Class 117 Pressed Steel 3-car DMUs
Refurbishment
All refurbishments for the Class were done at Swindon Works.
Set L430 (51368 + 59520 + 51410) apparently underwent a test refurbishment in April 1975. It was given blue linoleum, cream formica panels and blue seat coverings, but not fluorescent lights. It also retained it's plain blue livery at that time.
The 'production' refurbishment got underway in January 1977 and included all vehicles except 51368 withdrawn in 1968, Class 116 DMBS 50083 was running in its place in set L440 would be refurbished alongside the two Class 117 vehicles. When sets L433-5 were refurbished they included the three Class 118 centre cars running in them.
Until late June 1979 the "refurbished livery" of white/blue stripe was applied, the remainder were turned out in blue and grey.
The last full set to be treated was the prototype set L430 in July 1980. The last vehicles done were two centre cars (59490 and 59509) in early 1981, they were running in Class 118 sets but would soon be returned to Class 117 formations.
Photograph Album
British Rail recorded the "production" refurbishment in an internal photograph album (and according to the cover was also intended to show the work that would be done on the 118s). The images are of set L410 which was vehicles 51345, 59497 and 51387 refurbished in June 1977.
Negative W6991-24
An exterior view of the three-car set
Negative W6991-22
Front end of W51387
Negative W6991-14
Underframe equipment under the No.1 side of a Class 117 power car
Negative W6991-02
Underframe equipment under the No.2 side of a Class 117 power car
Negative W6991-08
Heater under No.1 side of DMBS W51345
Negative W6991-17
The inner end of DMBS 51345 and gangway to W59497
Negative W6991-09
The footwell under the driver's controls
Negative W6991-03
This was possibly to show the heater outlet in the driver's compartment
Negative W6991-07
Drivers side of the driver's compartment
Negative W6991-19
The guard's area in W51345
Negative W6991-2
A flip down seat on the heater air intake ducting in the van of W51345
Negative W6991-05
Interior view of the DMS
Negative W6991-12
A Paytrain notice above the gangway between the DMS and the TCL
Negative W6991-06
Route map showing services from Paddington
Negative W6991-10
Gangway doorway leading to the next vehicle
Negative W6991-18
Front end of W51387
Negative W6991-11
1st Class non-smoking compartment
Negative W6991-22
1st Class non-smoking compartment
Vehicle Details
The table below shows the Works date and the livery applied for each vehicle. Information supplied by Eddie Knorn, extracted from the BR vehicle record cards.
