UPDATE: 8th February 2022
Its been a while since there has been any update to the website so sincere apologies for anyone who follows the restoration progress of the Class 504 EMU. The last update was back in March 2020 just before the golbal Coronavirus Pandemic threw the world into lock down and things cam e to a stand still. With lockdown down in place the working members of the society were unable to continue restoring the Bury unti trailer car M77172. Thankfully some workwas carried on off site away from the East Lancs Railway were individual members were able to restore some internal fittings in their own private facilities.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the progress of the Societies progress immensely and the it has also suffered with hand on support following the loss of a number of working members which was not the fault of the society in anyway. The Society lost a number of working members due to ill health and others had left the ELR completely which was something the society had no control over.
Fortunately in mid summer last year what remaining working members were able to return to site and make an assesment of the Class 504 EMU and its condition after over 12 months of lock down. Thankfully there were no major signs of deterioration and a start was made to clean up inside the trailer car so that work to continue its restoration could once again begin. Some work has been carred out to begin fitting new internal roof panel which were purchased in the early months of 2020 but unfortunately work and progress has been slow with the limited number of working voluteers we currently have.
Hopefully not the country is emerging from the Coronavisus Pandemic progress with restoration will quicken up and the Society can encourage individuals to become working members and volunteer to help retsore the Class 504 EMU. Any help from people would be greatly appreciated from joining as a member of the society and even becoming a working member of the East Lancs Railway. If that doesn't suit some people then a donation of any amount would be greatly received to help us continue to progress the restoration of the Class 504 EMU. We also have a online shop where a slection of branded merchandise can be ordered.
M77172 taken on 6th July 2021 when two of our working volunteers started tidying the inside of the trailer car so work could commence of starting to fit the new internal roof panels the Class 504 Preservation Society had purchased just before the fist pandemic lockdown in March 2020. The paint that had been applied during its time inside Baron Street Loco works (the fomer home of the Class 504 EMU fleet in BR days) had become weathered and was showinf signs of damage in places but in all it had stood up well to nealy 18 months of lock down.
Between July and August 2021 some of the new internal roof panels were fitted inside trailer car M77172. The new panels had been especially cut to size and are a material called foamex which is light and already white so there will be no need to paint the panel once all are in place. The panels are held in place by an A & B two part PVC system which is specially for securing these types of panels. The panels have protective covering to stop damage while being fitted which is the turquoise colour that can be seen on the boards in the image. Once all panels in the section have been fitted the protective cover can be peeled back and removed to reveal the white surface which will hopefully be just a case of wiping over to keep it clean.
On October 9th 2021 the working volunteers decide to put the trapaulin over the Class 504 EMU pover car (M65451) this vehicle has got a lot of work that need doing to it and will need to be taken undercover to allow repairs to the external body and underframe to be carried out. The Society is in need of new working volunteer members to be able to progress its restoration of this unique EMU and its railway heritage to the railways of Bury. If anyone would like to come and join our group of current working volunteers they will be most welcome. People ideally need to be a current paid member of the ELRPS and have a working members ID card. However if you are not already a working member the Class 504 Preservation Society can help process you application to become a working member and help us restore this unique Electric Multiple Unit to its former glory at the East Lancs Railway and let people see how trains were operated between Bury and Manchester before the line was converted to Metrolink operations in 1992.
Please donate and support the restoration work on the last remaining class 504
No experience is necessary as there will be both skilled and unskilled jobs to do, all we ask for is that you are a member of the East Lancs Railway and have carried out their basic safety course (if you haven't then this can be arranged), and that you have lots of enthusiasm and don't mind working outside in the wonderful unpredictable Northern weather. If you are interested in getting involved then please contact Paul Lambert (Project Manager) by email: projectmanager@class504preservationsociety.co.uk or via Facebook.
There are currently no working day planned. Please keep checking back to see any updates for new working dates.
All dates are subject to change and we will give as much notice as we can of any changes
Meet at the 504 unit on Baron Street at 10.00am.
Please note: Anyone who wants
to work on the unit MUST be a member of the East Lancs Railway. No exceptions.
The Class 504 Preservation Society
The committee of the 504 Preservation Society was formed on the 8th November 2015 with the intention of restoring and preserving the last remaining Class 504 Electric Multiple Unit.
The first task of the Society was to be to get the units covered and protected from the elements over the coming winter months.
Internally, restoration of the Driving Trailer (M77172) is almost complete and only needs a minimum amount of work to bring it to a presentable condition. A large number of window glass and rubber window seals were recently refitted and the unit is now water tight.
The Driving motor (M65451) is a different case. Internally the saloon and cab lighting has been rewired as well as the driver’s control desk. The roof insulation has been replaced but the roof panels still need to be purchased and fitted, a number of seat frames require restoring. Externally the bodywork on this car is in a poor condition although some repaneling work did take place in the past, however, because it has been left open to the elements for a number of years it now require considerable work to bring it back to a presentable condition.
An asbestos assessment on both cars has been carried out, which was required before any intrusive work could be carried out during restoration. An approved contactor has carried out the assessment and have given the unit a clean bill of health.
On 16th October 2016 the unit was moved to another part of the Baron Street sidings to allow allround access to carry ot the full restoration of both cars. Further work on the trailer car 77172 has been carried out since the move by a regular team of volunteers but there is still much more work needed on both cars.
On 10th May 2018 the trailer car 77172 was shunted into the loco works at Baron Street to enable ungent welding and painting work to be carried out.
Please support the restoration by making a donation to the society. The Donate button is at the top left of this page.
Thank you.
Why not join us on one of our workdays and help the team with the restoration.
No experience required.
On 19th September 2018 the trailer car was shunted out of the loco works at Baron Street following restoration.
The Class 504 Preservation Society would like to thank everyone who helped with the work.