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
Oct-60 | New to | 81C (Southall) | |
Apr-66 | 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) | |
10/01/88 | Transferred to | TS (Tyseley) | |
09/07/93 | Transferred to | HA (Haymarket) RAHA | |
Nov-99 | Transferred to | HQ (Headquarters) HAXX | |
Mar-00 | Sector Change to | HQ (Headquarters) SAXH | |
20/10/03 | To departmental stock |
51413 - original number
977988 - from Oct-03 (departmental stock)
Water Jetting Train From 10/03 to ?. Carried set number 960301
3w/e 30/06/73 - Dual AWS fitted
p/e 06/09/75 - WR AWS removed
Preserved - more details.
SHL318 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at Southall - circa Dec-60 | |||||
51370 | 59522 | 51413 | Noted July 1967 | ||||||
422 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at Reading - Apr-68 - was R336, gangwayed set | |||||
51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 25/08/69 - at Paddington1 | ||||||
51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 02/09/69 - at Paddington1 | ||||||
51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 07/03/70 - at Royal Oak2 | ||||||
L422 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 30/04/75 - at Royal Oak2 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 01/05/1976 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 05/1977 - Oxford Didcot Reading area3 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 31st December 1977 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59510 | 51413 | Noted 10/03/1978 - At Oxford Station3 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Noted 04/02/1980 - At Oxford3 | |||||
L433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Listed at RG - 03/03/80 | |||||
433 | 51371 | 59478 | 51413 | Transfer to LA - 3w/e 15/11/80 | |||||
P433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted circa 05/19824 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at BR - 15/12/1982 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted circa 08/19834 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at BR - 01/01/85 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 16/01/19864 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 06/05/19864 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at Bristol (Bath Road) - Summer 1986 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 29/04/87 - on 17:30 Coryton to Barry Island3 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at BR - Aug-87 | |||||
B433 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 26/09/87 - at Norwich strengthening T212 & TS603 on a Birmingham NS – Norwich service2 | |||||
51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Transfer to TS - 10/01/88 - from BR | ||||||
T308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at Tyseley - 7th April 1988 | |||||
T308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted circa 03/19894 | |||||
T308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - 01/09/89 | |||||
T308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - 01/12/89 | |||||
51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 06/05/1990 - at Tyseley depot5 | ||||||
T308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - mid May-90 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted circa 06/19914 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - Jul-91 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - Aug-91 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - Dec-91 | |||||
51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted 15/04/92 - on 06:30 Cambridge - Birmingham New Street6 | ||||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - 02/07/92 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - 24/09/92 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - November 1992 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at TS - 10/12/92 | |||||
51371 | 59569 | 51413 | Noted 10/12/92 - on 18:31 Lichfield TV - Birmingham New Street6 | ||||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at HA - November 1993 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Noted circa 07/19964 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at HA - 02/12/96 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at HA - 01/01/98 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 59509 | 51413 | Listed at HA - 23/11/98 | |||||
117308 | 51371 | 51413 | Listed at HA - Nov-99 |
Formation Sources
1: Leonard Rogers
2: Gerald Brown
3: Shayne Lewis
4: Eddie Knorn
5: Jeremy Goodyear
6: David Bellamy
On the first day of WR dmmu operation - 12 May 1979, L433 (presumably 51413 + 59478 + 51371) arrives at Edenbridge. Despite the destination blind, it is heading for Tonbridge. Tony Watson.
Class 117 DMU set L433 (presumably 51413 + 59478 + 51371) with a Bedwyn - Reading service at Newbury on 2 June 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 16, 1981, working the 08:04 Liskeard - Looe service. The set had been transferred from Reading to LA at the en of 1980 and had still to receive a P set prefix. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 16, 1981, working the 08:04 Liskeard - Looe service. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51413 + 51371) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (51413 + 51371) at Liskeard on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set P433 crosses the Saltash bridge on the 9th June 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51413 + 59509 + 51371) in Bristol Temple Meads station in June 1983. George Woods.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51413 + 59509 + 51371) departs from Westbury in June 1983. George Woods.
Pressed Steel class 117 diesel set B433 (presumably 51413 + 59509 + 51371) is seen at Weymouth Quay on 24 June 1984. It formed part of a 6-car set bound, I imagine, for Bristol. The London boat train is formed of an "Oxted" Mark 1 8-set and the ferry sits on the left. WR dmus appear to have worked on the tramway in 1983 and 1984. Jeremy Chapter.
