59514 Class 117 Trailer Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Swindon & Cricklade Railway	Location History	West Somerset RailwayApr 95-Nov 04
Current Location	Swindon & Cricklade Railway		Swindon & Cricklade Railway Nov 04-Present
Current Status	Stored
Current Livery	BR Green
TRA Designation	5
Partner Vehicle(s)	None
Owner	Gloucester Railcar Trust
Website	None
Record Last Updated	1 August 2022
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 59514 was preserved by the West Somerset Railway in 1995 for use on off peak services. The railway had previously run an interesting variety of different DMU sets but wished to standardise on maintenance, so aquired five Class 115 powercars along with six Class 115/117 trailer cars as a direct replacement for the earlier sets. Whilst on the West Somerset Railway, the vehicle was repainted into green with crest, and it is thought it saw use as a locomotive hauled trailer in the late 1990’s. However 59514 was later reported to have received fire damage to one of the toilets, and the vehicle was removed from traffic with its corridor connections removed. The vehicle was later noted as being without its corridor ends so perhaps was also used as a source of spare parts? After a period of use as a workshop, the vehicle was sold to the Gloucester Railcar Trust in 2004, who acquired the vehicle as a centre car for their Class 119 set which was under restoration. In July 2005 the vehicle was operating test runs on the line. Since arrival at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, 59514 has received some bodywork and a repaint into BR Green. By 2012, work on the interior was progressing. Seats are stored in there from scrapped 117 TCL 59516 and 'the best of' seats from SR EMU stock at Caerwent. Brake and corridor connections have been acquired and are in store.
Future Plans Future plans include the completion of the interior restoration to return the vehicle to passenger operating condition. Because of the fire damage sustained at the WSR, the Gloucester Railcar Trust are intending to create a central buffet/bar, using the remaining toilet.

	59514 in the long siding between Blunsdon and Hayes Knoll. Increased progress on the Class 119 2-car set had meant that 59514 had been tkaing time out, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	59514 under restoration at Blunsdon. The vehicle is undergoing internal refurbishment, seats are stored in there from the scrapped 117 centre coach at Swanage and 'the best of' seats from SR EMU stock at Caerwent. Brake and corridor connections have been acquired and are in store, November 2011. Jim Poor

	59514 under restoration, 29/11/09. Bill Pugsley

	59514 in storage at Minehead. Simon Jones

	59514 in storage on the WSR, 25/4/03. Roberrt Frise

	59514 in storage on the WSR, 25/4/03. Roberrt Frise