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Class 117 Pressed Steel 3-car DMUs


Refurbishment

All refurbishments for the Class were done at Swindon Works.

Set L430 (51368 + 59520 + 51410) apparently underwent a test refurbishment in April 1975. It was given blue linoleum, cream formica panels and blue seat coverings, but not fluorescent lights. It also retained it's plain blue livery at that time.

The 'production' refurbishment got underway in January 1977 and included all vehicles except 51368 withdrawn in 1968, Class 116 DMBS 50083 was running in its place in set L440 would be refurbished alongside the two Class 117 vehicles. When sets L433-5 were refurbished they included the three Class 118 centre cars running in them.

Until late June 1979 the "refurbished livery" of white/blue stripe was applied, the remainder were turned out in blue and grey.

The last full set to be treated was the prototype set L430 in July 1980. The last vehicles done were two centre cars (59490 and 59509) in early 1981, they were running in Class 118 sets but would soon be returned to Class 117 formations.

Photograph Album

Cover of Class 117 Refurbishment photo album

British Rail recorded the "production" refurbishment in an internal photograph album (and according to the cover was also intended to show the work that would be done on the 118s). The images are of set L410 which was vehicles 51345, 59497 and 51387 refurbished in June 1977.

Refurbished Class 117 DMU exterior view

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An exterior view of the three-car set

Front end of Class 117 DMU power car after refurbishment

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Front end of W51387

Class 117 underframe equipment no.1 side

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Underframe equipment under the No.1 side of a Class 117 power car

Class 117 underframe equipment no.2 side

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Underframe equipment under the No.2 side of a Class 117 power car

Heater under Class 117 DMU

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Heater under No.1 side of DMBS W51345

Gangway between Class 117 DMU vehicles

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The inner end of DMBS 51345 and gangway to W59497

Footwell under drivers desk on a Class 117 DMU

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The footwell under the driver's controls

Class 117 DMU driver's compartment at fllor level

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This was possibly to show the heater outlet in the driver's compartment

View of Class 117 driver's compartment

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Drivers side of the driver's compartment

Class 117 guard's area

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The guard's area in W51345

Class 117 DMU luggage van

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A flip down seat on the heater air intake ducting in the van of W51345

Interior view of a Class 117 DMS

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Interior view of the DMS

Paytrain notice in Class 117 DMU

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A Paytrain notice above the gangway between the DMS and the TCL

Route map of suburban servies from Paddington in a Class 117

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Route map showing services from Paddington

Doorway inside Class 117 DMU

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Gangway doorway leading to the next vehicle

Door leading to toilet area in Class 117 DMU

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Front end of W51387

Interior of Class 117 DMU first class non-smoking compartment

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1st Class non-smoking compartment

Interior of Class 117 DMU first class non-smoking compartment

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1st Class non-smoking compartment

Vehicle Details

The table below shows the Works date and the livery applied for each vehicle. Information supplied by Eddie Knorn, extracted from the BR vehicle record cards.