79964 Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus
Home Railway |
Location History |
Keighley & Worth Valley RailwayJun 67-Present |
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Current Location |
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Current Status |
Operational |
Visited Railways |
Shipley Triangle (BR) 70 |
Current Livery |
BR Green (Half Yellow Panel) |
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Doncaster MPD (BR) Oct 80 |
TRA Designation |
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National Railway Museum (York) May 04-Jun 04 |
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Owner |
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway |
Llangollen Railway Jun 10 |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 April 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information 79964 was returned to service and painted into a non standard red livery, as carried by similar Railbus vehicles in Germany. Although not widely known, in 1970 79964 and 79962 ran under their own power to Shipley to turn on the triangle in order to get the driven axle at the downhill (Keighley) end. During the 1970's 79964 was returned to BR Green livery, with half yellow panels. 79964 again took to the mainline in 1980 when the vehicle (and 79962) visited Doncaster MPD for tyre turning. They ran in both directions under their own power with KWVLR drivers driving under BR supervision, and reached their 55 mph maximum speed in both directions. In the late 1980's 79964 received overhaul works including a repaint, retaining its previous livery. 79964 proved to be a real stalwart of the line, particularly operating morning "shopping" services, duties which it carried out for several decades. The vehicle has been overhauled several times and has been kept in service, unlike 79962 which fell out of use. A popular vehicle, in 2004 it represented the Railbus duing the National Railway Museum's "Railfest" event. In 2010, it was the star of the Llangollen Railway's annual railcar gala. In 2011, it ran for the benefit of the railcar association during the annual convention which was held at its home line the K&WVR that year. 79964 spent a rare extended period out of service between March 2018 and November 2019 for repairs to the floor which had rotted away under the sliding passenger doorways. It returned to services in time for the low season winter work to which it is suited. Sadly 79964 was only just back in traffic when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which initially closed the railway completely, but also put the railbus out of action for even longer, as post-reopening the small nature of the vehicle wasn't suited to the social distencing measures which were put in place. 79964 remained out of service for some time until March 2021 when it was put to use working driver familiarisation runs. It returned to traffic "proper" during the summer. 79964 continues to provide off-peak services regularly at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. |
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Future Plans |
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M79964 stabled on Haworth shed, 28/10/23. Robert Batty |
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M79964 working driver familiarisation runs during the Covid-19 pandemic, 31/3/21. KWVR Diesel Railcar Group |
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M79964 was resting in the Vintage Carriage Association's exhibition shed during 2020 as its small size has made it unsuitable for Covid friendly train services, 25/8/20. Majka John |
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M79964 standing at Ingrow West with a late afternoon service back down the hill to Keighley, 17/11/19. John Astley |
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M79964 being prepared inside Haworth shed for test runs up and down following an extended period out of service for repairs, 30/10/19. KWVR Diesel Railcar Group |
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M79964 in familiar surroundings at Keighley, 12/3/17. Andy Jackson |
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M79964 in service at Keighley, 17/1/15. Brian Battersby |
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M79964 on a murkey day at Oxenhope, 25/11/14. Craig Gluyas |
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M79964 at home in its landscape near Haworth 3/14. Ed Jones |
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M79964 stands at Ingrow working a shuttle service during the diesel gala, 27/5/12. twpudd |
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M79964 departs Damems, 19/2/12. Andrew Gallon |
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M79964 arriving into Keighley, during the annual convention, 1/10/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 waits at Oxenhope, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 arriving into Damems Loop, crossing the Class 108, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 departing Damems Loop, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 arriving into Oakworth, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 makes a photo stop at the top of the bank at Keighley, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 makes a photo stop at Ingrow, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 departing Damems loop, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 makes a photo stop at Mytholmes tunnel, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 makes a photo stop at Mytholmes tunnel, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 waits to depart Damems loop, during the annual convention, 30/9/11.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 passes Fisherman's Crossing, near Glyndyfrdwy, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 passes Garthydwr, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 approaches Glyndyfrdwy, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 shunts at Glyndyfrdwy on an evening shuttle service, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 departing Glyndyfrdwy on an evening shuttle service, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 having arrived into Llangollen, the days services finished, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 departs Llangollen ECS, the days services finished, during a visit to the Llangollen Railcar Gala, 26/6/10.Chris Moxon |
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M79964 arrives into Keighley, 5/6/09.David Beardmore |
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M79964 climbs out of Keighley with an Oxenhope service between Christmas and New Year, 29/12/08. Alan Padley |
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M79964 performing its usual duties at Keighley, 29/8/06. Andy Cole |
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M79964 at Keighley, 18/6/05.Simon Edwards |
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M79964 at Keighley, 18/6/05.Simon Edwards |
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M79964 at York, National Railway Museum, visiting for the Railfest celebrations, 1/6/04.David McGuire |
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79964 calls at Keighley, 1994. John Law |
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79964 calls at Oxenhope, 1994. John Law |
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79964 pokes out of the shed at Haworth, 1994. Brian Battersby |
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79964 inside the shed at Haworth undergoing repaint, 21/1/89. Nick Blyth |
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79964 stabled on Haworth shed, 7/6/87. David McGuire |
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64 and 79962 cross at Damems loop, probably during the 1970's, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Archives |
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64 in the yard at Haworth, 23/5/70. Richard Morgan |
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An extremely pioneering view of railcar preservation. The first public diesel service at the K&WVR (the day after the steam hauled reopening special), showing 79964 & 79962 at Haworth running together, 30/6/68. John Scafe |
Interior
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M79964's Oxenhope end cab, 30/9/11. Chris Moxon |
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M79964's Keighley end saloon, 30/9/11. Chris Moxon |
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M79964's Oxenhope end saloon, 30/9/11. Chris Moxon |