Current number:
977859
Any other previous number(s):
BR DMU 55025
Notes:
Moved to Honeybourne Airfield - late 2021.
Livery:
RAILTRACK - BLUE & GREEN
Preserved Railway / Museum:
Evesham area, 813 Group private site
Categories:
Preserved vehicles
977xxx series
DMUs

Photos

Comments

The following comments have been left on photos of this vehicle. To reply, just visit one of the photos.

• 16 September 2003 - Jo Coultas

  Park it anywhere in the country and it'll be safe, leave it in your "own" yard at Hither Green and it get's a respray, typical !!!

• 977859

  16 September 2003 - Jo Coultas

  I drive this heap on a regular basis, it's not me driving it in this photo as this is not "my end" (the controls are stiff at his end, I prefer the "smooooth" drive from the other end). Quick irrelevant comment, The parents of one of the lads that work the video equipment on board the train are actors, his Mum was in SPACE 1999 (with green hair) and his Dad was the leader of the Cyber men in Doctor Who. Amazing really!

• 977859

  20 September 2003 - Jo Coultas

  I'm also the T R I on this unit, on it's massive journey around the UK. I don't let Steve and Andy drive it very often as they bugger it up, i.e.... Blow up gear boxes, rip off prop shafts, you get the idea. Then I have to drive my ickle van 100s of miles to repair the said vehicle and get my train driving hands dirty (very un professional)

• 977859

  10 February 2004 - Tom Walker

  this unit became a departmental when it was retired from the Bletchley-Bedford services. Note the unbelievably ugly front exhaust pipes that can be seen on all single car DMUs (except for chiltern rail's 121020 and class 153s).

• 977859

  9 June 2004 - Jo Coultas

  With regards to my last comment, I must appologise to Steve, as for Andy...

  "I go changing bogies to urn an honest bob, for a driver/technician it's a filthy dirty job, a DMU fitter you would'nt be if you could get as dirty as me, if you could get as black as me, when i'm changing bogies!!!"

• 977859

  10 June 2004 - Ben Williams

  Yeah I'm liking the George Formby tribute there in case anyone else missed it ;)

• 977859

  14 June 2004 - Jo Coultas

  You can't be talking about my beautiful bug like that, it's proper bo! a tell thee. It's got a nice stainless big bore exhaust now!

• 977859

  20 July 2004 - steve parberry

  better get to ashford and get some new scotches with handles for it

• 977859

  10 August 2004 - mxi339z

  Can anybody tell me why this thing has a wiper on the route indicator box, is it so you can drive it stood up??????

• 977859

  10 August 2004 - Ben Williams

  I think there is a camera up there.

• 977859

  27 August 2004 - Jo Coultas

  Yes indeed, there is a camera in the headcode box. It films the OHLE contact wire and catenery. When the images are studied back at the office, by the miracle of science you can see if the stagger of the wire is too staggering. What you do once you are aware of this I do not know.

• 977859

  2 September 2004 - dmk

  JO, andy is sitting next to me saying that you a lazy so an so, and why have you not said anything about what he and steve( i can say my army number backwards) did at CASTLETON (he he he).

• 977859

  4 September 2004 - steve

  It was'nt me, it was Andy that dera...., sorry, it was Andy that had the 'INCIDENT' at Castleton. After all he is the 'Senior, No.1, Designated driver' on 977859. By the way, my army no. backwards is 84816242.

  Sorry Ben about this stuff on your site, it's a 'driver' thing.

• 977859

  4 September 2004 - steve

  It's doing more work now than it's done in it's earlier life, pity the generator keep's breaking down though!!

• 977859

  24 March 2005 - Jo Coultas

  A former tour de force, forced to tour.

  Pushed it to the limit, couldn't push it any more.

  Rest in piece my friend....It's been emotional (Pandora (2000-2004) Gone but never to be forgotten.

