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	19 April 2025
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Preservation Information Withdrawn in February 1968 after a short and unsuccessful BR career, 79978 has been the most fortunate of the three AC Cars Railbuses originally preserved, and the only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 outside 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, now in private ownership. This shift was to finally unlock the investment and restoration time that the vehicle had never enjoyed in the hands of various companies and societies. The first few months saw the engine started for the first time in many years only to have the Covid pandemic immediatly halt progress, 79978 being returned to store. 2022 saw restoration work start in earnest after the railways reopened again. Work concentrated on mechanicals and air systems and by June the vehicle was moving up and down capable of undertaking demonstration runs. By the end of the year, the heater filter box had been repaired and refitted, the pneumatic folding steps freed off and the droplight windows repaired. Bodywork was then started, with the first 25% of the vehicle receive steelwork repairs before being filled and painted up to a temporary holding coat. On the interior, the drivers seating was reupholstered. In 2023 bodywork continued on the centre section around the sliding door, where many skin and framework repairs were required along with invasive interior stripping to allow access. Passenger seat upholstery was also started with all of the seat bases being quickly completed. Other interior work included repairs to the internal cab doors and a new cab floor. Finally, a repaired generator was refitted to the vehicle. 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, although it had appeared on demonstrations for the April event. 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 progress being made on the vehicle. Following the running in September 2023, 79978 entered the shed once again for the next stages of restoration. Over the winter period, the second 25% of major bodywork was completed along with replacement cantails, flooring and heater ducting. Further reupholstery of seating was completed, with a particular focus on the seat backs. This work completed, the vehicle was reassembled again and made a further forey into service in April 2024 to commemorate 60 years since the closure of the Kemble to Tetbury and Cirencester branches. Over the 2024/2025 closed season, 25% of the vehicle saw its bodywork completed and filled smooth prior to a holding coat of green paint. Upholstery continued including the characteristic "bay window" seats at each end whilst mechanically a wheel bearing was replaced, the heater removed for rebuild and the coolant system overhauled including a rebuild of the fan, drive shaft and gearbox.
Future Plans 79978 will continue to have manageable sections restored and reassembled during downtime periods with interludes of running at special events to keep interest in the project. Its overall appearance is expected to mixed during these running periods as whilst performing for visitors, the vehicle is still considered under restoration. Once the repairs have been completed all the way round the vehicle it is expected for a consistant and final repaint to be undertaken, which will coincide with the final interior and mechanical works to mark the completion of the restoration. Following the completion of works, 79978 is expected to operate services at the Swindon & Cricklade being maintained accordingly in an area close to which it worked in BR days.

	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

Interior

	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