Class 317 vehicle destined for East Anglian Railway Museum

CLASS 317 driving vehicle 77092 from unit 317345 has moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) for preservation at Chappel and Wakes Colne station.

The vehicle has been donated to the EARM by leasing company Angel Trains following its withdrawal by Greater Anglia earlier this year. It has been in store at Ely Papworth Sidings – where a lot of Angel’s stored rolling stock is located – since being taken out of service, and was collected from there on October 15 for its journey to the museum.

The vehicle is destined to be a static exhibit at its new home, helping the attraction tell the story of Eastern Region Suburban train services through its collection of historic rail vehicles. Internally 77092 will feature displays telling the story of the Class 317 EMUS, the electrification of railways in East Anglia and how electric trains work.

The survival of 77092 is the latest in several EMU vehicles entering preservation recently and follows the preservation of Class 442 driving vehicle 77382 from 442401 by Northumbria Rail. The Class 315 Preservation Society has also recently reached agreement with Eversholt Rail to preserve the complete four-car 315820 when it comes out of traffic (Railways Illustrated, November 2021).

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