59514 Class 117 Trailer Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Swindon & Cricklade Railway	Location History	West Somerset RailwayApr 95-Nov 04
Current Location	Swindon & Cricklade Railway		Swindon & Cricklade Railway Nov 04-Present
Current Status	Stored (For Sale)
Current Livery	BR Green
TRA Designation	5
Partner Vehicle(s)	None
Owner	Gloucester Railcar Trust
Website	None
Record Last Updated	19 April 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 59514 was preserved by the West Somerset Railway in 1995 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 six Class 115/117 trailer cars as a direct replacement for the earlier sets. Whilst on the West Somerset Railway, the vehicle was repainted into green with crest, and it is thought it saw use as a locomotive hauled trailer in the late 1990’s as well as in Class 115 sets. However 59514 was later reported to have received fire damage to one of the toilets, and the vehicle removed from traffic and stored with its corridor connections removed. After a period of use as a workshop, 59514 was sold to the Gloucester Railcar Trust in late 2004, who acquired the vehicle as a centre car for their Class 119 set which was under restoration at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. In July 2005 the vehicle had operated some test runs at its new home with 51074 & 51104, and later received some bodywork and a repaint. However with the restoration of the Class 119 the priority, 59514 continued to be mainly used as a support vehicle and store for the project rather than being restored itself. Around 2012, some limited work on the interior had progressed. However seats were stored in there from scrapped 117 TCL 59516 and 'the best of' seats from SR EMU stock at Caerwent, whilst work continued on the Class 119. Brake gear and corridor connections for the vehicle were also acquired and stored for future use. A further decade in storage passed until winter 2024/2025 when the owning group underwent a change in direction, purchasing Class 119 51073 and Class 114 56047 in the process. The original plan of restoring a Class 119/117 hybrid 3-car set was changed to having two 2-car sets, one purely Class 119 and a 119/114 hybrid. This rendered 59514 surplus to future plans and the vehicle was accordingly put up for sale in April 2025. 59514 remains available for purchase.
Future Plans 59514 is required to depart the Swindon & Cricklade (to make room for 56047) and so it is expected to be sold and moved on.

	59514 in the long siding between Blunsdon and Hayes Knoll. Increased progress on the Class 119 2-car set had meant that 59514 had been tkaing time out, 20/5/18. Chris Moxon

	59514 under restoration at Blunsdon. The vehicle is undergoing internal refurbishment, seats are stored in there from the scrapped 117 centre coach at Swanage and 'the best of' seats from SR EMU stock at Caerwent. Brake and corridor connections have been acquired and are in store, November 2011. Jim Poor

	59514 under restoration, 29/11/09. Bill Pugsley

	59514 in storage at Minehead. Simon Jones

	59514 in storage on the WSR, 25/4/03. Roberrt Frise

	59514 in storage on the WSR, 25/4/03. Roberrt Frise