79963 Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus

Home Railway

East Anglian Railway Museum

Location History

North Norfolk Railway Jun 67-Feb 12

Current Location

East Anglian Railway Museum

East Anglian Railway Museum Feb 12-Present

Current Status

Operational

Current Livery

BR Green (Speed Whiskers)

Visited Railways

Mangapps Railway Museum 03

TRA Designation

4

Mangapps Railway Museum 06-08

Owner

Website

Record Last Updated

16 April 2023

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
After a rather short and unsuccessful career on British Railways, 79963 was preserved in 1967 on the embryonic North Norfolk Railwayalong with classmate 79960, the pair arriving by rail over the level crossing at Sheringham before it was removed by BR. The two were considered suitable for a growing heritage operation and were soon repainted into a (fictitious) tan livery which was a recreation of the original Midland & Great Northern engines which ran the line, but 79963 was returned to its original BR green livery some time later.

79963 (and 79960) ran successfully on the growing NNR during the early 1970's, substantially in ex-BR condition.

In 1976 79963 suffered an engine failure which withdrew the vehicle from service. Whilst repairs were being undertaken, due to a transmission failure on sister vehicle 79960, the gearbox was removed from 79963 to ensure continued service of the former. It was September 1978 before 79963 was returned to service.

79963 continued to operate throughout the 1980's.

The vehicle was quickly overhauled & repainted in 1988.

Winter 1990/1991 saw an interior refurbishment undertaken.

79963 held the fort for many years in service during the 1990's while the railway chose to undertake a more thorough overhaul on 79960, however in 1998 repairs were undertaken to 79963's generator which necessitated the vehicle to be out of traffic for a period.

2000 saw 79963's air tanks removed, inspected and refitted.

Once sister vehicle 79960 returned to service in 2002, 79963 saw a lot less use and started to become spare. It was therefore available to make extended summer visits to the Mangapps Railway Museum in 2003 & 2006.

By 2009 the vehicle had deteriorated in condition and the railway decided it would have to be either overhauled or stored. The vehicle was taken out of traffic pending a decision.

By 2012 it had been decied that the railway had grown to such an extent that it only required one railbus. With 79960 in superior condition, 79963 was sold to the East Anglian Railway Museum in February of that year.

The EARM started a restoration to full working order that year, the engine was run up on test after the compressor drive assembly was rebuilt, but was found to have excessive oil pressure.

During 2014 repairs to the bodywork were started and the vehicle moved indoors for work to continue.

2015-2018 saw a huge amount of interior, exterior and mechanical restoration work carried out, with few areas being left untouched.

In April 2018, 79963 moved under its own power for the first time in several years when it ventured out for a test run before returning to the shed for the completion of its works.

By early 2020, exterior paintwork had been completed, with more test running giving an indication that the restoration was on the home straight. The vehicle also participated in photo charters during the summer. Further driver training and more private charters were arranged for the following spring.

In July 2021, 79963 made its eagerly anticipated return to passenger service and it has been in traffic ever since.

Future Plans
To maintain in service.

E79963 attracts a crowd as it sits in platform 3 at Chappel, after completing its debut run since arriving at the museum, 18/7/21. Dom Shaw

E79963 in temporary residence in the railway's under construction steam running shed, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

E79963 in temporary residence in the railway's under construction steam running shed, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

E79963 in use on a photo charter, shortly after its restoration had reached the stage where test runs were being made, 15/8/20. Mark House

Light at the end of the tunnel: exterior paintwork complete, and E79963's restoration enetres its final stages with test running, 22/2/20. Alistair Holmes

A rare view of E79963 outside, during its comprehensive restoration, 29/9/18. Peter Martin

E79963's restoration continues inside the shed at Chappel, 22/9/17. Chris Moxon

E79963 undergoing heavy repairs inside the shed at Chappel, 30/12/14. Richard Moxon

E79963 undergoing heavy repairs inside the shed at Chappel, 30/12/14. Richard Moxon

E79963 in storage at Weyboune, 2/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963 in storage at Weyboune, 2/8/10. Chris Moxon

E79963 at Sheringham on a low-loader. It had returned from a visit to Mangapps Farm, but there was not enough time to unload the vehicle meaning it spent the evening/night stood in the car park, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963 at Sheringham on a low-loader. It had returned from a visit to Mangapps Farm, but there was not enough time to unload the vehicle meaning it spent the evening/night stood in the car park, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963 at Sheringham on a low-loader. It had returned from a visit to Mangapps Farm, but there was not enough time to unload the vehicle meaning it spent the evening/night stood in the car park, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963 at Sheringham on a low-loader. It had returned from a visit to Mangapps Farm, but there was not enough time to unload the vehicle meaning it spent the evening/night stood in the car park, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963's engine, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

Unusul underframe view of E79963, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

Unusul view of E79963's suspension, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963 on loan at Mangapps Farm, 30/8/06. Andy Cole

E79663 operating on the North Norfolk Railway, 17/9/01. Stuart Mackay

E79963 at Sheringham golf course on the last trin of the day, 10/8/01. Chris Moxon

E79963 at Sheringham waiting to run ECS to Weybourne, 10/8/01. Paul Moxon

A rare photo of E79963 working in tandem with E79960 at Weybourne, 8/5/82. David Dunn

A rare photo of E79963 working in tandem with E79960 at Weybourne, 8/5/82. David Dunn

One of E79963's recently restored driving cabs, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

One of E79963's recently restored passenger saloons. Note the reupholstered seating, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

The second of E79963's recently restored passenger saloons. Note the reupholstered seating, 12/12/20. Chris Moxon

E79963's Sheringham end cab, now looking a little worse for wear, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963's Holt end cab, now looking a little worse for wear, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963's Sheringham end saloon, now looking a little worse for wear, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963's Holt end saloon, now looking a little worse for wear, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963's Holt end saloon, now looking a little worse for wear, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

A view of electronic equipment in E79963's Holt end saloon, 1/7/11. Chris Moxon

E79963's Holt end cab, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963's Sheringham end cab, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963's Holt end saloon, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

E79963's Sheringham end saloon, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

The unusual seat which faces the opposite way to the others, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon

One of E79963's sliding doors, 3/7/08. Chris Moxon