Birmingham RailCar Workgroup

Birmingham RailCar Workgroup We are a group responsible for the restoration, operation & maintenance of twelve 1950's Class 104 D

This page is a Social Media presence for the Birmingham RailCar Workgroup who are responsible for all the Class 104 Diesel Multiple Units that survive in preservation. Expect to see restoration progress, plus links to our website with fresh updates and news. Nostalgic views of Class 104's back when they worked for British Railways will also be included.

Following a four month pause, the major restoration of M50479 has resumed. We have picked up where we left off on the dr...
05/09/2026

Following a four month pause, the major restoration of M50479 has resumed. We have picked up where we left off on the driver's side of the mid saloon, with replacement body skin now attached to the (previously repaired) framework, and the original metal in the upper half stripped back to bare. There are still more welds, window studs and stiffening bars still to tackle, but this side is nevertheless visually transformed. Meanwhile on the interior, areas of flooring requiring replacement have been marked up and the No2 engine coolant header tank removed to allow flooring replacement around it. There should be more regular updates on 479 forthcoming now that the team is back on the project đź‘Ť

Component recovery of M53447 has been progressing very actively over the past few months with no stones left unturned. T...
09/08/2026

Component recovery of M53447 has been progressing very actively over the past few months with no stones left unturned. The underframe and mechanical stripping has now been completed and the interior gutted, we estimate that approximately 75% of the overall process has been completed. We now turn to the final phase which is the exterior strip, with the cab and corridor ends already started and body side items such as doors, windows, gutters etc. still to remove. Needless to say, a huge number of components have been generated for future 104 preservation.

Although the Renaissance Railcars team continues to work on M50454 and M50528 at Loughborough, unfortunately despite bes...
14/07/2026

Although the Renaissance Railcars team continues to work on M50454 and M50528 at Loughborough, unfortunately despite best hopes and endeavours the set will not be able to appear at this Friday's DMU day on the GCR. Whilst this is disappointing, it's important that the set is fit for service before being allowed onto traffic. It's been a case of whilst undertaking jobs required to return the set to service, that in itself has revealed more unexpected work needing to be undertaken....

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LkdcKHL1D/

The night out versus the morning after?? Restored M56182 goes face to face with M50447 at Weybourne.
04/07/2026

The night out versus the morning after?? Restored M56182 goes face to face with M50447 at Weybourne.

M56182 looking right at home last week between Weybourne and Sheringham during the heatwave.(Photo by Glen Batten)
30/06/2026

M56182 looking right at home last week between Weybourne and Sheringham during the heatwave.

(Photo by Glen Batten)

This week we bid farewell to the first generation Newcastle Metro cars which have been retired after an impressive 45+ y...
26/06/2026

This week we bid farewell to the first generation Newcastle Metro cars which have been retired after an impressive 45+ year stint in service on suburban services around Newcastle and surrounding suburban areas. Rewinding back to 1980, the same process of replacement was occurring with the outgoing Class 104 fleet, which were arguably in poorer order at 25 years old than the Metro cars are at 45!

Whilst some of the displaced 104's escaped elsewhere, many were withdrawn, and the modernisation led to the first major inroads into the 104 fleet, the beginning of the end.

The replacement of the 104 fleet in Newcastle was of course completed in parallel with the conversion and electrification of the relevant lines as well as the modernisation of South Gosforth depot, an impressive feat and one which briefly gave the bizarre sight of the 104's and brand new Metro fleets side by side.

Just one 104 vehicle that ran on the current Metro system survives today, centre car 59228 in long term storage at the East Lancs Railway, which owes its survival to an extended life against the odds in Manchester and Scotland after it left the North East.

Today marks 40 years of Network SouthEast, the iconic BR sector that became legendary for its colourful livery and impac...
10/06/2026

Today marks 40 years of Network SouthEast, the iconic BR sector that became legendary for its colourful livery and impact in the areas that it served in and around the capital.

Ten 104 vehicles received the full livery (although many more worked under their jurisdiction without being repainted) with three of them surviving into preservation. One even still carries the scheme, albeit under a tarpaulin!

(Photo Nigel Mack)

The Renaissance Railcars team at Loughborough are currently working on M50454 + M50528, with a view to the set being abl...
06/06/2026

The Renaissance Railcars team at Loughborough are currently working on M50454 + M50528, with a view to the set being able to make its debut on the GCR at the railcar running day on Friday 17th July.

Some bodywork support feet that have wasted away are being renewed along with various woodwork repairs.

Photos by Benn Pollard and Bruce Pollard

If you fancy a ride on our 104 in Norfolk but also want to experience the rest of the diesel fleet in the same visit, th...
29/05/2026

If you fancy a ride on our 104 in Norfolk but also want to experience the rest of the diesel fleet in the same visit, the Mixed Traction Gala is the event for you!

M56182 will be in traffic all three days, and will be the centre car in the "DMU3" formation shown in the timetables, as well as also featuring in the "DMU5" set.

https://nnrailway.co.uk/rails-ales-2026/

M53447 has now been fully assessed and a component recovery plan formulated. As part of this assessment it has been phot...
17/05/2026

M53447 has now been fully assessed and a component recovery plan formulated. As part of this assessment it has been photographically recorded for future posterity, particularly the side that has been non-public for over three decades, with some of the views shared here in evening eastern sunlight.

The assessment confirms terminal decline to the structural integrity of the body, the likes of which would require years of work to ever rectify. Other areas are incomplete and in poor condition. Commentators quick to suggest that it should have been saved should take some time and thought to view the side angles in particular towards the end of the photo reel to illustrate this situation.

Put simply there is not the time, the money, or even the future work/purpose (if rebuilt) for this vehicle. Its parts are of greater value to the restorations of sisters M50479 & M53437, which will give preservation a total of four Class 104 DMBS vehicles. No parts will be surplus, as ALL usable items will be stripped off and saved for the preserved Class 104 fleet.

For those who have already commented with pragmatic reactions, understanding of our resource balancing act and support to our ongoing mission to provide QUALITY 104 vehicles alongside retaining a certain quantity, we thank you for your maturity and support.

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Bury
BL90EY

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