59137 Class 104 Trailer Composite Lavatory
Home Railway |
Location History |
Chester (Mainline) Mar 93-May 96 |
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Current Location |
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Churnet Valley Railway May 96-Apr 15 |
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Current Status |
Stored |
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East Lancashire Railway Apr 15-Present |
Current Livery |
BR Green |
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TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
None |
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Owner |
Kevin Dowd |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 August 2022 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 59137 immediately went into storage, as only one vehicle could be restored at once causing driving vehicles to be prioritised. 59137 was assessed as being in very poor condition so joined the "restoration queue" fairly near to the bottom! During the late 1990's the interior seating in the second class saloons was removed to enable the vehicle to first be used as a carriage & wagon wood store, then later as a workshop vehicle to aid the restoration of 50455 & 50517. 59137 was formed between these two vehicles and even "ran" up and down a few yards in 2001 when 50455 first moved under its own power in this pseudo 3-car formation. In 2005, following overcrowding on 50455 & 50517, the decision was taken to postpone the restoration of 50437 & 56182, and inferior 59137 was selected due to its operational merits and capability of being inserted into 50455 & 50517 to boost capacity by more than 50%. The vehicle was pulled out of storage in October and stripped to a metal tube (with only some of the interior bulkheads remaining) during the rest of the year. 2006 & 2007 saw the vehicle receive a lower half re-skin, and most of the steel frame below window height was also replaced with new. This single sentence summarises 18 months of work, and was followed by a period of sanding, filling and gloss painting to return the vehicle to as build condition/livery. New Year 2008 saw the vehicle out-shopped fully glazed and resplendent in BR Green. The rest of the year was spent restoring a myriad of interior components including brand new heater ducting, interior lights, heaters and lots of wooden supporting battons which hold up the interior panelling, at least 75% of which had to be machined from new. 2009 & 2010 saw interior work continue, with alloy “luggage rack backs” and the insulation being returned to the vehicle. Some of the interior bulkheads were carefully stripped, sanded and varnished, transforming their appearance. Other smaller items such as jumper cables and electrical boxes were also restored off-site. Externally, the roof was stripped and repainted. 2011 saw the restoration temporarily slow, however some work towards getting the six external doors back on was undertaken. The restoration stopped shortly afterwards due to a shortage of manpower and finances. During 2014, following discussions with the owning group's home railway where many issues that had arisen during ten years of running could not be satisfactorily resolved, it was decided to relocate a 3-car set to the East Lancashire Railway including 59137 as the centre car. In April 2015 the vehicle was moved to its new home. 59137 is currently stored awaiting the resources for its restoration to restart. |
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Future Plans Work remaining includes the restoration and fitting of the ceilings, wood panelling, floor, lino, seating, interior & exterior doors and corridor connections plus underframe/bogie restoration. Long term, 59137 will form the centre car in an authentic recreation of a Buxton allocated 1980’s BR Blue Class 104 3-car set, along with 50437 & 50494. These three vehicles are authentic “Buxton” vehicles and their acquisition was the original reason for preserving the 104s in the first place. |
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59137 being loaded with all of its interior parts at Cheddleton prior to being moved to the East Lancs, 21/3/15. Chris Moxon |
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59137 now in storage at Cheddleton, 29/9/13. Chris Moxon |
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The roof, restoration completed, 30/5/10. Chris Moxon |
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59137 during a shunt at Cheddleton, 9/5/10. Chris Moxon |
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The roof after cleaning and priming, 9/5/10. Chris Moxon |
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The roof "as found", 25/4/10. Chris Moxon |
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The roof after cleaning and priming, 25/4/10. Chris Moxon |
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59137 at Cheddleton, 3/1/10. Chris Moxon |
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59137 at Cheddleton, 8/11/09. Chris Moxon |
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Newly overhauled heater fitted, 5/9/09. Chris Moxon |
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59137 during a shunt at Cheddleton, 31/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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59137 in the summer sun at Cheddleton, 24/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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The start of sole-bar painting, 24/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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Jumper cable under restoration, 21/5/09. Chris Moxon |
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59137 having been relocated Cheddleton, 15/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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59137 during a shunt at Cheddleton, 28/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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59137 during a shunt at Cheddleton, 28/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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A rebuilt door frame being protect prior to fitting the steel skin, 3/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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One of two original doorskins which can be re-used, the other four were too far gone, 22/6/08. Chris Moxon |
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Corridor scissors, 10/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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Night view of 59137, freshly out-shopped and back outdoors, 13/1/08. Chris Moxon |
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59137, freshly out-shopped and back outdoors, 6/1/08. Chris Moxon |
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59137, briefly transferred into the carriage works, for final painting and glazing, 23/12/07. Dave Gibson |
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59137 with the first topcoat applied, 27/10/07. Chris Moxon |
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Work continues on the re-skin of the north end of 59137, May 2007. Dave Gibson |
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Work continues on the re-skin of the north end of 59137, 20/5/07. Dave Gibson |
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59137 in the shed at Cheddleton. Body sanding/filling/painting is now following the new steelwork on the rear & middle saloons, 25/3/07. Paul Moxon |
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Body sanding/filling/painting is now following the new steelwork on the rear saloon, 25/2/07. Chris Moxon |
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Body sanding/filling/painting is now following the new steelwork on the rear saloon, 25/2/07. Chris Moxon |
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With 2007 approaching the re-skin of the rear saloon is coming to an end, 24/12/06. Paul Moxon |
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Drilling holes for the new screws whih hold the windows in, 4/11/06. Dave Gibson |
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Rear saloon re-skin progress with new steel panels starting to go on, 29/10/06. Paul Moxon |
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Rear saloon re-skin progress with new steel panels starting to go on, 29/10/06. Paul Moxon |
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Rear saloon re-skin progress, 29/10/06. Paul Moxon |