Class 117 set B433 (51413 and presumably 59509 + 51371) and Reading circa 1987. On the right is a Class 119. Walter Burt.
Class 117 DMS 51413 at Radcliffe on Trent in 1988. David Page.
A Tyseley allocated Pressed Steel built Class 117 3-car Suburban DMU formed of cars 51413, 59509 and 51371, was passing under Watkin Lane bridge as it arrived at Lostock Hall with a Preston to Carlisle 'Dalesrail' service on July 2nd 1988. Complete with its Tyseley TS308 board in the offside cab window, the set was on temporary loan to Newton Heath during the period when the class 142 Pacer fleet was in a state of flux due to ongoing reliability issues, and before new class 150/2 Sprinters had arrived in sufficent quantities. This particular set was the last Class 117 to remain in operation on the national network, and following withdrawal in 1996, the driving cars were eventually converted as water jetting vehicles for use with Chiltern Railways and returned to BR green livery. They were finally withdrawn in 2015, and both cars have survived into preservation. Martyn Hilbert.
A Pressed Steel built Class 117 3-Car Suburban Unit, T308 with Driving Motor Second 51413 leading (presumably with 59509 + 51371), was stood at Lostock Hall with the Sunday Preston to Carlisle 'DalesRail' service on July 2nd 1988. Running via Blackburn and Clitheroe, this service ran along the Ribble Valley line prior to regular passenger services being reinstated in 1991. Martyn Hilbert.
Class 117 DMU set T308 (51413 and presumably 59509 + 51371 sits in Cardiff Central station with the 13:10 to Birmingham New Street on 21 April 1990. Robert Thomas.
Tyseley allocated three car class 117 DMU T308 (cars 51413, 59509 and 51371) seen entering Worcester Shrub Hill past a colourful collection of semaphore signals in the summer of 1990. Bob Belcher.
Tyseley allocated three car class 117 DMU T308 (cars 51413, 59509 and 51371) seen entering Worcester Shrub Hill past a colourful collection of semaphore signals in the summer of 1990. Bob Belcher.
Class 117 DMS 51413 part way through a repaint into Regional Railways livery in Doncaster Works on 5 May 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
117308 (51413 + 59509 + 51371) departs from Hereford with a Birmingham service on 29 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 set 117308 (51413 + 59509 + 51371) arrives at Hereford with a terminating service from Birmingham on 29 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
117308 (51413 + 59509 + 51371) in Hereford station with a Birmingham service on 29 August 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.
117308 (51413 + 59509 + 51371) is the front set on the 09:39 Scarborough - Skegness service seen at Doncaster on 27 June 1992. John Carter.
51413 (and presumably 59509 + 51371) on June 27, 1992. John Carter.
Pressed Steel Class 117 DMU set 117308 (51413 + 59509 + 51371) seen at Cowdenbeath, probably on a Fife Circle service. The slide process date is October 1996. Stuart Mackay Collection.
117308 (presumably 51413 + 59509 + 51371) with the 16:15 Edinburgh Waverley - Cowdenbeath service on 26/9/97. Stuart Mackay.
960301 at Aylesbury 24th October 2003. Roger Marks.
Chitern's water jetting train (977988 / 977992 / 977987) sits in front of a row of first generation vehicles at Aylesbury in January 2007. Fred Clark.
Class 117 Pressed Steel 977988 (ex-51413) of set No. 960 301 in BR green of Chiltern Railways in departmental use for water jetting. Taken at Aylesbury on 10 March 2008. Hugh Llewelyn.
The water jetting train 977988 / 977992 / 977987 in the sidings at Aylesbury on July 15, 2008. S Saunders.
The water jetting train 977988 / 977992 / 977987 in the sidings at Aylesbury on 29-02-12. John Law.
Chiltern Railways Water Cannon 977988 of set 960301 stabled at Aylesbury on 7 May 2012. Dave Warby.
During a glance through one or two RTT pages I noticed that a Tyseley to Long Marston train was booked to run on Thursday 25 June 2015. My initial feeling was that it seemed likely to be some form of OTP movement as no return schedule was shown but a couple of postings from the Stourbridge line said that it was a 2 car DMMU, presumably one of the Chiltern Railways sets used for RHTT work. I couldn't recall having taken a picture of a diesel mechanical unit on the branch so went off for a shot or two. I had a quick look at RTT from a layby in Long Marston village and decided that I probably hadn't left enough time to get across to Honeybourne and be sure of a photograph as class 117 960301 (977988 + 977987) joined the branch so just waited on the roadbridge at the site's rail entrance. The train soon appeared in the background and its arrival unfortunately coincided with the only completely clear patch of sky; just what one doesn't want at just after 14.00 in June Peter Tandy.
