59522 Class 117 Trailer Composite Lavatory (Scrapped)

Last Location

Great Central Railway (North)

Location History

Battlefield Line Jan 94-Aug 04

Current Status

Scrapped (unknown location) Feb 20

Chasewater Railway Aug 04-Jun 18

Last Livery

BR Blue & Grey

Great Central Railway (North)Jun 18-Feb 20

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

Record Last Updated

6 May 2020

Preservation Modifications
The toilet compartments were removed several years before the vehicle was eventually scrapped.

Preservation Information
59522 was first preserved on the Battlefield Linein 1994, however it is not known if it saw service there in between other suburban vehicles based on the line at the time. It may have simply been stored as a future asset/project.

59522 is known to have been put up for sale in 2000 after the Battlefield Line reduced the size of its DMU fleet considerably. Bought privately, it was later moved onto the Chasewater Railway four years later.

In a similar manner to it's time at the Battlefield Line, 59522 was very much out of the spotlight at the Chasewater, its deteriorating condition and retention of BR Blue & Grey livery was evidence that the vehicle was by now very much in storage and was no longer in an operational condition. Presumably used for spare parts, the interior was in a dismantled state by the mid 2000's and at some time, the toilet compartments were removed.

With little prospect of a future at the Chasewater, 59522 was sold in 2018 to a member of the Nottingham Railcar Group who relocated the vehicle to the Great Central Railway (North), the home of the rest of the group's vehicles including similar vehicle 59501. After a short period of time it became known that the vehicle had been bought to provide spare parts, unsuprising given its dereliction.

Over a period of 18 months 59522 was stripped of any remaining useful spare parts, the remains being moved off site to a contractor's location for final scrapping in February 2020. 59522's demise was not significant, its departure leaving (at that time) 21 identical vehicles in preservation.

59522, in storage at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The first class end, in storage at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The second class end, in storage at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

A view of the corridor end, in storage at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

59522, now available for sale, at Brownhills West, 25/3/18. Neil Jones

59522, outside the shed at Brownhills West, 10/9/11. Nigel Gould

59522 stored at Brownhills West, 15/6/08. David Beardmore

59522 now seen on the Chasewater Railway. Ian Francis

59522 on the Battlefield Railway, 2/2/99. Stuart Mackay

The small saloon in the first class end of 59522 during an inspection at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The large saloon in the first class end of 59522 during an inspection at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The remains of the toilet area inside 59522 during an inspection at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The large saloon in the second class end of 59522 during an inspection at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes

The small saloon in the second class end of 59522 during an inspection at Brownhills West, 3/6/18. Michael Hughes