DMU & Coaching Stock

Class 122 Diesel Multiple Unit ‘Bubble Car’ no. 55019

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 ADB975042 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.

We took delivery of it at Cynheidre on 23rd July 2012. Since arriving the engines have been started and work has been concentrated on renovating the interior of the unit.

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. Where possible it will be

returned to an original state. 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.

Mk. 2f Restaurant First Buffet car no. 1206

Built by British Rail at their Derby works in 1975, this vehicle was built as a first class open vehicle and then converted to a standard class vehicle in 1985. In 1988, it was to undergo a large refurbishment and was converted into a Restaurant First Buffet (RFB) car.

It came out of service in 2002 after the introduction of Voyager units on Virgin services before being briefly stored at LNWR at Crewe. It enjoyed a career on Cross Country services from Brighton and other south of England

locations to Manchester and as far north as Scotland in the formation of Class 47 and Class 86 loco-hauled services.

It coach was purchased from HSBC rail at MOD Kineton in 2006. This is our on-site cafè at present. The coach incorporates disabled access together with wheelchair adaptation and is fitted with reclining first class seating.

The cost was covered by an extremely kind donation from the road building company Costain. Many thanks go to Costain for their assistance in the acquisition of this coach.

It is in excellent condition and is currently painted in undercoat in preparation for a full repaint in the future. This has been a static vehicle for our first two open days in 2017, but the coach can be found in service as a passenger carrying vehicle on selected open days.