59719 Class 115 Trailer Composite Lavatory

Home Railway	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway	Location History	South Devon Railway 91-Feb 12
Current Location	Paignton & Dartmouth Railway		Mid Hants Railway Feb 12-Feb 15
Current Status	Stored		Paignton & Dartmouth Railway Feb 15-Present
Current Livery	BR Green
TRA Designation	4
Partner Vehicle(s)	None
Owner
Website
Record Last Updated	1 April 2024
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information 59719 was withdrawn in November 1990 and preserved on the South Devon Railway the following year. Bought by the Dart Wyvern Group for use on the South Devon Railway, the vehicle was restored to operational condition and repainted into BR Green. It then operated between Class 127 powercars 51592 & 51604 for several years on off-peak services. However by the mid 2000's the set’s deteriorating condition meant increased periods out of use, only appearing for gala events and often as loco hauled coaching stock. It is thought that 59719's last day of passenger service on the SDR was in April 2008 for a diesel gala. In 2011, a change in the owner’s priorities meant the vehicle was offered to the Mid Hants Railway free of charge. Following a sucessful appeal to raise the transport costs, the vehicle made the move in February 2012, as a direct replacement for the railway's Class 117 3-car set which had departed the line in 2011. However by December 2012, the decision had been taken to scrap the two powercars 59719 operated with, and so the previous restoration plans for the vehicle were abandoned. 59719 was in better condition than the now-scrapped powercars however so it was retained for use as loco hauled coaching stock. However thee is no evidence it ever operated as such, and appears to have just been stored out of the limelight. Reports on 59719 became extremely rare, until at some point in the mid 2010's (date unknown, estimated 2015) 59719 was relocated to the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, an equally secretive organisation! 59719 was sighted undercover and it transpired it was converted to a Covid-19 compliant mess-room facility, becoming the second Class 115 TCL to lose its interior. Once Covid restrictions were relaxed, 59719 was stored out of use.
Future Plans Not known.

	59719 stored at Kingswear, 30/3/24. Tony Rispoli

	A more unusual view of 59719 stored at Kingswear, 30/3/24. Tony Rispoli

	59719 stored at Kingswear, 5/4/22. David Bellamy

	59719 stored at Kingswear, its brief life as a Covid messroom completed, 17/9/21. Ken Jones

	59719 at Churston, 12/9/19. Carl Watson

	59719 stored at Alresford, 28/4/13. Nigel Benning

	59719 in service as hauled stock with 51592 & 51604 at Buckfastleigh, 26/4/08. Simon Edwards

	59719 on the South Devon Railway, 1/6/01. Robert Frise