Sign In

Vehicle 51340

Class 117

Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Engines: Leyland 150hp
Transmission: Mechanical
Lot Number: 30546
Diagram: 534

Allocations

Mar-60	New to	81C (Southall)
by Jan-66	Transferred to	81D (Reading)
May 1973	Depot code change	RG
w/e 11/01/75	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
w/e 06/03/76	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
14/12/92	Sector Change to	RG (Reading) NWXX
06/12/93	Sector Change to	RG (Reading) NWRX
26/05/94	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley) RDTH
Jun-95	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) HXXX
4w/e 12/10/96	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) SCOL
Jan-98	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters)

Modifications

circa Jun-65 - Gangway(s) fitted
3w/e 01/07/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 02/04/77 - WR AWS removed

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 25/09/1979 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

SHL301	51340	59491	51381		Listed at Southall - circa Sep-60
SHL301	51340	59491	51381		Noted Jun-65
RDG333	51340	59491	7813	51381	Listed at Reading - circa Jan-66 - Now corridor fitted
404	51340	59491	51381		Listed at Reading - Apr-68 - was R333, gangwayed set
	51340	59491	51381		Noted 25/08/69 - at Paddington¹
L404	51340	59491	59538	51381	Noted 14/07/1973 - at Birmingham New Street²
	51340	59491	51381		Noted 29/10/1973 - at Reading²
	51340	59491	51381		Transfer to BR - w/e 11/01/75
L404	51340	59491	51381		Noted 26/08/75 - at Swindon³
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 12/11/1977 - Oxford Station⁴
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 01/03/78 - on 2A21 0618 Slough-Paddington
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 16/07/1978 - Reading Station⁴
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 12/01/1980 - Hertfordshire RailTours The Oxfordshire Trundler L405+L431
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted circa 04/1982⁵
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 19/06/1982 - Hertfordshire Railtours Witchfinder General L423+L410+L405
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 23/07/83 - at Southall³
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted circa 12/1985⁵
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 03/04/1986⁵
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
R405	51340	59491	51381		Noted 21/04/87 - at Royal Oak, 51381 carried set number L405³
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - Aug-87
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 15/05/89
L405	51340	59491	55023		Noted 20/07/1990 - working from Oxford to Bicester. 55023 replacing defective 51381
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - 21/01/91
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L405	51340	59491	51381		Noted circa 08/1992⁵
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at - 12/08/92
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - November 1992 - Sector NWRX
L405	51340	59491	51381		Listed at RG - November 1993 - Sector NWXX
117331	51340	51349			Noted 30/10/94 - at Norwich, 51349 has set number 007, its normal partner 51391 was on NC³
117024	51340	51375			Listed at TS - late Nov-94
007	51349	51391	51340		Noted 01/01/95 - at Norwich, info from Alan Dowe, vehicle order unknown, set number 117331 on 51340³

Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn

Images:

May 1973

Set number: L404

Pressed Steel set L404 (W51340 closest, presumably with 59491 + 51381) at Reading working with a Swindon Inter-City set in September 1973. Mel Smith.

April 1979

Set number: L405

Passing through Reading in April 1979 is class 117 set L405, 51340 presumably with 59491 + 51381. Ian Buck.

3rd December 1979

Set number: L405

Class 117 DMU set L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) in Didcot station on 3 December 1979. Brian Daniels.

9th January 1980

Set number: L405

Class 117 DMU set L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) arriving into Didcot station on 9 January 1980. Brian Daniels.

1981

Set number: L405

Class 117 Pressed Steel DMBS W51340, part of set L405, seen at Oxford in 1981. Kevin Farrow.

Unknown date

Set number: L405

Class 117 DMU set L405 (W51340 and presumably 59491 + 51381) at Reading (General), date unknown. Paul Redmond.

17th February 1982

Set number: L405

Class 117 DMU set L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) passes at Langley with the 11:22 Reading - Paddington service on 17 February 1982. Stuart Mackay Collection.

