The class mainly worked on locals out of Paddington.

In June '61 certain SR services between Reading, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton & Portsmouth were noted as being worked by Reading 117s.

In mid Oct '65 these vehicles were allocated to 81C:

51334/9-42/6-50/6/7/9/60/1/5/6/71/2

51376/81-4/8-92/8/9/401/2/3/7/8/13/4

59486/91-4/8/9/500/1/2/8/9/11/2/3/7/8 (+59478/9 - 118 trailers)

These were numbered as sets SHL300-19 (although there may not have been a 315) and used on Paddington - Slough - Reading locals.

These vehicles were allocated to 81D:

51332/3/5-8/43/4/5/51-5/8/62/3/4/7-70/3

51374/5/7-80/5/6/7/93-7/400/4/5/6/9-12/5

59484/5/7-90/5/6/7/503-7/10/4/5/6/9-22 (+59480 - a 118 trailer)

also W7254, W7804/13W!!

These were sets RDG 300-20 plus two, and used from Reading to Paddington/Oxford-Banbury/Westbury & Woking to Salisbury.

It was noted that with a few temporary changes, these sets (both at Reading and Southall) had retained there original formations to this point. It is also noted that the converted hauled stock which had been previously used with the Cross-Country sets was now being used to strengthen these sets to 4-cars. At least four sets had corridor connections fitted by this time.