Class 117 Pressed Steel 3-car sets

One of the WRs high density Derby designs, the class operated mainly around the Paddington/Reading areas.

The Class was unusual in having vehicles officially named (in the '90s). Set 701 (51350/92) was named 'Marston Vale' and 705 (51358/400) was 'Leslie Crabbe.'

The Class was one of the last of the first generation sets to stay in service, although most surviving vehicles are now in store pending disposal. Many are already preserved, with quite a few trailers used as hauled stock.

Ordering
On the 16th Oct. '58 the BTC placed an order for 168 vehicles - 57 DMBSs, 57 DMSs and 54 TCs for the WR. The Pressed Steel Co., Linwood (Paisley) was to build 123 and BRC&W to build 45 (the Class 118s). At the time 108 were for suburban services from Paddington, 15 for the Bristol-Taunton area, and 45 for services in Devon & Cornwall, west of Newton Abbott. Delivery commenced in November '59, with the final 117 set delivered a year later on the 5/11/60.

Interestingly, just three months previously the BTC placed an order with Pressed Steel for 48 vehicles for the WR. The order consisted of nine DMBC opens, nine DMSL opens and ten TS opens with buffets! These would be formed into 3-car sets for West of England services. The rest of the order was for 14 bubblecars and 6 DTSs to with them. This was the first order placed for the WR West of England dieselisation scheme. While the factory did produce the bubbles, the Cross-Country sets were not, although what exactly happened is not known.