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Witchfinder General' at Sizewell sidings on June 19th 1982. It was formed of Class 117 sets L405 + L410 (with a Met-Camm centre car) + L423 (51340 + 59491 + 51381 / 51387 + 59549 + 51345 / 51399 + 59513 + 51361). Image by Richard Huggins. John Law Collection.

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Witchfinder General' at Ipswich Lower Yard on June 19th 1982. It was formed of Class 117 sets L405 + L410 (with a Met-Camm centre car) + L423 (51340 + 59491 + 51381 / 51387 + 59549 + 51345 / 51399 + 59513 + 51361). Image by Richard Huggins. John Law Collection.

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Witchfinder General' at Thames Haven Yard on June 19th 1982. It was formed of Class 117 sets L405 + L410 (with a Met-Camm centre car) + L423 (51340 + 59491 + 51381 / 51387 + 59549 + 51345 / 51399 + 59513 + 51361). John Law.

19th June 1982

Set number: L405

The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Witchfinder General' on the Felixstowe Docks branch on June 19th 1982. 51340 is noted as leading, the other vehicles visible should be 59491 + 51381 / 51387 + 59549 + 51345. Image by Richard Huggins. John Law Collection.

29th October 1983

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) arrives at Hungerford with the 14:15 Reading - Bedwyn service on 29 October 1983. Michael Mensing.

June 1984

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel Class 117 3-car Suburban dmu No.L405 - presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381 - coupled to Class 121 & 149 railcars - in Rail Blue & Grey with all-yellow front ends arriving at Paddington on a service from Henley on Thames, 06/84. Hugh Llewelyn.

30th June 1984

Set number: L405

DMU L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) at Edenbridge with the 17.16 Reading-Tonbridge on 30 June 1984. Tom Burnham.

April 1987

Set number: R405

W51340 at the head of set L405 leaving Southall station circa April 1987, the set prefix seems to be an 'R'. Stuart Mackay Collection.

21st August 1987

Set number: R405

Passing the scrap business that was using the remains of the South Yard at that time, is Reading allocated 3 Car Class 117 DMU set L405, formed of W51340+W59491+W51381 seen departing from Oxford whilst forming the 1339 local service for Reading ...... Notice that the leading car W51340 is carrying set No R405, instead of L405 ....... 21st August 1987. Nigel Mack.

April 1989

Set number: L405

At Class 117 at Goring & Streatley in April 1989. Unit L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) on its way to Reading. Alistair Ness.

April 1989

Set number: L405

Go(r)ing to Reading. Class 117 DMU L405 (51340+59491+51381) arrives at Goring & Streatley one early evening in April 1989 with a stopping service for Reading, wearing a new coat of NSE paintwork. Murray Liston.

August 1989

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel set L405 (W51340 + W59491 + W51381) head east with a Reading to Gatwick Airport working, seen near Betchworth in August 1989. This set had always been a London based WR DMU based either at Southall or Reading. Murray Liston.

January 1990

Set number: L405

Unit L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) sits in one of the bay platforms at the west end of Reading station in January 1990. John McIntyre.

28th August 1991

Set number: L405

Class 117 set L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) is seen at Redhill on August 28th, 1991. Rex Holt.

23rd November 1991

Set number: L405

HST 43042 and Class 117 DMBS 51340 at Reading on 23 November 1991. Dave Warby.

16th July 1994

Set number: L405

Just before full electrification, Tyseley was forced to produce some weird combinations on the Lichfield to Redditch service. Here at Longbridge NSE-liveried North Downs-branded Class 117 DMBS 51340 leads a 3-power car DMU that also contained a 119 DMS and Class 117 DMS. 16th July 1994. Mike Dean.

circa September 1994

Set number: 117331

A Class 117 DMU (set 117331) at Shirley formed of three power cars: DMBS 51340 with DMSs 51375 + 51381. The slide process date was 23 September 1994. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Class 117 DMU at Norwich Crown Point depot