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New (expensive!) wood floor supports required renewing around much of the vehicle, 21/10/06. Dave Gibson |
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With the old steel stripped off, the vehicle is seen being sand blasted, 25/8/06. Paul Moxon |
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With the old steel stripped off, the vehicle is seen being sand blasted, 25/8/06. Paul Moxon |
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59137's worksplate, stripped of its rubberised paint! 25/8/06. Paul Moxon |
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Rear saloon re-skin progress, 13/5/06. Paul Moxon |
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New framwork in the rear saloon, 7/5/06. Paul Moxon |
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Many sections including the framework had to be cut away, 29/4/06. Paul Moxon |
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A view of new steelwork going in, 29/4/06. Paul Moxon |
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Many sections including the framework had to be cut away, 29/4/06. Paul Moxon |
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59137 now undercover for a body re-skin, 17/4/06. Paul Moxon |
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A start being made on stripping the old steel and framework away, February 2006. Paul Moxon |
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Corridor connections removed, 17/12/05. Paul Moxon |
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After having the exterior doors removed, 17/12/05. Paul Moxon |
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59137 having arrived at Cheddleton for restoration, November 2005. Dave Gibson |
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59137 having arrived at Cheddleton for restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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59137 having arrived at Cheddleton for restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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59137 being prepared for extraction, its restoration Imminent, 20/8/05. Paul Moxon |
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59137 in storage at Oakamoor, October 2003. Chris Moxon |
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59137 in storage at Oakamoor, 1999. Paul Moxon |
Interior
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Attaching a door skin to a rebuilt frame, 10/4/11. Chris Moxon |
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Hardwood battons now refitted ready to support the heater ducting, 13/2/10. Chris Moxon |
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Capped end and toilet 'feeder' for the ends of the heater ducting, 13/2/10. Chris Moxon |
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Insulation fitted to the rear saloon, 24/1/10. Chris Moxon |
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Insulation fitted to the middle saloon roof, 24/1/10. Chris Moxon |
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Trial fit of the heater ducting, 24/10/09. Chris Moxon |
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Luggage rack backs fitted to the middle saloon, 24/10/09. Chris Moxon |
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The toilet bulkhead is transformed after the application of varnish, 27/9/09. Chris Moxon |
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The first class bulkhead is transformed after the application of varnish, 27/9/09. Chris Moxon |
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Second class bulkheads sanded down ready for varnishing, 16/8/09. Chris Moxon |
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Hardwood battons to support the luggage rack backs have now been fitted to the vehicle, 5/7/09. Chris Moxon |
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Refurbished heater control box, 1/6/09. Chris Moxon |
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Second class bulkheads stripped (on the right) and untouched (on the left), 14/4/09. Chris Moxon |
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Heater ducting now installed, 8/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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Heater ducting being test fitted after being insulated, 1/2/09. Chris Moxon |
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The toilet bulkhead, which got snapped by an unknwon passer by during storage, is glued back into position, 21/12/08. Chris Moxon |
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The toilet framework going back together, 23/11/08. Chris Moxon |
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A view of the toilet door, untouched (at the bottom), during stripping (middle) and with the original yellow Formica revealed (top), 16/11/08. Chris Moxon |
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The toilet bulkhead now refitted to 59137, 19/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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Test fit of one of the many hardwoodbattons that will hold all the panelling in place, 19/10/08. Chris Moxon |
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Test fit of the hardwood battons to support the heater ducting, 27/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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Middle saloon roof now protected, 13/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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A remarkable survivor: period 1980's signage, 13/8/08. Chris Moxon |
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Bits of heater ducting repaired and ready for refitting, 22/6/08. Chris Moxon |
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General view of First Class, 6/4/08. Chris Moxon |
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General view of the middle saloon, 6/4/08. Chris Moxon |
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General view of the rear saloon, 6/4/08. Chris Moxon |
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Rear saloon roof now protected, 6/4/08. Chris Moxon |
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Rear saloon sides being protected, 23/3/08. Chris Moxon |
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Rear saloon sides being protected, 23/3/08. Chris Moxon |
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The stripped toilet area, 10/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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The area where the toilet tank was removed, 10/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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Door frames being reconstructed, 10/2/08. Chris Moxon |
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Test fit of heater ducting, 13/1/08. Chris Moxon |
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New steel having been protected, 24/12/06. Paul Moxon |
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New steel beinng welded in, 9/12/06. Dave Gibson |
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View of the almost completed rear saloon, 4/11/06. Dave Gibson |
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The end of the vehicle where the toilet was, 13/5/06. Paul Moxon |
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Bad area of corrosion on 59137, 17/4/06. Paul Moxon |
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59137's toilet after stripping, February 2006. Paul Moxon |
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59137's toilet before stripping, 4/2/06. Paul Moxon |
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A door being dismantled, 26/11/05. Paul Moxon |
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Bad area of corrosion on 59137, 12/11/05. Paul Moxon |
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Bad area of corrosion on 59137, 29/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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View of 59137's First Class saloon prior to restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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View of 59137's middle saloon prior to restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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View of 59137's rear saloon prior to restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |
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View of 59137's toilet in the rear saloon prior to restoration, 23/10/05. Paul Moxon |