Differing fates meet derelict Class 503 EMU vehicles

FURTHER TO the news last month that two of the three vehicles from the sole-surviving Class 503 electric multiple unit were set to be scrapped, the vehicles were removed from Locomotive Services Group’s One:one Collection museum site at Margate and sent for scrapping in mid-march. The Class 503 – consisting of DMBS 28690, trailer standard 29720 and driving trailer standard 29289 – was secured by the Heritage Electric Trains Trust (HETT) following the closure of the Electric Railway Museum in Coventry in 2017. The EMU was moved to LSG’S storage facility in the former Hornby Railways factory at Margate, which LSG is currently transforming into the One:one Collection museum, displaying a wide variety of rolling stock from LSG’S collection and other selected exhibits. HETT also owns 4-SUB 4732, which will eventually form one of the exhibits to be displayed at the Margate museum. The coaches from the Class 503 unit were all in an unrestored condition, with 28690 in the best condition out of the three. This vehicle has now been moved to Llynclys on the Cambrian Heritage Railways, where a 10-year storage agreement has been reached between HETT and CHR. The two trailer coaches were sent for scrapping following their removal from Margate in early March, although the driving cab and a section of the passenger saloon from DTS 29289 has been bought for preservation by Richard

Benyon for his The Cab Yard Collection display at Cynheidre, on the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway. The remains of the unrestored vehicle were delivered to their new home in mid-march, and Mr Benyon intends to carry out restoration work over the coming months. A number of locomotive and unit cabs belonging to The Cab Yard Collection are being moved to the LMMR for restoration work and display, as their owner seeks to establish a museum at the railway to give the public access to the cabs in his collection once they have been restored to a suitable standard. More information on The Cab Yard Collection can be found at https:// traincabs.co.uk

Richard Benyon Newly delivered to Cynheidre, on the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway, the cab from driving trailer standard 29289 has been saved by preservationist Richard Benyon under his The Cab Yard Collection. The cab and surviving section of the saloon will be tidied up before Mr Benyon and LMMR volunteers carry out restoration work on the remains of the Class 503 trailer.