre-car dates it to circa late 1985. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
A lot of passengers wait for two-car Class 118 C480 (51327 / 51312) as it approaches Tondu on September 13, 1986. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Class 118 set C480 (51327 / 51312) runs into Tondu station to work the first of three last day passenger services over the Blaengarw Branch on 13 September 1986. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Class 118 set C480 (51327 / 51312) in Tondu station on September 13, 1986. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Two-car GRC&W Class 118 set C480 (51327 / 51312) at Tondu on September 13, 1986. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Looking through the windows of C480 (51327 / 51312) shows a well packed Class 118 at Tondu on September 13, 1986. Steve Davies Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
Class 118 C480 (51327 / 51312) prepares for departure from Tondu with the first of three last day passenger services over the Blaengarw Branch on 13 September 1986. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 13th September 1986
Set number: C480
C480 (51327 / 51312) departs from Tondu station with the first of three last day passenger services over the Blaengarw Branch on 13 September 1986. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 11th April 1987
Set number: C465
C465 (51307 + 59477 + 51322) and C480 (51327 + 59470 + 51312) at Nantgarw Colliery with 'The Tower Toad' railtour on the 11th April 1987. Chris Lings.
Date: 19th August 1987
Set number: C480
Class 118 set C480 (presumably 51312 + 51327) at Radyr on August 19, 1987. Colin Brooks.
Date: November 1987
Set number: B960
Symmetrical Strangers, almost. On the left we can see a surprise visitor to Westbury in November 1987, class 108 twin set B960 on a Weymouth to Bristol working. Formed of 53602 + 54197, these had been Yorkshire vehicles from new, but reallocated to Bristol just a few months earlier. The BRCW class 118 DMU on the right had been a Devon / Cornwall unit from new, but was reallocated to Cardiff in 1986 where it gained the Red Dragon branding. It was moved to Bristol a month before this photo was taken, the set number changing to B480 when it was seen at Westbury on a Bristol to Weymouth service, the numbers were W51327 + W59470 + W51312. Murray Liston.
Date: November 1987
Set number: B460
A Dragon at Westbury. This BRCW class 118 DMU set had been a Devon / Cornwall unit from new, but was reallocated to Cardiff in 1986 where it gained the Red Dragon branding. It was moved to Bristol a month before this photo was taken, the set number changing to B480 when it was seen at Westbury on a Bristol to Weymouth service in November 1987. W51327 + W59470 + W51312. Murray Liston.
Date: 26th March 1988
Set number: B480
A suburban DMU at Freshford on 26 March 1988. It appears to be Class 118 set B480 with 51327 closest, presumably with 59479 + 51312. Kevin Watson.
Date: 28th April 1988
Set number: B480
Class 118 DMU set B480 (51327 + 59497 + 51312) and 33009 at Westbury on 28 April 1988. Keith Miller.
Date: 6th September 1988
Set number: 480
Class 118 set 480 (W51327 closest, presumably with 59479 + 51312) with the 12:40 Cardiff - Hereford service awaiting departure from Cardiff Central on September 6, 1988. Hamish Stevenson.
Date: 9th June 1989
Set number: C480
51327 at the front of set C480 presumably with 51312 on the 13:38 to Penarth seen at Llandaff on 9/6/89. Gazza Prescott.
Date: 25th August 1989
Set number: C480
C480 51327/51312 being ably assisted by a Canton 101 Power Twin at Treforrest 25/8/89. Mac Winfield.