Class 122 - 960015 (975042) W55019. Update at The L&MMR 16/02/2013

1958 built Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Works Class 122 - 960015 - 55019 (975042) Is brought out into the open at the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway site by the Center's Sentinel Peter J Griffiths to show the work done so far during it's renovation.


Built in 1958, this unit spent the first part of her career as a Midland Region passenger unit, being based at Tyseley but she also had a brief spell on the Western Region at Cardiff Canton. Affectionately known as 'Bubble cars' these single units were ideal for branch line services. This particular unit though was to spend only 12 years in passenger service before becoming a departmental vehicle, gaining the number 975042 and became a route learning unit. The latter part of her career saw her become a Railtrack and then a Network Rail sandite unit, used to spray a sticky paste to rails to assist trains with rail adhesion during times of high leaf fall. It fell out of use with Network Rail in 2007 and was stored at the Chiltern Railways fleet base at Aylesbury in a stored serviceable state, during which time it passed into the ownership of Chiltern Railways. It remained here until September 2011 when it was moved to Tyseley Railway Museum pending developments.

It is planned that the unit is to be completely renovated internally and externally and will be one of our principle passenger carrying vehicles. The unit was heavily modified internally during her time as a departmental vehicle and therefore presents itself to us as a blank canvas and allows a large amount of flexibility in what we are able to do with it. Where possible it will be returned to an original state. We will also make it wheelchair accessible to comply with modern requirements. The external condition of the unit is excellent, with only a small amount of remedial bodywork required. It has not yet been decided what livery the unit will be painted into, but BR Green with speed whiskers is the most likely.
Thanks to the L&MMR for all their help in the making of this video.