DMU heading for Bo’ness after SRPS acquires ‘117’

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) has bought three-car Class 117 diesel multiple unit L425 from the Cotswold Diesel Railcar Group.

The first-generation DMU will be moved from its Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway home to the SRPS’s base at Bo’ness shortly.

In a statement, the SRPS said: “We are pleased to announce that the Cotswold Diesel Railcar Group has agreed the sale of its Class 117 three-car set to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society.

“Set L425 is currently operational on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway and will move to Bo’ness once its planned running season finishes at the end of October.

“The DMU has been inspected by members of the Society and represents an excellent opportunity for the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, as the DMU features a well-maintained interior including both Standard and First Class seating, great forward and rear panoramic views, working toilets, heating, accessible space, and a small bar for selling snacks and beverages.

“The exam history is good. The exterior has been patch-painted recently with the prospect of giving the remainder a quick refresh in the short term. If you would like to support the costs of acquisition and transport from Gloucestershire to Scotland, please click on the following link: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/27080.”

The set comprises three vehicles - Driving Motor Brake Standard 51363, Trailer Composite Lavatory 59510, and Driving Motor Standard 51405.

They will be joined by spare vehicle DMBS 51372, and will join the Class 126 set already based at the BKR - DMSL 51017, TCL 59404 and DMBS 51043, along with railbus 79443.

The departure of the Class 117 from the Glos Warks leaves the railway with just single-car Class 122 ‘Bubble car’ 55003 and Class 117 DMBS W51360.

It is hoped that the ‘bubble car’ will be back in 2025, and in the longer term it is possible that the spare Class 117 vehicle will be used to ‘strengthen’ the Class 122’s capacity.

Fellow Class 117, 51400, is moving from the Wensleydale Railway to the Mid-Norfolk Railway, where it will be broken up for spares for use in the final stages of the restoration of DMS 51412.