2nd January 1995

Set number: 117331

A fine selection of DMU vehicles rest with a light dusting of snow in the triangle at Crown Point depot in Norwich on 2nd January 1995. Nearest the camera is Pressed Steel Class 117 DMBS 51340, which displays set number 117331; the vehicle had previously worked in set L405, based in Reading, but had subsequently moved to Tyseley. Behind are DMS 51391 and DMBS 51349; both vehicles previously worked in Reading-based set L413, but had also moved to Tyseley by then. They had been observed working around Norwich in the preceding months on Sandite duties, wearing set number 007. Chris Boon.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 1971

Set number: L404

In 1971 Pressed Steel triple set L404 lead a GRC&W Cross-country set into Fareham. The front set is presumed to be 51381 + 59491 + 51340. The image was from the Steve Davies Collection. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: circa 1972

Set number: L404

L404 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) is at the front of a six-car set arriving in Southampton station circa 1972. The rear unit is not a high-density set, possibly a Class 119. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 2nd January 1980

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel Class 117 suburban set L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) is seen at West Drayton on January 2, 1980. Steve Davies Collection.

Date: unknown

Set number: L405

Class 117 DMU set L405 (W51381 and presumably 59491 + 51340) in Reading station, date unknown. Paul Redmond.

Date: 19th June 1982

Set number: L423

The Hertfordshire Railtours 'Witchfinder General' at Ipswich Lower Yard on June 19th 1982. It was formed of Class 117 sets L423 + L410 (with a Met-Camm centre car) + L405 (51361 + 59513 + 51399 / 51345 + 59549 + 51387 / 51381 + 59491 + 51340). Image by Richard Huggins. John Law Collection.

Date: 19th June 1982

Set number: L423

Date: 29th October 1983

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU L405 (51381 and presumably 59491 + 51340) departs from Newbury with the 15:15 Bedwyn - Reading service on 29 October 1983. Michael Mensing.

Date: April 1987

Set number: L405

Class 117 set L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) at Southall in April 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 31st August 1987

Set number: L405

L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) is seen at Appleford on an Oxford - Reading service, 31st August 1987. Hamish Stevenson.

Date: circa 1988

Set number: L405

L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) is seen in Gospel Oak station. Date unknown, the NSE flash and blue/grey livery dates it to circa 1988. Paul Redmond.

Date: April 1989

Set number: L405

A Class 117 DMU at Goring & Streatley in April 1989. Unit L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) departs for Reading. Alistair Ness.

Date: 4th July 1989

Set number: L405

Class 117 set L405 (51381 + 59491 + 51340) leaving Radley on 4 July 1989 while working a Didcot to Oxford local train. The two cyclists would struggle to find a space for their machines in 2024 as modern commuter units don't allow for such things quite as well as did their 1st generation counterparts. Peter Tandy.

Date: August 1989

Set number: L405

Pressed Steel Class 117 set L405 (W51381 + W59491 + W51340) head east with a Reading to Gatwick Airport working, seen near Betchworth in August 1989. In the distance Metro Cammell set L835 can be glimpsed with a Reading bound service. Murray Liston.

Date: 15th February 1991

Set number: L405

Running passed the panel box and towards the station stop at Slough is Reading allocated 3 Car Class 117 DMU set L405, 51381+59491+51340, in the final version of NSE livery, forming the 1040 Reading - Paddington service .... 15th February 1991. Nigel Mack.

Date: 28th September 1992

Set number: L405

Plenty of water at Kings Sutton on 28 September 1992 as class 117 L405 (51381+ 59491 + 51340) working an Oxford to Banbury local service met 60079 on its way to Didcot Power Station. The River Cherwell flows through a floodplain around here and this scene is repeated most years. The floodplain is wide and as the railway line is on an embankmemt it is rarely closed due to high water levels. Peter Tandy.

Date: circa late 1994

Set number: 117331

A Class 117 DMU formed of a DMS + DMS and a DMBS in Tyseley station circa 1994/5. Labelled 117331 the closest vehicle appears to be 51381, the other two are possibly 51375 + 51340 - see image 29020. Stuart Mackay Collection.

➤