Former water jetting vehicles 977988 + 977987 pass through Dean between 57303 and 47813 on 5Q86, Long Marston - Eastleigh Alstom, May 8, 2019. David Mant.
Former water jetting vehicles 977988 + 977987 pass through Dean between 57303 and 47813 on 5Q86, Long Marston - Eastleigh Alstom, May 8, 2019. David Mant.
Former water jetting vehicles 977987 + 977988 pass through Dean between 57303 and 47813 on 5Q86, Long Marston - Eastleigh Alstom, May 8, 2019. David Mant.
47813 and 57503 top and tail two vehicles from the former Chiltern water jet train 977988 and 977987 at Honeybourne on 18 May 2019. Peter Tandy.
Two Pressed Steel Class 117 3-car suburban dmu's Nos.W51413 (117/1), W59517 (176), W51407 (117/2) and W51370 (117/2), W59522 (176), W51413 (117/1) in Rail Blue with all-yellow front ends leaving Paddington on an Oxford service, 07/67. Hugh Llewelyn.
Class 117 Pressed Steel DMU set L433 (presumably 51371 + 59478 + 51413) in Oxford station on 29 May 1977. George Woods.
Class 117 DMU set L433 (presumably 51371 + 59478 + 51413) at Newbury on 15 March 1979. It was noted as being on a Bedwyn - Reading service, although Newbury is on the destination blind. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51371 + 51413) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51371 + 51413) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (presumably 51371 + 51413) is seen at Coombe Junction on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (51371 + 51413) at Liskeard on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 set L433 (51371 + 51413) at Liskeard on April 17, 1981. Steve Davies Collection.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) and an Inter-City 125 in Bristol Temple Meads station in June 1983. George Woods.
Class 117 set B433 (51371/59509/51413) at Weymouth Quay on 12 August 1983. David Mant.
A nine-car DMU formation departs from Castle Cary station with the late running (taken at 11:24, due 10:45) 08:42 Cardiff - Weymouth service on 23 June 1984. Leading is Class 117 set B433, presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413, next is a suburban set with a Met-Camm centre car, on the rear is a Cross-Country set. Michael Mensing.
Pressed Steel class 117 diesel set B433 (presumably 51413 + 59509 + 51371) is seen at Weymouth Quay on 24 June 1984. It formed part of a 6-car set bound, I imagine, for Bristol. The London boat train is formed of an "Oxted" Mark 1 8-set. WR dmus appear to have worked on the tramway in 1983 and 1984. Taken from the "Earl William" as she approaches the Dorset port from Jersey. Jeremy Chapter.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51371 59509 51413) arrives in Hereford with a train from Worcester, (probably originating in Oxford), January 1985. John Crooks.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) is seen at Evershot with a Westbury service in August 1985. Michael Mensing.
Class 117 DMU set B433 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) stabled inside Crewe carriage shed, 24th February 1986. Paul James.
Class 117 3-car DMU set T308 51371 + 59509 + 51413 (DMBS + TCL + DMS) leads another 3-car back into Lichfield Trent Valley after shunting out on 15-3-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.
Class 117 3-car DMU set T308 51371 + 59509 + 51413 (DMBS + TCL + DMS) leads another 3-car back into Lichfield Trent Valley after shunting out on 15-3-89. On Tour With The Class 13 Army.
An added bonus for the photographer visiting Cosford was the presence of conveniently placed semaphore signals. It was a shame that the majority of the GWR-style lower quadrants had been replaced by the time I was going here but they were still better than the modern alternative. On 29 November 1990 class 117 DMU T308 (51371 + 59509 + 51413) was pictured about to stop with a Chester to Wolverhampton service. Neither of the loops here were much used at this time and I was never fortunate enough to take pictures with the appropriate signals in the "off" position. Peter Tandy.
On 29 March 1991 Class 108 set B398 (presumably 53632 + 51413) arrives into Bristol Parkway with the 15:24 Bristol Temple Meads-Gloucester. Robert Thomas.
