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Vehicle 51373

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

Oct-60	New to	81D (Reading)
circa Dec-60	Transferred to	81C (Southall)
Dec-64	Transferred to	81D (Reading)
May 1973	Depot code change	RG
3w/e 15/11/80	Transferred to	LA (Laira)
16/05/82	Transferred to	BR (Bristol Bath Road)
09/02/88	Transferred to	TS (Tyseley)
06/04/94	Transferred to	HA (Haymarket) RAHV
Sep-99	Withdrawn from	HA (Haymarket)

Modifications

8w/e 01/01/72 - Dual AWS fitted
Jul-75 - WR AWS removed

Refurbished

At Swindon Works dated 10/11/1978 released in white/blue stripe livery

Disposal

Scrapped by Sims Metals, Cardiff

Some sample formations the vehicle has been noted in:

RDG322	51373	59480	51415	Listed at - circa Oct-60 - ran for a few weeks as RDG322 before becoming SH319
SHL319	51373	59480	51415	Listed at SHL - circa Dec-60
	51373	59480	51415	Transfer to 81D - Dec-64
424	51373	59480	51415	Listed at Reading - Apr-68 - was R332, gangwayed set
	51373	59480	51415	Noted 05/06/72 - in Birmingham New Street¹
	51373	59480	51415	Noted 08/04/1974 - at Reading²
424	51373	59480	51415	Noted 02/07/1975 - at Birmingham New Street³
L435	51373	59480	51415	Listed at RG - 01/05/1976
L435	51373	59480	51415	Noted 08/09/76 - in Paddington⁴
L435	51373	59480	51415	Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area⁵
L435	51373	59480	51415	Listed at RG - 31st December 1977
L435	51373	59480	51415	Listed at RG - 03/03/80
435	51373	59486	51415	Transfer to LA - 3w/e 15/11/80
B435	51373	59486	51415	Listed at BR - 15/12/1982
B435	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 08/1983⁶
B435	51373	59486	51415	Listed at BR - 01/01/85
B435	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 02/1986⁶
B435	51373	59486	51415	Noted 04/03/1986⁶
B435	51373	59486	51415	Noted 10/05/1986⁶
B435	51373	59486	51415	Listed at Bristol (Bath Road) - Summer 1986
B435	51373	59486	51415	Listed at BR - Aug-87
B435	51373	59486	51415	Transfer to TS - 09/02/88 - as T310
TS310	51373	59486	51415	Transfer to TS - 09/02/88 - was B435 at BR
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at Tyseley - 7th April 1988
T310	51373	59486	51415	Noted 02/07/88 - at Norwich⁴
T310	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 05/1989⁶
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - 01/09/89
T310	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 10/1989⁶
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - 01/12/89
	51373	59486	51415	Noted 06/05/1990 - at Tyseley depot²
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - mid May-90
T310	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 12/1990⁶
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - Jul-91
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - Aug-91
T310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - Dec-91
117310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - 02/07/92
117310	51373	59486	51415	Noted 30/08/1992 - Bescot Depot open day shuttle
117310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - 24/09/92
117310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - November 1992
117310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - 10/12/92
117310	51373	59486	51415	Noted 26/06/93 - at Norwich⁴
117210	51373	59486	51415	Noted circa 08/1993⁶
117210	51373	51415		Noted circa 09/1993⁶
117310	51373	59486	51415	Listed at TS - November 1993
117210	51373	51415		Noted 26/12/93
117310	51373	59486	51381	Listed at HA - 02/12/96
117310	51373	59486	51381	Noted 2nd July 1997
117310	51373	59486	51381	Listed at HA - 01/01/98
117310	51373	59486	51381	Listed at HA - 23/11/98

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

Images:

Unknown date

The bogie under the van end of Pressed Steel DMBS W51373. The three inch numbers dates this to late 1960s, the text to the right is 'Load 35 cwts evenly distributed'. It would be a Reading vehicle in this period. Graham Clark.

