M50517
Introduction
M50517 is a standard Class 104 Driving Motor Composite Lavatory, of which five survive in preservation. It was introduced in 1957 as part of a batch of 51 three car sets for British Railways’ London Midland Region. It entered service with Trailer Composite Lavatory M59175 and Driving Motor Brake Second M50465. Unfortunately both vehicles were later scrapped. M50517 weighs 31 tons and seats 12 first class and 54 second class passengers in three saloons. Two passenger “vestibules” separate the saloons with passengers exiting the vehicle through four exterior doors. Additional doors are located in the drivers cab. The vehicle is fitted with two standard Leyland 680 horizontal diesel engines providing 300hp. Standard transmissions and control systems enable M50517 to operate in multiple with other DMUs that carry the “Blue Square” coupling code, the most common of the multiple working types.
M50517 in its current condition at Kingsley & Froghall
BR Years 1957-1990
M50517 entered service in the North West, which at that time was receiving a number of new DMU sets that were being delivered as a result of the 1955 “Modernisation Plan”. The Class 104 3-car sets proved versatile replacements for previously steam hauled secondary & branch line services in the area, and M50517 would have worked many of the routes around Manchester, particularly the Manchester-Buxton line, which was to have an association with the Class for years to come. Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Crewe, Birmingham and Manchester suburban route would also have been covered.
Around 1960, the short lived light green livery that M50517 was delivered in was replaced by the more conventional BR green that was to last much longer. M50517 continued to work around the North West routes it was designed for throughout the 1960’s & 1970’s. During this time, British Railways’ policy resulted in the vehicle losing its lined green livery in favour of all over blue. This was also the start of the BR’s DMU refurbishment program. Although Class 104’s were never selected for proper investment and full refurbishment (unlike other more common classes such as 101 & 108) most vehicles went through a major overhaul, which included the removal of the original asbestos insulation and front end changes which were to change the character of the vehicle, the two character headcode box under the centre window being plated over. The introduction of the TOPS classification system in the 1970’s also resulted in M50517 being renumbered M53517.
The 1980’s were to see Class 104’s begin to fall into decline. In the mid 1980’s, M53517 was transferred from its North West home of 30 years to Scotland, where it joined a characteristic fleet of first generation DMU’s. A “mixed bag” of contrasting classes and liveries were to be seen with many hybrid sets being formed and reformed as maintenance dictated. M53517 was latterly part of set 456 which also included 104’s M59168 (in Blue & Grey livery) and M53464. The Strathclyde Transport route maps depicting the railway network surrounding Glasgow were to remain stuck on the ceiling panels for the rest of the vehicle’s BR life, only being removed during restoration. One of the original maps was saved as part of the vehicle’s history.
By 1989, M53517 was moved back down to the North West, losing its centre car and being formed as a two car “power twin” set with DMBS M53451 with set number CH611. It operated in the Manchester area, transferred to Chester Depot, the last place to see 104’s in the North.
Some Class 104 vehicles were transferred for future use into the 1990’s in the London area, however M53517 was not one of them, and was the end its days running from Chester, where it was taken out of service sometime between January and November of 1990.
53517, 59168, 53464 & a 3-car Class 101 at Bo'ness Junction 3.10.87 (Merlin)
M53517 & M53451 at Chester 6.1.90 (G.Prescott)
CH611 M53517 & M53451 on Chester Depot 3.9.89 (K.Dowd)
Withdrawal & Storage 1990-1992
M53517 in the scrapline at Chester 12.11.90 (G.Prescott)
“Sprinterisation” of the North West and the fact the 104’s were never refurbished lead to withdrawal in 1990, M53517 being dumped awaiting disposal at Chester. Refurbished class 108s and 101s lasted longer while the BRCW vehicles faced an uncertain future.
However the vehicle was purchased in 1992 as part of a bulk buy of twelve vehicles from enthusiasts Kevin Dowd and Robert Simpson. After a brief period, the vehicle was moved to the Churnet Valley Railway. On inspection of the preserved vehicles, M53517 had the honour(!) of being the vehicle believed to be in the best condition, so was selected to be the first vehicle that individuals (who would later form the BRCW Group) restored.
Restoration 1992-2004
Bodywork restoration on M50517 during the 1990's
M50517 during the 2 year cab rebuild
Five years of restoration at the growing Churnet Valley Railway commenced before in 1997 it was discovered that the cab support of M53517 had serious corrosion, the whole area having to be replaced. This added two years to the task and the long restoration also meant many minor parts were misplaced. However the exterior of the vehicle was completed in 1999 (finished in green primer) and the restoration took a back seat for the next 3 years while M50455 was brought to the same condition.
By July 2002 the car had been hand painted and rolled out of the shed at Oakamoor sporting BR Green with whiskers. This represented the vehicles 1960’s condition, before half yellow warning panels were applied. The vehicle was also renumbered back to its original M50517. A further 18 months were spent getting the interior and mechanical parts to a standard suitable for public passenger service. This involved recovering the seats and cleaning lino, rebuilding the wooden interior with a mix of new and reused panels and fitting the luggage racks, ceilings and associated electrics.
M50455 & M50517 finally entered service on the CVR at the "Swansong of Steam" gala in September
M50517 after external restoration was completed in 1999
View M50517's Restoration Gallery
Interior view during restoration
2004. M50517 took 12 years to fully restore and is currently our flagship vehicle, as the restoration was more thorough than partner M50455. Few stones were left unturned during the return to passenger service, and hopefully the results show it.
In Service 2004-Present
M50517 between Consall & Cheddleton at the 2008 Diesel Gala
The unit, in mint condition, debuted at the 2004 "Swansong of Steam" gala, before being whisked off to the Severn Valley Railway for the never-to-be-repeated Railcar50 event, the biggest gathering of running DMU sets to date. We flew the flag for BRCW alongside Class 118 from the Battlefield Railway and the weekend was an unforgettable experience. M50517 had the honour of leading the 12 car Fish & Chip special from Bridgnorth-Kidderminster on the Saturday night, the longest DMU to have ran in preservation.
After the event, the DMU returned to the CVR for two years of intensive running, providing a mid-week service for the railway in August and during the school holidays. It also ran on off-peak Saturdays ensuring the railway was running every weekend from April-October. The line enjoyed this increased running from 2005-2006 before a review of services resulted in the midweek running being removed. The external appearance of the vehicle during these years was very good and our efforts during the restoration were rewarded by many favourable comments.
2007 onwards has seen the vehicle used on Bank Holidays and Special Events, providing a second train alongside a steam hauled set. The vehicle was fitted with a fully refurbished engine in late 2009, which was a replacement for the Chester fitted No1 engine, which had been rather smoky since it was introduced into service. M50517 has always run as half a power-twin set with M50455, the unit having 600hp for just two carriages.
In Service 2004-Present
M50517 running OakamoorSpecials in 2009
M50517 is currently fully operational and running with M50455. At the moment the set can be enjoyed on roughly 20 days a year on bank holidays and some special events. Several mechanical parts are currently being serviced, each component being removed, overhauled and returned between running dates so the vehicle remains operational.
In the near future, it is planned to give M50517 an intermediate overhaul, with the interior having a quick tidy up, although less work will be required than partner M50455. The exterior will also be rubbed down and repainted, as the paint from 2002 is beginning to look a little worse for wear. This repaint may coincide with the completion of centre car M59137 which will be inserted between M50455 & M50517, meaning a fully overhauled 3-car set can be launched into service.
Page last updated 21/1/10
