Preservation Information
51677 was preserved with partner 51655 at the Lavender Line in 1993 following withdrawal from Network SouthEast.
Little is known about the vehicle whilst at the Lavender Line however the set was reportedly available for driver experience course in 1996, so the set was known to be operational at that point.
Around 1999 the set was sold and relocated to the Epping & Ongar Railway. Again reports on 51677 whilst there are vague.
There was a plan in 2000 for the vehicle to be moved to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre with partner 51655, and a single unit created out of the two vehicles, by cutting the cab from one and attaching it to the brake end of the other. The remains of the cabless vehicle werre to provide spares. The plan was not however persued.
In 2003 the vehicle changed hands again, purchased by Carl Hookings who wished to restore and operate the unit at the Barry Island Railway. Much restoration work was completed and the vehicle was repainted into BR Green.
In May 2004 the vehicle made its passenger debut at Barry, as a 3-car set with (newly acquired for the purpose) TCL 59664 and DMBS 51655.
2004-2008 saw the set operating services on the Barry Island Railway.
In 2008, the lease on the Barry Island Railway was terminated, and the DMU fleet of three sets was disbanded. The whole 3-car set was put up for sale, but although TCL 59664 found a new home, there were sadly no takers for 51677.
By February 2011, with no forthcoming sale, 51677 was sold to scrap merchants EMR and moved to their Kingsbury site. However, the company decided not to immediately cut up the vehicles as they were far from scrap condition.
Consequently, 51677 remains for sale