31st May 1972

Set number: L424

Pressed Steel DMU sets L424 (leading, presumably 51373 + 59480 + 51415) and L423 (presumably 51414 + 59479 + 51372) on a down service at Slough station on 31 May 1972. Some 12-ton vans in the Windsor branch bay on the right. Tom Burnham.

22nd November 1975

Set number: L424

Class 117 and 101 DMU's at Moor street on the 22nd November 1975. The 117 appears to be L424 making the DMBS closest 51373. The mk11 and mk1 coaches were part of an exhibition train as l remember. Inside were examples of the latest upgrades to track, signaling etc via films and photographs. 54A South Dock.

16th February 1979

Set number: L435

Class 117 DMU set L435 (presumably 51373 + 59480 + 51415) at Hinksey on 16 February 1979. Brian Daniels.

4th March 1980

Set number: L435

Refurbished Class 117 set L435 (presumably 51373 + Class 118 59480 + 51415) at Didcot on 4 March 1980. Brian Daniels.

9th April 1981

Set number: P435

W51373 is the DMBS in set P435 when seen at Newquay on the 9th April 1981. Chris Lings.

16th June 1983

Set number: B435

Class 117 set B435 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415) and a Class 101 DMU have just left the Pembroke Dock Branch at Whitland bound for Swansea. 16/6/1983. Stephen Burdett.

22nd October 1983

Set number: B435

Class 117 set B435 (W51373 and presumably W59486 seen behind) forms the 09:42 from Swindon seen at Cheltenham Spa on 22 October 1983. Robert Thomas.

22nd January 1985

Set number: B435

Class 117 DMU set B435 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415) runs past the yard ground frame on the approach to Hereford station with a terminating service from Worcester. 22nd January 1985. Paul James.

10th September 1986

Set number: B435

Class 117 DMU set No. B435 (Nos. 51373, 59486 and 51415) stands at Swindon working a service from Westbury on 10 September 1986. Brian Creasey.

28th February 1987

Set number: B435

Under the large and impressive roof at Bristol Temple Meads on 28th February 1987 waits class 117 set B435, (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415). Ian Buck.

28th May 1987

Set number: B435

A three-car Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU formed of cars W51373, W59486 & W51415 (B435), was stood at Starcross with a Paignton to Exmouth service on May 28th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.

28th May 1987

Set number: B435

A three-car Pressed Steel Suburban DMU formed of cars W51373, W59486 & W51415, was stood at Dawlish station with an 'all-stations' Paignton to Exeter St Davids service on May 28th 1987. Martyn Hilbert.

15th April 1988

Set number: T310

Class 117 DMU set T310 in Birmingham New Street on 15 April 1988 with DMBS 51373 closest. Sparegang.

23rd April 1988

Set number: T310

A Class 117 3-car unit (TS410 with vehicles 51373 + 59486 + 51415) arrives at Birmingham Moor Street with a service bound for Snow Hill on 23 April 1988. Lewis Bevan.

28th May 1988

Set number: T310

51373, 59486, 51415, 51352, 59677, 51394 at Ely North Junction with the 10.20 Yarmouth to Birmingham Nerw Street on 28th May 1988. Nicholas Youngman.

1st July 1991

Set number: T310

The class 101 unit (T078, 51249 + 53146) fitted nicely between various posts at the end of Stratford-upon-Avon's platform 2 on 1 July 1991. It was working with T310 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415). The scene has changed a lot since this photograph was taken in that the gasholders have been demolished, the semaphore signals have been replaced with electric lights (twice) and a white paling fence has been erected to deter trespassers from getting onto the line. Peter Tandy.

Class 117 DMU at Wormleighton Crossing, south of Fenny Compton

circa April 1992

Set number: 117310

Regional Railways liveried 117310 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415) on service to Birmingham New Street - seen at Wormleighton Crossing, south of Fenny Compton on the Oxford to Birmingham line. Date unknown, the slide process date is April 1992. Stuart Mackay Collection.

