59508 Class 117 Trailer Compoite Lavatory

Home Railway

Gwili Railway

Location History

Battlefield Line Apr 94-Aug 99

Current Location

Gwili Railway

Nene Valley Railway Aug 99-Mar 09

Current Status

Under Overhaul

Gwili Railway Mar 09-Present

Current Livery

Non Standard Chocolate & Cream

TRA Designation

4

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

Owner

Welsh Railway Trust

Website

None

Record Last Updated

1 March 2025

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
59508 was initially preserved on the Battlefield Line where it was used as loco hauled coaching stock.

In 1999, the vehicle was sold and moved to the Nene Valley Railway where it joined powercars by51347& 51401 returning the set to a historically accurate 3-car formation.

During the 2000’s, the set was the primary operating DMU on the Nene Valley, operating many low season services.

In 2009, the Nene Valley decided to replace the set with a Class 107 instead, and 59508 was sold to the Llanelli & District Railway Society, whose own Class 116/117 fleet had been lost to arsonists. The vehicle moved to the society’s new base at the Gwili Railway.

Since arriving at the Gwili Railway, the railway's drivers were trained on its operation within a month and 59508 entered service quickly.

In 2013, 59508 was repainted into BR Green livery to better reflect the era which the railway sought to portray.

For ten years 59508 operated regularly as part of the railway’s main 3-car operating set seeing use during the summer as well as during a range of special events. It oprated both under its own power and as hauled stock with the number of doors being particularly welcome for quick loading/unloading at Thomas events.

In 2019 59508's partner powercars had both developed mechanical faults and the set was withdrawn from traffic. 59508 escaped storage however, being retained in traffic as a loco hauled coach. Unfortunately this was short lived with the vehicle also being taken out of traffic when the Covid pandemic hit in 2020.

Following the pandemic a small group of volunteers started to steadily work on 59508 to bring it back into service as a loco hauled coach. The vehicle had been repainted into Chocolate & Cream by 2022.

Interior work continues on 59508 slowly.

Future Plans
To complete the repairs and return to service as a loco hauled coach.

W59508 stabled at the Gwili Railway, 25/4/15. Geoff Clark

W59508 stabled at the Gwili railway after repainting into BR Green livery, 19/4/14. Bill Pugsley

59508 on the Battlefield Line, 2/2/99. Stuart Mackay

A view of W59508's first class saloon shortly after relocating to the Gwili Railway, 9/3/09. Rob Phillips