79978 AC Cars Railbus

Home Railway

Swindon & Cricklade Railway

Location History

North Yorkshire Moors Railway Aug 68-Jun 80

Current Location

Swindon & Cricklade Railway

Kent & East Sussex Railway Jun 80-Feb 84

Current Status

Under Restoration

Colne Valley RailwayFeb 84-Nov 19

Current Livery

BR Green (Speed Whiskers)

Swindon & Cricklade Railway Nov 19-Present

TRA Designation

2

Owner

Martin Rouse

Visited Railways

Severn Valley Railway Oct 04

Website

Record Last Updated

18 August 2024

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
Withdrawn in February 1968 after a short and unsuccessful BR career, 79978 has been the most fortunate of the three AC Cars Railbuses originally preserved, and the only one to carry passengers in preservation.

Originally purchased in 1968 for use on the embryonic North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the vehicle arrived there fully operational under its own power from Grangemouth to Grosmont, staging overnight at Gosforth Car Sheds.

79978 worked passenger services for some time being named "Premier", before being deemed too small. When it was put up for sale, a group of K&WVR members put in a bid for it, although they were not successful. Whilst at the NYMR, the vehicle was repainted into LNER "Tourist" Green/Cream with half yellow warning panels during the early 1970's.

79978 was sold to the Kent & East Sussex Railway in 1979, moving there the following year having lost its yellow panels from the front. Relatively little is known about the vehicle during its time there, though it did see service before moving on again in 1984.

The vehicle was puchased by the Colne Valley Railway Company, headed by Dick Hymas, and relocated to theColne Valley Railway where it continued to provide good service. It was quickly painted back into a more authentic BR green with whiskers shortly after arrival. 79978 was to spend a very long time at Colne Valley and did give good service in the 1980's & 1990's. However its condition had been steadily worsening and it would not be much longer before problems started to arise.

In 2004, 79978 visited theSevern Valley Railway as part of the Railcar50 celebrations. Although intended for use on Kidderminster-Bewdley shuttles, the vehicle sadly did not see any passenger service during the visit due to major problems with the air braking system. This highlighted the, by now, poor condition the vehicle had slipped into.

After returning home from the event 79978 was never repaired and instead put on display (essentially in storage) pending repairs. Sadly these were not forthcoming and the vehicle remained out of service for many years.

In November 2016, following a great deal of change at the Colne Valley Railway, 79978 was sold from its original owners to the Colne Valley Railway Preservation Society, a registered charity, who had bought the site and many of the "original" railway's assets. Sadly however, this move from private to society ownership made no change to the vehicle's stored status or future prospects.

Eventually, in November 2019, 79978 was finally sold and relocated to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway again under private ownership.

The first 12 months saw the engine started for the first time in many years but 79978 was then returned to store.

2022 saw restoration work start in earnest after the Covid-19 pandemic. Work concentrated on mechanicals and air systems and by June the vehicle was moving up and down capable of undertaking demonstration runs. The following year some seat upholstery had been undertaken on selected seats.

As part of the "rolling restoration" 79978 carried passengers for the first time properly in many years when it ran shuttles on the line's extension during their diesel gala in September 2023. It was acknowledged that the vehicle was mid restoration and playfully advertised that the "passenger experience would be reduced"! The runs however were much applauded by enthusiasts who could see the propgres being made on the vehicle.

Future Plans
Restoration completion and return to service.

Although still undergoing restoration, W79978 continues to see work on special services, such as this one at Blunsden, 21/6/24. Ken Jones

W79978 at Haynes Knoll after working some demonstration runs, 15/4/23. Chris Bull

W79978 on display at Hayes Knoll, 2/7/22. Nigel Benning

W79978 still in store at Castle Headingham, 26/5/18. Paul Hughes

W79978 slowly deteriorating at Castle Headingham, 18/9/16. Carl Watson

W79978 at Castle Headingham, 25/9/15. Henry Allum

W79978 continues to be stored at the Colne Valley, 22/10/11. Amy Adams

W79978 at Castle Headingham, 12/9/10.David Beardmore

W79978 open for viewing during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

W79978's engine during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

W79978 stored at Castle Headingham, 17/4/06. David Bellamy

W79978 at Kidderminster visiting the Severn Valley Railway for Railcar50, 15/10/04. Ian Francis

W79978 at Castle Headingham, 31/5/01.Stuart Mackay

W79978 at Castle Headingham, 11/10/99.David McGuire

A rare view of 79978 (right) alongside 79976 whilst they were together at the Colne Valley. Jim Messer

W79978 at Castle Headingham, September 1986.Andy Neil

E79978 shortly after repainting into BR Green at Castle Headingham, 5/8/84. Jon Elphick

79978 in service not long after arrival at KESR, 1980. Nick Tozer

79978, having now lost its half yellow panels, during its road journey between the North Yorkshire moors and the Kent & East Sussex railways, 7/6/80. Roger Belcher

79978 at Goathland.Roy Lambeth

79978 at the NYMR.Ian Francis

79978, then named "Premier", at Grosmont having been painted into London North Eastern Railway "tourist stock" livery, 1972. Gary Lakin

W79978 at Goathland a year into its preservation life, 1969.John Law

W79978 driving itself into preservation at Grosmont, 8/8/68. John Boyes

W79978 driving itself into preservation at Castelton Moor, 8/8/68. John Boyes

The cab desk at one end of W79978, 15/4/23. Chris Bull

Evidence of seat restoration inside W79978, 15/4/23. Chris Bull

One of the reupholstered seat bases, 15/4/23. Chris Bull

One end of W79978, 2/7/22. Nigel Benning

One end of W79978, 2/7/22. Nigel Benning

No2 end cab, awaiting its time for restoration, 19/3/15. Tom Southgate

Passenger saloon, awaiting its time for restoration, 19/3/15. Tom Southgate

W79978's No1 end cab during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

W79978's No2 end cab during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

W79978's No1 end passenger saloon during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon

W79978's No2 end passenger saloon during the railcar convention, 25/10/08. Chris Moxon