59659 Class 115 Trailer Second

Home Railway	Midland Railway Butterley	Location History	South Devon Railway Mar 93-Mar 09
Current Location	Midland Railway Butterley		Midland Railway Butterley Mar 09-Present
Current Status	Stored
Current Livery	BR Blue
TRA Designation	2
Partner Vehicle(s)	None
Owner	MRT Railcar Group
Website	www.mrt-railcargroup.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 December 2022
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 59659 was originally preserved on the South Devon Railway, presumably in the early 1990s when most of these vehicles were withdrawn from service. Like many suburban centre cars at this time, the vehicle was not preserved as a DMU vehicle, being acquired to be used as hauled coaching stock, as they look similar externally to some designs of GWR coaching stock. The vehicle was painted into a non standard maroon livery to suit this role and did several years service behind steam locomotives. However the railway, as it developed, felt it no longer required its two centre cars, now having enough "proper" coaching stock to cover services. 59659 (and the other vehicle being used for this role, 59740) was therefore surplus to requirements by 2009. 59740 was kept on the line and converted into a Pway stores coach, leaving 59659 as the only complete Class 115 TS. It was put up for sale and purchased by the MRT Railcar Group, moving to their base at the Midland Railway Butterley between January and March 2009. It was their aim to recreate an original Class 127 formation (DMBS-TCL-TS-DMBS), but with no Class 127 TS vehicles surviving into preservation, a Class 115 TS was the closest other vehicle, being identical externally and similar internally. On arrival at the MRB, restoration work on the vehicle was immediately started. In a short space of time the restoration of the centre saloon was completed, a new floor finished, along with side panels, door cards etc. A Pass comm feed pipe was repaired. Externally, minor bodywork repairs were completed and ac temporary repaint into BR Green undertaken. The early 2010's saw the restoration stall with various issues on the group's other vehicles requiring urgent attention. In 2020 the restoration restarted, with some limited welding repairs being undertaken, concentrated on one end, which was painted blue to protect it. Other works concentrated on the many doors with new hinge pins being fitted throughout and a great deal of adjustment work being done to ensure the doors all worked again. In 2021 the vehicle moved inside the shed which saw the bodywork repairs notch up. By the end of the year, all of the required repairs had been done to one side. There were many doors and door edges requiring work! January 2022 saw the vehicle painted into BR blue, its exterior restoration completed. With work and resources comitted to other vehicles, 59659 was then returned to store to await finance for its interior restoration to be completed.
Future Plans This vehicle is owned by the MRT Railcar Group who's intention is to recreate a "proper" and complete Class 127 set, as originally built. The original units were 4-car sets and 59659 is the final vehicle required to recreate this formation as closely as possible. 59659 therefore has a mid term place as one of the two centre cars in this eventual set. When complete the set will be formed of: 51591 - 59609 - 59659 - 51625. Longer term, if the restoration of Class 115 powercars 51669 & 51849 is completed, then 59659 may become a centre car in a restored 115 triple set.

	M59659 stored, in excellent external condition, awaiting interior restoration at Butterley, 10/7/22. Ken Jones

	Bodywork and painting completed to one side of M59659, 16/1/22. Gareth Coleman

	59659 undergoing more serious metalwork replacement following entry into the shed at Butterley, 27/11/21. Gareth Coleman

	59659, outside the shed at Butterley with restoration work back in full swing. Door work and welding repairs to this end had been completed, with the fresh coat of blue protecting the repairs, 20/9/20. Gareth Coleman

	59659, now at the more active end of the DMU siding closer to the shed, shortly before work on its restoration was to restart, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	59659, repainted into BR green to protect it, stored in the DMU siding at Butterley, 11/9/11. Chris Moxon

	59659 recently relocated to Butterley to become the "missing" 4th 127 coach. Restoration has already started internally, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon

	At the South Devon Railway, 24/2/02. Steve Hodgson

Interior

	The front saloon inside 59659, after the first period of restoration had been completed but before the second period had started, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	The middle saloon inside 59659, after the first period of restoration had been completed but before the second period had started, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon

	The rear saloon inside 59659, after the first period of restoration had been completed but before the second period had started, 17/3/19. Chris Moxon