Class 117 set 117308 in Regional Railways livery passing through Cradley Heath station on 29th August 1991. Set consisting of 51371, 51413, 59509. 51371 probably at the front. Andrew Slack.
117308 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) heads away from Water Orton on 4 September 1992. Stuart Mackay Collection.
117308 with 51371 at the front (presumably with 59509 + 51413) on the 18:50 ex Birmingham New Street at Longbridge on July 11, 1993. John Carter.
117308 (51371+59509+51413) on the 15:50 New St to Redditch, taken from T354 M51853 on the 14:45 Longbridge to New St at Barnt Green. Kevin Dowd.
117308 (51371+59509+51413) at New St on the 11:20 to Longbridge. Kevin Dowd.
The power cars from DMU set 117308, 51371 and 51413, in Doncaster Works on 10 July 1994. Keith Miller.
117308 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) travelling ECS towards Edinburgh at Dunfermline Townhill after working the 16:15 Edinburgh Waverley - Cowdenbeath on September 26, 1997. Stuart Mackay.
117308 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) in Edinburgh Waverley sometime during the 1990s. Waddo Rail.
Two class 117 units one of which is 117308 (presumably 51371 + 59509 + 51413) berthed at Haymarket depot on 29th April 1999. Ian Buck.
A pair of two-car 117s at Edinburgh (Waverley) on 12/10/99, 117 311 (presumably 51352 + 51376) nearer and 117 308 (presumably 51413 + 51371) further away on the 10.20 to Cowdenbeath. The Haymarket 117s had their centre cars removed to reduce weight in an attempt to improve their reliability, but this was not a success and they were withdrawn soon after this photo was taken. Kenneth Leiper.
The water jetting train 977987 / 977992 / 977988 in the sidings at Aylesbury in 2005. John Law.
Rail head water jet spray unit 960301 (977987 / 977992 / 977988) is seen at West Ruislip Station on 16-10-06. Ian Cuthbertson.
The water jetting train 977987 / 977992 / 977988 in the sidings at Aylesbury, January 2007. The (make-up?) factory has gone and housing being built. Fred Clark.
Class 117 Pressed Steel DMU in BR green of Chiltern Railways in departmental use for water jetting, taken at Aylesbury on 10 March 2008. The vehicles are 977987 + 977992 + 977988. Hugh Llewelyn.
165009 arrives into Aylesbury with 2A22, the 1138 ex Princes Risborough on 7 May 2012. Stabled in the siding is route learning vehicle 977873 and the water jetting train (977988 + 977992 + 977987). Dave Warby.
Class 121 Pressed Steel route learner 977873, originally 55022, stabled in a siding alongside Aylesbury station on 7 May 2012. Behind is 977988, part of the water jetting train. Dave Warby.
When I photographed 977987 + 977988 on 25th June 2015 the gate into Long Marston had already been opened so there only a brief pause before 960301 was allowed into the site where it appears that No.1 road was back in use. If you don't look too closely today's views might very roughly resemble the scene when DMMUs were used on this line when it was still open to Stratford-upon-Avon. The chances of the line being re-opened in the foreseeable future took another turn for the worse today when the Government announced that projects expected to take place soon, such as Midland Line and Trans-Pennine electrification, are to be "paused". It hardly seems likely that a marginal scheme such H2S (Honeybourne to Stratford) will be high on the agenda given such major funding problems. Peter Tandy.
A schedule appeared on RTT for Wednesday 9 My 2019 showing that a Leicester to Long Marston light engine move followed by a class 5 train to Eastleigh would run on Wednesday 8 May 2019, I saw from a friend's message that it was to be 57305 and 47813 topping and tailing a class 117 DMU. I grabbed a camera bag and headed out. As the departure time from Long Marston was 12.15 and it was already 11.55 I went straight to Honeybourne and after arriving on the road bridge saw that 5Q86 was sitting at the staff hut rather than at the signal in the station as is more usual. It wasn't long before the branch signal was cleared and 57303 led the train towards the main line and off to Worcester for a reversal. The vehicles were from the former Chiltern water jet train, 977987 and 977988. The unit's brakes were not operational and a through pipe between the locomotives was in use; on the side not visible here. Peter Tandy.
Former water jetting vehicles 977987 + 977988 pass through Dean between 57303 and 47813 on 5Q86, Long Marston - Eastleigh Alstom, May 8, 2019. David Mant.