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Vehicle 51346

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

May-60	New to	81C (Southall)
Jul-66	Transferred to	81D (Reading)
Jan-68	Transferred to	84A (Laira)
3w/e 03/04/71	Transferred to	82A (Bristol Bath Road)
06/05/73	Depot code change	BR
29/02/76	Transferred to	RG (Reading)
16/03/92	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX
13/01/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX
22/01/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX
24/02/93	Reinstated	TS (Tyseley) RDTS
13/05/93	Transferred to	OO (Old Oak Common) NWRX
01/07/93	Transferred to	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX
06/07/93	Withdrawn from	HQ (Headquarters) NWRX

Modifications

circa Jul-66 - Gangway(s) fitted
8w/e 01/01/72 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 02/04/77 - WR AWS removed

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 17/06/1980 released in blue/grey livery

Disposal

Preserved - more details.

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

	51346	59498	51388	As delivered to Southall - May 1960
SHL305	51346	59498	51388	Listed at SHL - Aug-60
SHL305	51346	59498	51388	Listed at SHL - circa Jul-66
LA313	51346	59498	51388	New set number at Laira - circa Mar-68 - still in green, formerly RDG338
	51346	59498	51388	Transfer to 82A - 3w/e 03/04/71
BTL308	51346	59498	51388	Listed at Bristol - circa Oct-71
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 30/06/1973 - at Bristol Temple Meads¹
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 12/04/74 - at Cardiff with B553 51574 + 59284 + 51583
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 17/07/74 - on 2B51 1635 Westbury-Severn Beach
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 14/01/75 - on 2C18 0906 Bristol TM-Cardiff with B574
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 14/09/1975 - on 2B10-18:21 Westbury to Bristol Temple Meads with B571²
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 14/09/75 - on 1030 Bristol TM-Westbury with B571
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 27/09/75 - on 1648 Severn Beach-Bristol TM
B408	51346	59498	51388	Noted 10/02/76 - on 2C30 1314 Bristol TM-Cardiff
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
	51346	59498	51388	Noted 12/09/76 - on Stratford depot (maybe for tyre turning?)³
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 03/03/80
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 15/12/1982
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 01/01/85
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted 23/11/1985 - Hertfordshire Rail Tours The Anglian Vibrator Railtour L411+55021+L412
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted 05/04/1986⁴
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at Reading - Summer 1986
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted 21/06/1986 - at Slough⁵
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted 29/07/1986 - at Birmingham New Street - as 6 car set with TS618⁵
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted circa 08/1986⁴
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - Aug-87
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted circa 08/1987⁴
	51346	59498	51388	Noted 21/11/87 - on 12:14 Maidenhead - Paddington⁶
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 15/05/89
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at RG - 21/01/91
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted 01/04/91 - at Royal Oak⁷
L711	51346	51388		Listed at RG - 24/02/92 - NSE NWRX pool
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at OO - 12/08/92
L411	51346	59498	51388	Noted circa 09/1992⁴
L411	51346	59498	51388	Listed at OO - November 1992 - Sector NWRX

Formation Sources
1: Jeremy Goodyear
2: Peter Wallwork
3: Leonard Rogers
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Robert Chilton
6: Martin Baumann
7: Gerald Brown

Images:

26th May 1975

Set number: B408

Class 117 set B408 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen leading another set passing Blatchbridge Jct with the 12:08 from Bristol, 26-5-75. Adrian Vaughan.

Unknown date

Set number: B408

Class 117 DMU set B408 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) in Maiden Newton station, date unknown. It was a Bristol set from April 1971. The Class 121 on the right is on the Bridport service, which ended in May 1975. Stuart Mackay Collection.

2nd November 1979

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) arriving into Didcot station with an Oxford service on 2 November 1979. Brian Daniels.

11th April 1981

Set number: L411

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.

25th June 1981

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 at Culham on 25 June 1981. The two vehicles visible are presumably 51346 and 59498. Brian Daniels.

15th January 1982

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 and presumably 59498 + 51388) at Oxford on 15 January 1982. Brian Daniels.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

51346 and 59498 at North Elmham while working the 'Anglian Vibrator' railtour on the 23rd November 1985. Chris Lings.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Wisbech on The Anglian Vibrator railtour, 23/11/85. Chris Lings.

Class 117 DMU at March Whitemoor Junction

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

23rd November 1985

Set number: L411

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.

16th May 1987

Class 117 DMBS 51346 is seen passing Saltley on 16.05.1987 after overhaul and repaint into Network South East livery at Doncaster works. It would lay over at Tyseley before continuing on to Reading. Andy Cole.

13th February 1988

Set number: L411

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.

13th February 1988

Set number: L411

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.

13th February 1988

Set number: L411

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.

5th May 1988

Set number: L411

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.

5th June 1988

Set number: L411

Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Didcot on June 5, 1988. John Carter.

30th August 1988

Set number: L411

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.

October 1988

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 and presumably 59498 + 51388) departs from Maidenhead heading to Reading in October 1988. Andrew Malloy.

3rd October 1990

Set number: L411

Class 117 set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen near Gatwick on October 3rd, 1988. Rex Holt.

Unknown date

Set number: L411

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.

Unknown date

Set number: L411

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.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: unknown

Set number: 408

Pressed Steen suburban set 408, with W51388 closest (presumably with 59498 + 51346) at Bodmin Road. Date unknown, it was based at Laira from January 1968 till March 1971. Graham Clark.

Date: circa 1973

Set number: B408

Class 117 DMU set B408 (51388 + 59498 + 51346) in Yeovil Pen Mill station, Weymouth Town is on the destination blind. Thought to be taken in 1973. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: February 1985

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) approaching Maidenhead station during February 1985. Paul James.

Date: 23rd November 1985

Set number: L412

Set L412, 51389/59499/51347, at head of Set L121, 55021, and Set L411, 51388/59498/51346, at Wisbech with ‘The East Anglian Vibrator’ on 23 November 1985. Rob Paterson.

Date: 23rd May 1986

Set number: L411

Class 117 DMU set L411 (51388 + 59498 + 51346) seen at Oxford on 12 May 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 22nd November 1986

Set number: L411

Class 117 Gatwick Airport 22 Nov 1986 Set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) departs with a Reading working. Alistair Ness.

Date: 18th February 1988

Set number: L411

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.

Date: 27th October 1988

Set number: L411

Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) arrives into London Paddington station on October 27th, 1988. Rex Holt.

Date: circa August 1989

Set number: L409

Class 117 DMU set L409 (51389 + 59496 + 51346) at Reading with Oxford on the destination blind. The driver is at this end as are red marker lamps and with no sign of passengers if could be changing platforms? Date unknown, the slide process date was August 1989. Stuart Mackay Collection.

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