Class 108 Restoration Update, May 2017

We are now able to share the latest photographs of the restoration work carried out on our Class 108 DMU during April at the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley.

Discussions had taken place over the winter months with the people at Butterley, about what work to carry out first, and to fit in with their workshops busy schedule of work. A convenient slot came up during April and May allowing the welding work to be carried out on the Driving Trailer Lavatory Composite (DTLC) M56484.

What work has taken place?

The main body shell of a Class 108 DMU is aluminium, but both the cab front ends and rear corridor area are fabricated in steel and were badly corroded in places. The wasted metal work has been cut away above the buffer beam ready for new steel plate to be welded in place. In addition, some steel work needed replacing around the windows and head code box.

This photograph shows the new steel plate now welded in place above the buffer beam and trimmed down to the required profile.

The final photo shows the areas repaired around the cab windows and now painted in red primer. At the same time the glass has been reinstated in the head code box replacing the steel plate substituted during the mid-life refurbishment by British Rail.

We still need to raise further funds.

Unfortunately, the overall projected costs of restoring the DMU have increased. This is partly due to some items now costing more than originally expected, and, additionally some new work has been identified. This was always a possibility when you start work on a DMU which is now 57 years old.

If you would like to help us restore our DMU, donations can be made using anything of the methods listed at the foot of this website.

Nigel Kirkpatrick
On behalf of the Rolling Stock Fund