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Yeovil Railway Centre

Location History

West Somerset RailwayAug 95-Jun 13

Current Location

Yeovil Railway Centre

Yeovil Railway Centre Jun 13-Present

Current Status

Operational (Hauled Stock)

Current Livery

Non Standard Green & Cream

TRA Designation

4

Partner Vehicle(s)

None

Owner

South West Main Line Steam Company

Website

yeovilrailway.freeservers.com

Record Last Updated

13 March 2025

Preservation Modifications
Heavily modified. Corridor ends have been removed and observation windows fitted to the ends of the vehicle. The central section formerly containing the toilets has been stripped out and a wheelchair area created. Double doors have been fitted to the centre of the vehicle.

Preservation Information
59515 was preserved by theWest 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 fiveClass 115 powercars along with sixClass 115/117 trailer cars as a direct replacement for the earlier sets.

By March 1996, 59515 (along with59493,59506 and59510) had been painted into a non authentic carmine & cream livery and formed a vacuum braked 4-car hauled coaching stock rake. Like many suburban centre cars at this time, the vehicle was not preserved as a DMU vehicle, being used as hauled coaching stock because they looked similar externally to some designs of GWR coaching stock.

This dedicated 4 coach set was later disbanded when one of the vehicles was sold on to another railway. 59515 remained on theWSR and continued to be used as hauled coaching stock to boost the length of Mk1 coaching rakes during busier galas when as many coaches were required in service as possible, but was spending increasing amounts of time out of use in the headshunt at Minehead.

However by 2012 the vehicle was finally considered surplus to requirements and put up for sale, being bought by theYeovil Railway Centrethe following year and moved to their base by rail, the coach being hauled by a Class 31 diesel locomotive over mainline metals.

July 2013 saw restoration work commence with the removal of the corridor connections and relocation inside the workshop. The toilets and water tanks were also removed. During August the vehicle's ends were heavily modified with the corridor connection being plated over and three viewing windows cut into the ends. The bogies were also repainted. September & October saw bodywork repairs to the sides followed by a coat of grey primer and overhauled buffers were fitted. Towards the end of the year, a new ceiling was fitted to the ex toilet area and the saloon lighting cleaned up and made operational again. 59515 was then pressed into service unfinished for Santa Special operations.

January 2014 saw the restoration continue. The old toilet window was removed and a double set of doors added to allow wheelchair access. Work then continued in Feburay and March to complete the exterior of the vehicle with much sanding and filling followed by a top coat of Green & Cream. 59515 then entered service on the railway.

59515 continues to operate as loco hauled "push/pull" coaching stock at theYeovil Railway Centre.

Future Plans
To maintain in service.

59515 in its usual role of hauled stock along the short demonstration line at Yeovil, 6/6/24.Yeovil Railway Centre

59515 meets the Easter Bunny, 31/3/24.Yeovil Railway Centre

59515 stabled at Yeovil, 14/6/18.Robert Harwin

59515 stabled at Minehead, 4/9/10.Chris Moxon

59515 stabled at Minehead, 6/8/04.Simon Jones

59515 stabled at Minehead, 25/4/03. Robert Frise

59515 stabled at Minehead, in Carmine & Cream livery during the days when it operated in a 4-car hauled coaching stock set, 3/10/99. Stuart Mackay