59228 Class 104 Trailer Brake Second Lavatory

Home Railway

East Lancashire Railway

Location History

Crewe (Mainline) Mar 93-Feb 00

Current Location

East Lancashire Railway

Telford Steam Railway Feb 00-Oct 20

Current Status

Stored

East Lancashire Railway Oct 20-Present

Current Livery

BR Blue

TRA Designation

2

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

Owner

Kevin Dowd

Website

www.brcw.co.uk

Record Last Updated

1 February 2022

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
59228 was preserved in March 1993 in a bulk buy of 12 Class 104 vehicles by private individuals Kevin Dowd and Robert Simpson. With no immediate home available, 59228 was held in open storage at Crewe Brook Sidings, where the vehicle suffered considerable vandelism.

In 2000, the vehicle was moved from Crewe to the Telford Steam Railway. Within an hour of unloading, a coat of blue paint had covered most of the graffiti. Cleaning work was undertaken to the inside, mainly to get rid of the accumulated debris and broken glass, and to sort out what was salvageable. Some work was also done underneath, replacing several fittings which had been removed whilst the vehicle was stuck at Crewe: notably the Vacuum Isolating Valve, replacing missing hoses, and fitting new battery box covers. Amazingly, the batteries held some charge!

Over the next 5 years, minor repairs to running gear were made to keep the vehicle reasonable, but no major restoration activities were undertaken due to other commitments.

By 2005 the vehicle was considered as in storage again, awaiting its turn for time/finance. The vehicle was sheeted up, but these were later mysteriously removed (stolen?).

A survey in 2009 found the vehicle to be in extremely poor condition, and in normal circumstances would be considered "too far gone" for economic restoration. However being unique it was felt the vehicle must be saved for a long term restoration/rebuild.

During 2016 the vehicle was sheeted over again, remaining in storage.

In 2017 the Telford Steam Railway terminated the long term loan agreement and requested 59228 find a new home. After a long period of fruitless searching it was agreed that the vehicle could be held at the East Lancashire Railway for possible future restoration and to prevent it from having to be scrapped. It eventually made the move in October 2020.

59228 now remains in storage, sheeted over, at the East Lancashire Railway awaiting restoration.

Future Plans
The future of 59228 does not look good but there is a glimmer of hope. There are simply no resources available to restore the vehicle in the near future, as the long term rebuilds of 59137, 50437 & 50494 are all in front of 59228 in the "restoration queue". 59228 may still have to be scrapped in the future, but the group have done their best to retain the vehicle for the time being in the hope that one day it can be restored at the East Lancashire Railway to run in between 50455 & 50517, which would give the prospect of two 3-car 104 sets running together at the railway.

59228 at Spring Village being prepared for transport to the East Lancashire Railway, 9/2/20. Chris Moxon

59228 stored at Spring Village, its future in the balance, 15/9/19. Chris Moxon

59228 lurks behind a crane, 7/2/16. Chris Moxon

59228 looking a little sorry for itself, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon

59228 stored at Spring Village, 3/4/15. Zoe Hunter

59228 in extremely poor condition, stored at Telford, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228 in extremely poor condition, stored at Telford, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228's guards area in extremely poor condition, stored at Telford, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228 at the Telford Steam Railway, 15/2/01. Stuart Mackay

The guards van inside 59228, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon

The middle saloon inside 59228, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon

The rear saloon inside 59228, 1/11/15. Chris Moxon

59228's guards van, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228's guards van, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228's middle saloon, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon

59228's rear saloon, 28/12/09. Chris Moxon