59004 Class 116 Trailer Second (Ex Composite)

Home Railway	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway	Location History	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway Feb 84-Present
Current Location	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway
Current Status	Operational (Hauled Stock)	Visited Railways	South Devon Railway May 18-?
Current Livery	Non Standard Chocolate & Cream
TRA Designation	3
Partner Vehicle(s)	59494, 59503, 59513 & 59517
Owner	Dart Valley Railway plc
Website	None
Record Last Updated	1 August 2024
Preservation Modifications Several preservation modifications have been made to 59004, , including the fitting of public address, steam heating, removal of interior bulkheads, additional plates to the corridor ends to allow coupling to Mark 1 coaching stock and the replacement of the original seating with 2+2 second class seats, custom built by the railway. The vehicle carries the name "Emma".
Preservation Information 59004 was preserved in 1984 for the Dart Valley Railway (later Paignton & Dartmouth Railway). As DMU suburban vehicles are externally similar to older Great Western loco hauled vehicles, but with much lower maintenance, 59004 was soon put into traffic along with many other suburban centre cars forming a GWR style rake of loco hauled coaching stock. The vehicle was painted in a non authentic GWR chocolate & cream livery to further suit this role. 59004 never operated as a powered DMU and was for many years part of a fleet of seven Class 116 & 117 vehicles working all year round carrying passengers on steam services. In February 2007, the vehicle was repainted and named "Emma". During the mid 2010's, the original seating was removed and replaced with custom built 2+2 seating manufactured in house by the railway. In May 2018 the vehicle made its first trip away from the Paignton & Dartmouth in over 30 years when it visited the South Devon Railway on a short hire contract. It is not known when the vehicle returned home but the last known photograph of 59004 at the South Devon was taken in November 2018. In 2024 the railway slimmed down its fleet of hauled DMU cars, after purchasing additional Mark 1 stock. 59004 was one of the five vehicles which remained intended for further passenger use. 59004 continues in regular service at the Paignton & Dartmouth.
Future Plans To maintain in service.

	59004 undergoing repairs at Churston, 12/9/19. Carl Watson

	59004 on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway where it's used as hauled stock, seen here at Kingswear, 17/8/04. Roger Marks

Interior

59004's interior on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway where it's used as hauled stock, 17/8/04. Roger Marks