£35,000 needed to save a Class 317 and create rebuilt ‘210’ DMU

The offer of a complete four-car Class 317 electric multiple unit will ease the way to the re-creation of its ill-fated Class 210 diesel equivalent - if at least £35,000 can be raised.

Angel Trains has agreed to release one of the handful of remaining ‘317s’ which are stored at Ely and destined for Sims at Newport Docks for breaking up. The unit in the best condition has not yet been identified.

Meanwhile, a Crowdfunding website has been set up by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRCWC) rescue group, which is part of the way towards its ‘210’ rebuild project, having acquired the original Paxman Valenta 6RP200L power unit from the original 210002, as well as a set of power bogies.

Porterbrook has also reserved the last operational ‘210’ DEMU vehicles, which are in SWT Class 455/9 units 455912/913 and destined for a short life. The new diesel unit will be numbered 210003.

While it will not be a major problem if the Class 317 slips from its grasp, BRCWC believes that acquiring a unit in good order will make the task easier. The bodies of both designs are the same (based on the Mk 3 coach), and only an additional cross-member is needed in a driving car to give extra strength for the engine.

The total project cost has been estimated at £350,000, which covers acquisition, establishing a headquarters, reconstruction, and creating authentic interiors.

The two Class 210 prototypes, introduced in 1981, were the intended replacements for the 1950s first generation outersuburban DMU, and ran their first trials on the Paddington-Oxford route before travelling around the UK.

They were ruled out as overengineered and too expensive for mass production, and lost out to Class 141 and ‘142’ railbuses, and then Class 150s.

The ‘210’ vehicles ended up in departmental service, with three forming Class 316 Prototype Networker set 316999. A Driving Trailer Second from 210001 is in preservation.