Restoration

Restoration Features: For those interested in details of the work undertaken, the following new sections give an illustrated summary of the challenges we have faced during the restoration. Current Status of the vehicles: This section gives details of the status of work to date. Please revisit our site to see progress. Better still - get involved! Sc51043 (DMBS) This vehicle was initially in the worst condition of our 3 Ayrshire vehicles. It has had the bodywork extensively rebuilt, including a major reskin of the bodysides by Midland Railway Enterprises (MRE) at Butterley in Derbyshire. In addition the underframe mechanical components have been completely refurbished and all wiring and air piping replaced by MRE. Examples of the work undertaken can be seen in the restoration gallery. The diesel engines have been stripped, completely reconditioned and rebuilt by the SRPS Diesel Group at Bo'ness. The vehicle was returned to Bo'ness in Spring of 2006 for our volunteers to continue with the interior restoration. The two passenger saloons are now in a useable condition. Sc59404 (TCK) This vehicle was in the best mechanical condition when we began the restoration and was repaired and repainted by the SRPS. The interior, which had been completely destroyed during asbestos removal, has been rebuilt to original condition by our volunteers at Bo'ness. The vehicle travelled to the Severn Valley Railway in 2004 in connection with the Railcar 50 event, organised by the Railcar Association to celebrate 50 years since the introduction of the first of the British Railways 1st Generation DMUs. Sc51017 undergoing restoration at Butterley. Whilst initially appearing to be in need of less work than Sc51043, a considerable amount of work was required to replace poorly fitting bodywork and under-specification framework, which had been fitted by a previous contractor. As the bodyshell is load bearing, it was particularly important to restore this to correct specification to maintain the structural integrity of the vehicle. Sc51017 (DMS) This vehicle was in similar condition to Sc51043 and has also had the bodywork and the mechanical components completely refurbished by MRE, returning to Bo'ness in August 2007. Interior work is on hold while the volunteers concentrate on Sc51043, but with two engines rebuilt and fitted by the SRPS Diesel Group at Bo'ness the vehicle is useable in a non-passenger carrying capacity allowing the 3-car set to be used in traffic. Linoleum has now been fitted (August 2008) in preparation for interior work to resume. This 'composite' picture of Sc79443 was taken on the 21/5/91 on the NYMR at which time the vehicle had not moved in nearly 20 years. It is now located on the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway as an empty shell, while restoration work concentrates on the three Ayrshire vehicles. Sc79443 (TRBF) This is a Buffet car vehicle from the Edinburgh-Glasgow units. The vehicle was purchased as an empty shell by the SRPS from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in view of its historical significance to modern Scottish railway history. Unfortunately, the buffet car has been given lesser priority in restoration as is of lesser importance to the essential DMU formation than the power cars, and is less typical of the normal formation than Sc59404. The body is in an extremely corroded condition. The current HLF funding allowed for a limited amount of work on the vehicle, this allowed one half of one side to be rebuilt which has proven it can be tackled succesfully and as a measure for th work remaining. Our plan is to start work on this vehicle properly as soon as the three Ayrshire vehicles are complete. When restored, it shall replace Sc59404 in the formation when catering accomodation is required.

Here we see the inside end of Sc51043. The inscriptions are copied from the vehicle as new: S.P. 6-62 (Shopping Proposal: June 1962) New 3000 refers to the fact that the vehicle was built new at Swindon Works (BR works code 3000) with an official "birthday" 27th June 1959. Current plans are to have all three Ayrshire vehicles restored in time for the 50th anniversary of the introduction to service of the sets in September 1959