Vehicle 51388
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: 30548
Diagram: 535
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| 22/01/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) NWRX | |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| 06/07/93 | Withdrawn from | HQ (Headquarters) NWRX |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 liveryDisposal
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:
2nd October 1965
W51388 leads two Pressed Steel suburban triple DMU sets at Southall on 2 October 1965. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
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.
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.
February 1985
Set number: L411
Class 117 DMU set L411 (presumably 51388 + 59498 + 51346) approaching Maidenhead station during February 1985. Paul James.
23rd May 1986
Set number: L411
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51388 + 59498 + 51346) seen at Oxford on 23 May 1986. Stuart Mackay Collection.
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.
9th July 1987
Class 117 DMS 51388 in Reading station, 9/7/87. Malcolm Clements.
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.
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.
13th April 1991
Set number: L411
51388 (set L411) at Reading Triangle Sidings, from the Solent Growler rail tour. Set L595 in background. David Miller.
The vehicle is mentioned in the following images:
Date: 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.
Date: unknown
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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 15th January 1982
Set number: L411
Class 117 DMU set L411 (51346 and presumably 59498 + 51388) at Oxford on 15 January 1982. Brian Daniels.
Date: 23rd November 1985
Set number: L411
L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Wisbech on The Anglian Vibrator railtour, 23/11/85. Chris Lings.
Date: 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.
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 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 5th June 1988
Set number: L411
Class 117 set L411 (presumably 51346 + 59498 + 51388) at Didcot on June 5, 1988. John Carter.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 3rd October 1990
Set number: L411
Class 117 set L411 (51346 + 59498 + 51388) is seen near Gatwick on October 3rd, 1988. Rex Holt.
Date: unknown
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.
Date: unknown
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.