Sole-surviving ‘504’ goes undercover to aid repair work
THE Class 504 Preservation Society has received a boost in its efforts to restore the sole-surviving Class 504 electric multiple unit on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR).
The society has been working on the restoration of Driving Trailer Car M77172 over the past two years, but the vehicle requires some welding and bodywork repairs before it can be painted.
As part of the project, the society had previously reached agreement with the ELR for the vehicle to go undercover inside the restoration shed at Castlecroft for two weeks, to enable essential repairs to be carried out.
The ELR has now unexpectedly offered the C504PS an extended period of undercover accommodation in its main Locomotive Works building at Buckley Wells, giving a period of 16 weeks inside for the unit (although space is only available for one ‘504’ vehicle).
Project Manager Paul Lambert explained that the additional time would allow the society to carry out all the bodywork repairs required on the trailer car. And if suitable progress is made on the trailer car, it may also allow time to carry out preparatory restoration work on Driving Power Car M65451 which is still largely in an unrestored condition.
He also expressed his gratitude to the ELR for its assistance with the restoration project, stating that the extended period undercover was a real boost to the society as it has so far had to carry out all restoration work outdoors.
The trailer car was due to move into the Locomotive Works at the end of April, returning the ‘504’ to the building which was its home depot throughout its working life on BR. The building was acquired by Bury Council in 1993, following its closure by BR two years earlier, and it is leased to the ELR as its main engineering facility.
The C504PS is hoping to complete the restoration of the two-car unit at some stage during 2019 (the 60th anniversary of its introduction into service). It is also the 140th anniversary of the opening of the Bury to Manchester line, where the units operated throughout their 32-year career from summer 1959 until August 1991, when the final ‘504’ units were withdrawn by BR. The Bury to Manchester route is now part of the Manchester Metrolink tram network.
The C504PS is on the lookout for additional members, supporters and volunteers to assist with the project, although volunteers assisting on the unit also need to be members of the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society. More information at www. class504preservationsociety.co.uk.