  The last comment should go to the un-named Motherwell driver who's last remark was "This is the biggest pile of rattling S$%T i've ever conducted"

• 977859

  2 April 2005 - Steve Sheehan

  The most defining aspect of driving 977859 was will it make it to it's destination, preferably with the same amount of fixtures and fittings it started out with. Happy days.

• 977859

  10 June 2005 - Jo Coultas

  I know this should be over and done with now, but there's a final question to ask from the long suffering omni-com technicians...

  "Has the generator shut down again Jo?"

  To which I can only reply....

  "Yes Alex/Mike(not Mick!) it most definately has, it's roar will be no more"

• 977859

  31 January 2006 - Jo Coultas

  Soon to be "Back in the ring, to take another swing!"

  It's better than life....................

• 977859

  2 February 2006 - Jo Coultas

  Interesting to see that this unit has retained it's "Railtrack" livery.

  It seems as it now also carries it's unofficial name of "Pandora", this name, although used was never carried during the years when this unit was operated by Balfour Beatty.

• 977859

  16 June 2007 - Kevin Staddon

  Can anyone remember the original number of this vehicle please?

  Seen Exeter heading for Cornwall this week.

• 977859

  16 June 2007 - SD0853

  This DMMU was W55025W originally. It still says it in one of the cabs!

• 977859

  17 June 2007 - Kevin Staddon

  Thanks for the info.

  >>SD0853

  >>16 June 2007, 20:29:00

  >>This DMMU was W55025W originally. It still says it in one of the cabs!

• 977859

  14 October 2007 - SD0853

  Now withdrawn due to a "Failed Axle". This unit has been retired 10 weeks early, but was to have been withdrawn on the 31st December as the vehicle is not fitted with OTMR

• 977859

  9 November 2007 - gareth coleman

  This unit is now for sale, offers over £25k!!

• 977859

  21 February 2009 - Phil Scott

  Was a new owner ever found for this unit, or is it still available for sale?

• 977859

  23 February 2009 - Ben Williams

  Not heard any news at this end...

• 977859

  24 February 2009 - SD0853

  The unit was removed from sale, and apparently is not for disposal at the moment.

• 977859

  16 March 2009 - SD0853

  Awaiting road transport from Derby RTC to ????? Sunday 15th March. Any ideas anyone?

• 977859

  16 March 2009 - Ben Williams

  Gone to Tyseley apparently but for Chiltern so assume rail move onto Aylesbury eventually. Perhaps some work at Tyseley first?

• 977859

  16 March 2009 - Napster

  Left Derby RTC early afternoon today, courtesy of Allellys

• 977859

  7 December 2009 - Ben Williams

  Moved to Tyseley in March - anyone got any updates please?

• 977859

  20 January 2010 - mark

  What a waste of money !

• 977859

  17 October 2010 - Tom

  Can anyone tell me what the red circles on the sides are. Do they light up? Or are they just logos for something?

• 977859

  18 October 2010 - SD0853

  They were just the logo's for "Onmi-Com Engineering" who provided and operated all of the internal recording and measureing equipment.

  "Omni-Com Engineering" supply a of alot of geometry recording equipment to Network Rail.

• 977859

  15 May 2011 - Ben Williams

  I'm told this has been used as a donor for Chiltern's 977828 / 55034 at Tyseley and the remains will go for scrap soon....

• 6 October 2013 - Phil Scott

  This vehicle has been offered for sale - see the current issue of the Railcar Association news bulletin for a link.

• 15 June 2016 - Jon Horswell

  Moved to Long Marston. Apparently.

• 21 February 2017 - Mike Porter

  According to the North Somerset Railway's website, this vehicle (still at Long Marston) is earmarked for the Radstock - Frome railway.

• 3 January 2022 - Ben Williams

  Now at Honeybourne Airfield site.

• 23 May 2023 - Vince

  In February 2023 the Radstock-Frome railway project was closed down, so not exactly sure what the future holds for this (and ex Chiltern sandite 977987&977988?).