59404 Class 126 Trailer Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway	Location History	Caledonian Railway May 83-Aug 93
Current Location	Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway		Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Aug 93-Present
Current Status	Static Display
Current Livery	BR Green	Visited Railways	Severn Valley Railway Oct 04
TRA Designation	1
Partner Vehicle(s)	51017 & 51043
Owner	Scottish Railway Preservation Society
Website	www.srps.org.uk
Record Last Updated	16 November 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 59404 was preserved as a historically authentic 3-car Class 126 set with powercars 51017 & 51043by the Swindon Diesel Preservation Society in 1983 who based the set at the Caledonian Railway. The set, by now unique, was contaminated with blue asbestos and in poor condition, however the SDPS returned the vehicles to service and repainted 59404 into BR Green during the late 1980's. All three vehicles including 59404 were sold to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society in 1993 and moved to their base at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. The vehicle was repainted into BR Blue in 1998. In 1999 fortunes improved with a sucessful £180,000 lottery fund grant for the full restoration of 59404. This was completed at Bo'ness by volunteers between 1999 and 2008. In 2008 the 3-car set was launched into passenger service concluding a sporadic 20 year restoration. Due to the funding grant, this time the overhaul was very thorough with 59404 becoming one of the finest restored DMU vehicles in the UK. During 2010, the brakegear under 59404 was fully overhauled. In July 2011, the SRPS completed a rolling stock shed designed to house, amongst others, the diesel and electric multiple units in their collection, giving 59404 a future undercover. In October 2011 the vehicle was out of service as partner51017 required engine repairs. The vehicles all returned to traffic in May 2013. From 2013-2019 the set saw occasional use in passenger service, sometimes running the last round trip of the day, in order to preserve its condition. Unfortunately during the pandemic the set was withdrawn from traffic and did not return to service afterwards. 59404 was assessed and was deemed to require attention to the paintwork and a repaint before it could be considered for a return to service. Instead, it was placed on static display in the shed at Bo'ness. 59404 remains on display.
Future Plans 59404 is awaiting volunteer resources and finance to undertake the required bodywork repairs before it can return to service.

	Sc59404 rests in the platform at Bo'ness, having not been used during the pandemic. Of note is the now suffering paintwork, which is worst on Sc59404 than the powercars because it was completed some years earlier, 15/7/21. John Horne

	Sc59404 at Bo'ness during a running day, 15/9/18. Anthony Christie

	Sc59404 in the formation at Bo'ness, 18/5/13. Chris Moxon

	Sc59404 stabled at Bo'ness, 16/8/10.David Beardmore

	On display at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway during Railcar50, 15/10/04. Ian Francis

	In the newly opened museum workshop at Bo'ness, 1/7/02. Stuart Mackay

	In the bay platform of Bo'ness station, 25/4/99. Stuart Mackay

	In the headshunt at Bridge of Dun on the Caledonian Railway. Andy McConnell

	Undergoing some repairs to the end in Brechin station. Andy McConnell

Interior

	A First Class compartment inside Sc59404, 18/5/13. Chris Moxon

	A Second Class compartment inside Sc59404, 18/5/13. Chris Moxon

	The corridor inside Sc59404, 18/5/13. Chris Moxon

	A "Monster Turnout" in one of 59404's almost finished compartments, August 2005. Andy McConnell