Vehicle 59491
Class 117
Builder: Pressed Steel
Layout: High Density
Length: 64ft
Coupling Code: Blue Square
Coupling Type: Screw
Gangway Type: None
Lot Number: 30547
Diagram: 601
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 | |
| 07/12/93 | Sector Change to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| 26/05/94 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) RDTH | |
| 01/06/94 | Transferred to | RG (Reading) NWRX | |
| Apr-95 | Withdrawn |
Modifications
circa Jun-65 - Gangway(s) fitted
Refurbished
At Swindon Works dated 25/09/1979 released in blue/grey liveryDisposal
Scrapped by Gwent Demolition, Margam
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 | |||||
| L417 | 51354 | 59491 | 51381 | Noted 07/10/1977 - Oxford to Didcot area4 | |||||
| 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 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Jeremy Goodyear
3: Gerald Brown
4: Shayne Lewis
5: Eddie Knorn
Images:
1981
Set number: L405
Class 117 Pressed Steel TCL W59491, part of set L405, seen at Oxford in 1981. Kevin Farrow.
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: 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.
Date: 1st April 1974
Class 121 W55030 approaching Paddington on 1 April 1974. It looks like it is standing in for a suburban set power car, the centre car to the left is 59481 or 59491. Phil Bevan.
Date: 30th July 1978
Set number: L402
A tour was arranged on this day taking class 117 sets L402 (51377 + 59487 + 51335) and L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) around all of the many branches that then existed in the London Division of the Western Region. Here the tour is seen at Brentford Town on 30th July 1978. The tour was organised by RPPR, a popular railtour company at the time. Ian Buck.
Date: 30th July 1978
Set number: L402
L402 (51377 + 59487 + 51335) and 55020 and L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) have now made it to Abingdon on the RPPR Merry-go-Round railtour on 30th July 1978. Ian Buck.
Date: 30th July 1978
Set number: L402
The freight branch to the Didcot Trading Centre was opened with high hopes but eventually came to nothing. L402 (51377 + 59487 + 51335), 55020 and L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) cleaned the rust from the rails on 30th July 1978. Ian Buck.
Date: 30th July 1978
Set number: L402
The RPPR Merry-go-Round railtour on 30th July 1978 at Abingdon. It was formed of two 117s with a 121 between: L402 (51377 + 59487 + 51335), 55020, and L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381). Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: April 1979
Set number: L405
Passing through Reading in April 1979 is class 117 set L405, 51340 presumably with 59491 + 51381. Ian Buck.
Date: 3rd December 1979
Set number: L405
Class 117 DMU set L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) in Didcot station on 3 December 1979. Brian Daniels.
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: 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.
Date: unknown
Set number: L405
Class 117 DMU set L405 (W51381 and presumably 59491 + 51340) in Reading station, date unknown. Paul Redmond.
Date: unknown
Set number: L405
Class 117 DMU set L405 (W51340 and presumably 59491 + 51381) at Reading (General), date unknown. Paul Redmond.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
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
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: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: 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.
Date: April 1987
Set number: L405
Class 117 set L405 (presumably 51381 + 59491 + 51340) at Southall in April 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Date: 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.
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
At Class 117 at Goring & Streatley in April 1989. Unit L405 (presumably 51340 + 59491 + 51381) on its way to Reading. Alistair Ness.
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: 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.
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 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.
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: 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.
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 August 1991
Set number: L405
Class 117 set L405 (51340 + 59491 + 51381) is seen at Redhill on August 28th, 1991. Rex Holt.
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.