Vehicle 51344
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
| Apr-60 | New to | 81D (Reading) | |
| Apr-66 | Transferred to | 81C (Southall) | |
| Apr-68 | Transferred to | 81D (Reading) | |
| May 1973 | Depot code change | RG | |
| 18/09/92 | Transferred to | OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX | |
| 13/01/93 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| 14/06/93 | Transferred to | BY (Bletchley) NGBX | |
| 28/02/94 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) RDTS | |
| 26/05/94 | Transferred to | PZ (Penzance) RELV | |
| Mar-97 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) SCXH | |
| Apr-99 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) |
Modifications
4w/e 06/05/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 09/08/75 - WR AWS removed
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 16/03/1979 released in white/blue stripe liveryDisposal
Scrapped by MC Metal Processing, Springburn
Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:
| 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | As delivered to Reading - April 1960 | ||||||
| RDG307 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at Reading - Aug-60 | |||||
| 455 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at Southall - Apr-68 - was S321, non-gangwayed set | |||||
| 455 | 51344 | 59496 | 59538 | 51386 | Noted circa Jan-70 - Reading set | ||||
| 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 26/10/1971 - at Paddington1 | ||||||
| 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 28/08/73 - in Paddington2 | ||||||
| 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 29/10/1973 - at Reading1 | ||||||
| 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 31/05/1974 - at Birmingham New Street1 | ||||||
| L455 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 30/04/75 - at Royal Oak3 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 03/09/76 - in Paddington3 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area4 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 16/05/1977 - Oxford Station4 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 28/08/1979 - At Maidenhead4 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 27/06/81 - at Newbury Racecourse3 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted circa 04/19825 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 15/12/1982 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 01/01/85 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted circa 09/19855 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 05/04/19865 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at Reading - Summer 1986 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted 24/02/1987 - at Paddington - as 6 car set with L4166 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - Aug-87 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted circa 02/19885 | |||||
| 409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted circa 04/19885 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 15/05/89 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 21/01/91 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Noted circa 05/19925 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at RG - 12/08/92 | |||||
| L409 | 51344 | 59496 | 51386 | Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX | |||||
| L709 | 51344 | 51386 | Noted 15th October 1993 | ||||||
| L709 | 51344 | 51386 | Listed at BY - November 1993 - Sector NGBX | ||||||
| L709 | 51344 | 51386 | Noted circa 02/19945 | ||||||
| L709 | 51344 | 51386 | Transfer to TS - 28/02/94 | ||||||
| 117709 | 51344 | 51386 | Listed at PZ - 02/12/96 | ||||||
| 117709 | 51344 | 51386 | Listed at KI - 01/01/98 |
Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Leonard Rogers
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
6: Robert Chilton
Images:
2nd April 1977
Set number: L409
Class 117 set L409 at Slough on April 2, 1977. The DMBS is W51344, the other two vehicles should be 59496 and 51386. Rex Holt.
1979
Set number: L409
Class 117 DMU set L409 (presumably 51344 + 59496 + 51386) seen at Lower Basildon sometime in 1979. Taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
January 1985
Set number: L409
London based Class 117 DMU, set L409 (presumably 51344 59496 51386), departs the diesel depot at Hereford for the station for a service to Oxford. January 1985. John Crooks.
7th December 1985
Set number: L409
Class 117 DMBS 51344, set number L409 (presumably with 59496 + 51386), is seen at Tyseley on 07.12.1985 having received a fresh coat of BR blue and grey livery. Andy Cole.
22nd October 1988
Set number: L409
L409 (51344 + 59496 + 51386) on a Reading - Paddington service arrives at Ealing Broadway (11XX) Saturday 22nd October 1988. Colin Brooks.
18th May 1989
Set number: L409
Class 117 set L409 (presumably 51344 + 59496 + 51386) at Didcot North Junction with the 7.27pm Oxford - Reading service on 18 May 1989. Michael Mensing.
15th July 1990
Set number: L409
With the line to Marylebone closed for engineering work, the 15.23 from High Wycombe to Paddington, seen about to depart High Wycombe on 15 July 1990, is formed of a WR class 117 set (51344 closest, presumably with 59496 + 51386), rather than the more customary class 115. Robert28194.
23rd September 1994
Set number: 723
A Class 117 DMU formed of two DMBSs (presumably 51344 closest) arrives into Falmouth station on 23 September 1994. Taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th April 1995
Set number: L709
Set L709, 51344 & 51386, at Penzance depot on 28th April 1995. Ian Buck.
1997
Set number: 709
Class 117s in Exeter St Davids yard in 1997. Closest is presumably set 709 with 51344 closest. GWR liveried DMBS 51368 is at the far end. John Law.
circa July 1997
Set number: 709
Class 117s at Exeter St Davids. Closest is 51344, presumably with 51386. Behind is possibly 51361, with GWR-liveried 51368 at the far end. The slide process date was July 1997. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1999
Set number: 709
Labelled set 709 - thought to be 51344 - and L705/51358 stored at Bletchley TMD circa 1999. Graham Baker.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 10th August 1979
Set number: L409
Class 117 DMU set L409 (presumably 51386 + 59496 + 51344) at Radley on 10 August 1979. Brian Daniels.
Date: 29th January 1983
Set number: L409
Class 117 set L409, W51386 (nearest) + W59496 + W51344, passes Salfords on the Brighton line up fast towards Redhill on a Gatwick Airport to Reading service, Saturday 29th January 1983 Iain Reid.
Date: 11th June 1988
Set number: L409
Class 117 set number L409 (presumably 51386 + 59496 + 51344) north of Kings Sutton on a local working from Oxford to Banbury, 11 June 1988. Lewis Bevan.
Date: 1989
Set number: L409
Network South East liveried Class 117 DMU set L409 (formed of cars 51386, 59496 and 51344) seen pausing at Twyford one evening in 1989 on a service from Paddington to Reading. Bob Belcher.
Date: 27th July 1989
Set number: L409
A three-car class 117 dmu formed as set L409 heads into Slough with a train from the Reading direction to London Paddington. The unit, built by Pressed Steel around 1960, is typical of the Western Region's local services out of Paddington. It carries Network SouthEast livery and the unit formation is probably 51386/59496/51344. Jeremy Chapter.
Date: 19th January 1994
Set number: L123
The 13.50 Bletchley-Bedford arrives at Lidlington on 19 January 1994. The train is formed by Class 121 no. 55023 (in green livery) with Class 117 set L709 (51344/51386). Lewis Bevan.
Date: Circa September 1994
Set number: L723
Set L723 is formed with two DMBSs (presumably 51361 + 51344), and it's NSE livery must have been an unusual sight in Cardiff Queen Street. Undated, circa September 1994 when the pair were loaned to Cardiff for driver training. Tom Clift.
Date: 26th October 1994
Set number: 723
A Class 117 set at Penzance on 26/10/94, formed 51386 + 51344. Sparegang.
Date: 21st October 1995
Set number: 709
Class 117 set 709 (presumably 51386 + 51344) seen near Penzance on 21 October 1995. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 1996
Set number: L709
1996: L709 (51386 + 51344) leaving Liskeard with a service for Looe. Nathan Stockman Collection..