6th May 1993

Set number: 117310

51373 + 59486 + 51415, 117 310, at Wolverhampton on 6/5/93. Sparegang.

June 1993

Set number: 117310

Framed by the bridge. Stratford upon Avon in June 1993 with 117310 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415) having just arrived from Birmingham Snow Hill. Stephen Burdett.

26th December 1993

Set number: 117210

Class 117 51373, set number 117210 is seen stabled at Tyseley on 26.12.1993. This was refurbished into Regional Railways as a three car unit with 51415 and 59486, and was numbered 117310, but it is seen here with the centre car removed, hence the set number being 117210. It was later returned to a three car set and was transferred away to Haymarket. Set T207 can be seen to the right. Andy Cole.

1st May 1994

Set number: T210

A Class 117 heads up towards Daviot 01/05/94 on 5Z61 1545 Inverness - Perth. Still labelled 117210, it is now 117310 after having the centre car added and transferred from Tyseley to Haymarket. It had been to Inverness for NRN radio fitment. Roddy MacPhee.

The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:

Date: 8th June 1962

Two Pressed Steel suburban triple DMUs are seen at Scrubs Lane heading for Oxford on 8 June 1962. The first two vehicles are noted as 51415 and 59480, their accompanying DMBS is presumably 51373. The 'Buffet Restaurant Car' to the left has a coach board that reads 'Paddington Bristol Weston-Super-Mare'. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 29th September 1979

Set number: L435

Refurbished Class 117 set L435 (presumably 51415 + Class 118 59480 + 51373) at Lower Basildon with Oxford on the destination blind, 29 September 1979. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: February 1983

Set number: B435

Bristol based class 117 DMU B435 (presumably 51415 + 59486 + 51373) waits to cross over in platform 2 at Hereford after arriving with a service from Oxford. 472 51 looks on in the background. No exact date for this, the best I can offer is W/E 26-02-83. Paul James.

Date: 1986

Set number: B435

Class 117 set B435 (presumably 51415 + 59486 + 51373) after arriving in Exmouth station in 1986. John Law.

Date: 27th September 1986

Set number: B435

Class 117 DMU set B435 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415) and a Class 119 are seen in Swansea station with the 15:02 departure to Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales line on 27 September 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Date: 28th February 1987

Set number: B435

On the rear of class 117 set B435 is 51415 (presumably with 59486 + 51373) leaving Stapleton Road on a Severn Beach train on 28th February 1987. Ian Buck.

Date: 28th February 1987

Set number: B435

On its way from Severn Beach to Bristol class 117 set B435 led by 51415 (presumably with 59486 + 51373) halts at Lawrence Hill on 28th February 1987. Ian Buck.

Date: January 1988

Set number: B435

A Class 117 DMU, Bristol set B435 (presumably 51373 + 59486 + 51415), sits in Platform 3 at Hereford station. Early January 1988. Paul James.

Date: 25th September 1993

Class 150s worked most of the local services between Birmingham and Leamington Spa in 1993 so it was a bit of a surprise to see a 5 car DMMU coming around the bend at Finwood (the location sometimes called Rowington or Lowsonford although both villages are a few miles away) on the afternoon of Saturday 25 September 1993. The leading unit has a 116 at the front and the class 117 trailing is 117210 (51415 + 51373). This was a popular spot at the time as there were 3 southbound intermodals in quick succession including a Leeds to Southampton usually powered by a pair of class 37s along with the chance of a northbound MGR from Didcot Power Station. Peter Tandy.

Date: 1st May 1994

Set number: 117210

117210 (117310, presumably 51415 + 59486 + 51373) heads up towards Daviot on 01/05/94 with 5Z61 1545 Inverness - Perth, returning from the fitment of NRN radio equipment at Inverness TMD. Roddy MacPhee.

Date: November 1995

Set number: 117310

At Edinburgh Waverley in November 1995 set 117310, 51415 and presumably 59486 + 51373, on a Fife Circle service. Ian Buck.

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