59494 Class 117 Trailer Second (Ex Composite Lavatory)

Home Railway	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway	Location History	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway Apr 94-Present
Current Location	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway
Current Status	Under Overhaul
Current Livery
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	59004, 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 59494, including the fitting of public address, additional plates to the corridor ends to allow coupling to Mark 1 coaching stock, the replacement of 1st class seating and the toilets with second class seating (new capacity: 89 second), replacement of seating in one end with an open buggy/luggage area and non authentic upholstery. The vehicle carries the name "Chloe".
Preservation Information 59494 was preserved in 1994 for the Dart Valley Railway (later Paignton & Dartmouth Railway), who collected a large number of Class 117 centre cars in a short space of time. As DMU suburban vehicles are externally similar to older Great Western loco hauled vehicles, but with much lower maintenance, 59494 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. 59494 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 August 2008 59494 was repainted. In 2021, 59494 was withdrawn from service for a major rebuild. It was stripped down to a bare shell and the outer skin of the body was completely removed leaving a skeleton behind. In 2024 the railway slimmed down its fleet of hauled DMU cars, after purchasing additional Mark 1 stock. 59494 was one of the five vehicles which remained intended for further passenger use. The overhaul work continues.
Future Plans To complete the current works and return to service.

	59494 continues to receive major repairs at Paignton, 4/10/22. Ken Jones

	59494 undergoing very serious bodywork replacement in the workshops, 17/9/21. Ken Jones

	59494 in service, 12/9/19. Carl Watson

	59494 in service out on the line, 8/18. Anthony Christie

	59494 stabled at Kingswear in between freight vehicles, 23/7/17. Carl Watson

	59494 stabled at Kingswer, not in service that particular day but visible from the platform, 27/4/14. Chris Moxon