59678 Class 115 Trailer Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	West Somerset Railway	Location History	West Somerset Railway Jun 93-Present
Current Location	West Somerset Railway
Current Status	Operational
Current Livery	BR Green
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	51859 & 51880
Owner	West Somerset Railway
Website	www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 August 2024
Preservation Modifications A buffet has been fitted.
Preservation Information 59678 was withdrawn in August 1992 and was preserved by the West Somerset Railway in 1993 for use on off peak services. The railway had previously run an interesting variety of different DMU sets but wished to standardise on maintenance, so aquired five Class 115 powercars along with several trailer cars as a direct replacement for the earlier sets. 59678 soon became part of a core 3-car set which was repainted into a non authentic carmine & cream colour scheme, and performed for many years operating WSR services. In 2000 a buffet was installed inside the second class saloon. In 2007, when the exterior became worn in appearance, the 3-car set was repainted into the more appropriate BR Green. Winter 2013/2014 saw the interior window surrounds restored, a new toilet floor fitted and exterior rust patched. The set then ran again until 2019 when it was withdrawn for repairs to be made to partner 51859. In early 2021 volunteers addressed corrosion at the roof/gutter interface which had been found to be holed underneath a previous 'temporary' repair. A portion of the roof section was replaced welded and the section of missing gutter re-attached, properly sealed against ingress of water. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 3-car set never returned to full traffic and fell out of service requiring more repairs, seeing no use in 2021. 59678 was however given some treatment and was returned to service in August 2022. However by the 2024 running season, 59678 was out of traffic once again for repairs, but returned in August of that year.
Future Plans To maintain in service.

	W59678 looking good externally but withdrawn for repairs at Minehead, 29/6/24. Chris Moxon

	The Class 115 set was stabled at Williton during the line's diesel gala, which was open to the public, allowing for visitors to have a good uninterrupted view of the vehicles including centre car W59678, 22/6/19. Chris Moxon

	The Class 115 set was stabled at Williton during the line's diesel gala, which was open to the public, allowing for visitors to have a good uninterrupted view of the vehicles including centre car W59678, 22/6/19. Chris Moxon

	W59678 in service at Minehead, 11/6/17. Carl Watson

	W59678 at Bishops Lydeard having worked the 19:45 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	W59678 is shunted by one of the railway's industrial shunters, 27/10/12. Stuart Axe

	W59678 split from the set at Minehead, 29/1/11. John Oram

	W59678 forms the second vehicle of a 9 coach mixed DMU/Mk1 formation at Minehead. The DMU was booked to operate Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren shuttles during the railway's Late Summer Weekend gala, but mechanical problems prevented the runs from happening on the Saturday. However, these had been resolved by late afternoon, so in order to position the DMU at the other end of the line for Sunday's turns, the 3-car set was attached to one of the service trains! 4/9/10. Chris Moxon

	A freshly repainted W59678, 7/10/07. Bill Pugsley

	59678 stabled at Minehead, 13/4/04. David Beardmore

	59678 in operation on the WSR, 3/10/99. Stuart Mackay

Interior

	The smaller of the two First Class saloons within W59678, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	The larger of the two First Class saloons within W59678, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	A view of the buffet area within W59678, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon

	The second class saloon within W59678, 3/9/16. Chris Moxon