79976 AC Cars Railbus

Home Railway	Private Site: Nemesis Rail	Location History	Yieldingtree Railway Museum 73-85
Current Location	Private Site: Nemesis Rail		Bodmin & Wenford Railway 85-Nov 93
Current Status	Stored		Mid Norfolk Railway (County School) Nov 93-Apr 95
Current Livery	None		Colne Valley Railway Apr 95-Oct 06
TRA Designation	2		Great Central Railway Oct 06-Jun 18
Owner			Private Site: Nemesis Rail Jun 18-Present
Website
Record Last Updated	1 April 2024	Visited Railways	Private Site: Bristol Aug 69-73
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information Withdrawn in 1968 after a short and unsuccessful BR career, 79976 has fared equally badly in preservation. With much of the running gear entirety missing, the vehicle was put on static display at the Yieldingtree Railway Museum where it remained until the 1980’s. A spell then followed at Bodmin General where the railway used 79976 as a static buffet until it was put into store in 1990. The railway then decided to dispose of the vehicle in 1993 as it wasn't suitable for use on the line's steep gradients. It was bought by Chris Leigh, long time editor af various railway magazine titles, who used to ride on it as a child. Most of the glass was broken and the interior was very wet. It was missing its engine, gearbox and control system. Major restoration was required. Chris set up the "Railbus Restoration Group" to tackle this. After a 12 month period at County School station the vehicle joined sister 79978 at the Colne Valley Railway in 1994. However the restoration was later decided to be too great a task and the vehicle sold on again. In 2006 the Mountsorrel Railway Project, eager to have a small vehicle to carry passengers on their branch line off the Great Central Railway, took on 79976. 79976 was moved to the GCR and stored awaiting the resources to start reconstruction. Sadly, despite the sucess of the Mountsorrel project team in other areas, 79976 proved too much of a challenge and over a decade of deterioration later they decided that they no longer required the vehicle. In summer 2018, 79976's existence was threatened after the Great Central Railway began clearance of their sidings north of Loughborough locomotive works where 79976 was stored. Without offering it to groups within The Railcar Association they commenced scrapping of the vehicle. Luckily for 79976, an individual on the railway halted the proceedings early on and agreed a reprieve so that the vehicle could be properly advertised to determine whether any groups could take it on. The conclusion was a transfer to new ownership, with movement to Nemesis Rail's Buton depot following. 79976 is now stored at Nemesis Rail.
Future Plans There is a plan to gather enough parts to make 79976 complete again, which will probably involve reengining the vehicle from AEC to Leyland. Restoration and return to traffic is a long term aim.

	The body of 79976, separated from its underframe to alow for more extensive restoration, inside the Nemesis Rail works, 8/18.

	The body of 79976, separated from its underframe to alow for more extensive restoration, inside the Nemesis Rail works, 8/18.

	The underframe of 79976, separated from its body to alow for more extensive restoration, inside the Nemesis Rail works, 8/18.

	79976 now stripped of all its external cladding, waits at Quorn & Woodhouse for onward road transport to Nemesis Rail at Burton, 25/6/18. Bruce Pollard

	79976 slowly deteriorating at Loughborough, 6/5/17. Chris Moxon

	79976 stored at Loughborough, 23/4/16. Brian Battersby

	79976 stored at Loughborough, 10/1/15. Chris Moxon

	W79976 stored at Loughborough, 18/5/13. Bill Pugsley

	W79976 in store at Loughborough during the railcar convention, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon

	W79976 in store at Loughborough during the railcar convention, 8/9/12. Chris Moxon

	W79976 in store at Loughborough during the railcar convention, 7/9/12. Chris Moxon

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 15/5/11. David Beardmore

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 31/8/10.Andy Neil

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 26/1/08.Simon Edwards

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 26/1/08.Simon Edwards

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 26/1/08.Simon Edwards

	W79976 in store at Loughborough, 26/1/08.Simon Edwards

	79976 stored at Castle Headingham, 17/4/06. David Bellamy

	A rare view of 79976 (left) alongside 79978 whilst they were together at the Colne Valley. Jim Messer

	79976 on a small piece of track in 1993/1994 during stripping for restoration. Robert Frise Collection

	W79976 on static display at Bodmin General, 17/8/89.David McGuire

Interior

Parts of the ceiling and upper interior survive inside W79976 in store at Loughborough during the railcar convention, 7/9/12. Chris Moxon