79962 Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus

Home Railway	Keighley & Worth Valley Railway	Location History	Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Mar 67-Present
Current Location	Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Current Status	Under Restoration	Visited Railways	Shipley Triangle (BR) 70
TRA Designation	4		Doncaster MPD (BR) Oct 80
Current Livery	BR Green (Speed Whiskers)
Owner	Vintage Carriages Trust
Website	vintagecarriagestrust.org
Record Last Updated	24 May 2025
Preservation Modifications None
Preservation Information After a rather short and unsuccessful career on British Railways, 79962 was purchased in November 1966 for £180 and moved to the embryonicKeighley & Worth Valley Railwayalong with classmate 79964 the following year. The two were considered suitable for a growing heritage operation. 79962 was returned to service and painted into a non standard green livery. Although not widely known, in 1970 79962 and 79964 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 79962 was returned to its original BR Green livery, and was apparantly the first vehice in railway preservation to do so. 79962 again took to the mainline in 1980 when the vehicle (and 79964) 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. 79962 proved to be a real stalwart of the line, particularly operating morning "shopping" services, duties which it carried out for several decades. However by the 1990's 79962 was withdrawn from service requiring engine and bodywork repairs. With insufficient volunteer time available, the vehicle was stored awaiting restoration. At some point during the 2000's the vehicle was sheeted over to offer some protection while it awaited the funds to return to service. In January 2014, the vehicle was sold to the Vintage Carriages Trust who immediately set about returning the vehicle to its former glory in their workshops at Ingrow. Much progress was made including some asbestos removal. Following an increase in costs, the scope was reportedly later changed to cosmetic only, and steadily continues to progress.
Future Plans It is hoped to restore 79962 cosmetically to its original condition following which it is assumed it will be on display at the Vintage Carriages Trust exhibition at Ingrow.

	E79962 at Ingrow, 18/7/24. Paul Brunt

	E79962 still inside the workshops at Ingrow, 15/6/23. Robert Purcell

	E79962 under cosmetic restoration at VCT Ingrow, 1/6/21. Aaron Browning

	E79962, silent in the sheds which were shut down due to the Covid 19 pandemic, 2/2/20. John Astley

	E79962, silent in the sheds which were shut down due to the Covid 19 pandemic, 2/2/20. John Astley

	E79962 under restoration inside the sheds at ingrow, 27/6/18. Anthony Christie

	E79962's overhaul continues inside the VCT workshops at Ingrow, 4/4/17. Andy Jackson

	E79962 outside at Ingrow part way through its restoration, 6/5/15. Ian Dobson

	E79962 patiently awaiting restoration behind the sheds at Haworth, 6/4/09. Chris Moxon

	E79962 stabled at Haworth, 15/10/00. Stuart Mackay

	E79962 calls at Haworth, 1989. John Law

	E79962 in the shed at Haworth, 7/6/87. David McGuire

	E79962 & 79964 stabled at Haworth, 16/5/82. Ian Francis

	E79962 makes a fine sight in platform 4 at Keighley, 9/81. Glen Batten

	E79962 & 79964 (behind in red) stabled at Haworth, 1979. John Law

	E79962 & 79964 (in the foreground in red) stabled at Haworth, 4/8/79. Robert Frise

	E79962 and 64, the former sporting its new BR green colours, 1975. Steven Pitts

	E79962 operating in Haworth loop, during E79962's first day on arrival at the Worth Valley, 18/3/67. Howard Malham

	E79962 operating in haworth yard, during E79962's first day on arrival at the Worth Valley, 18/3/67. Howard Malham

	E79962 and a Great Northern coach in haworth loop, during E79962's first day on arrival at the Worth Valley, 18/3/67. Howard Malham

	41241 & E79962 in Haworth loop. The Ivatt had hauled newly arrived E79962 up the valley from Keighley on the railbuses' first day in preservation, 18/3/67. Howard Malham

	A very important image, the earliest known picture of a first generation railcar in preservation. It shows E79962, the first preserved vehicle, just after arrival on Worth Valley metals at Keighley. It is about to be hauled to Haworth by Ivatt 41241, itself freshly preserved, 18/3/67. Howard Malham