M59137

M59137 is the only surviving Class 104 Trailer Composite Lavatory (TCL). It was introduced in 1957 as part of a batch of 51 three car sets for British Railways’ London Midland Region. M59137 entered service with Driving Motor Brake Second M50429 and Driving Motor Composite Lavatory M50481. Unfortunately both vehicles were later scrapped. M59137 weighs 24 tons and seats 12 first class and 54 second class passengers in three saloons. Three passenger “vestibules” separate the saloons with passengers exiting the vehicle through six exterior doors. A toilet is included at the back of the rear saloon. The vehicle is a unique Class 104 in that it has a third passenger vestibule fitted where the cab would be if it were a driving car. Being a trailer car there are no Leyland 680 diesel engines or transmissions, however standard control systems enable M59137 to operate in multiple with other DMUs that carry the “Blue Square” coupling code, the most common of the multiple working types.

M59137 entered service in the North West in 1957. It is the most authentic vehicle in the group's long term ambition to form a Buxton 3-car set (alongside 53437 & M53494) being allocated to that depot for most of its life. An early sighting of M59137 in its original formation was at Davenport Station on the 29th June 1957 in multiple with Class 111 set M50134 and M56090 noted by J. W. Sutherland. The Class 104 3-car sets proved versatile replacements for previously steam hauled secondary & branch line services in the area, and M59137 would have worked many of the routes around Manchester, particularly the Manchester-Buxton line, which was to have an association with the Class for years to come.

Around 1960, the short lived light green livery that M59137 was delivered in was replaced by the more conventional BR green that was to last much longer. M59137 continued to work the Buxton line it was designed for throughout the 1960’s & 1970’s. During this time, British Railways’ policy resulted in the vehicle losing its lined green livery in favour of all over blue. This was also the start of the BR’s DMU refurbishment program. Although Class 104’s were never selected for proper investment and full refurbishment (unlike other more common classes such as 101 & 108) most vehicles went through a major overhaul, which included the removal of the original asbestos insulation.

M59137 was withdrawn in 1990 and was stored for some time at Chester, the first class section becoming the home of a tramp and his dog for a while. The vehicle was part of a long line of vehicles waiting to be sent for scrap. However the vehicle was purchased in 1992 as part of a bulk buy of twelve vehicles from Kevin Dowd and Robert Simpson, becoming the only London Midland 104 centre car to survive. M59137 was moved to the CVR some time later in the mid 1990’s, where it was stored awaiting restoration at Oakamoor Sand Sidings. As restoration of a two car set was more practical than a 3-car set (in one go!), M59137 took its place in the restoration queue, while M50517 & M50455 were restored.

Ten years in a sand quarry in a damp atmosphere meant the lower bodysides and steel framework beneath rotted beyond repair, with some of the structurally critical "feet" that hold the bottom of the bodyside onto the solebar being found simply missing altogether. Water leaks, some worse than others, caused the vehicle’s condition to spiral into decline, and it became bodily the worst of the four vehicles in the queue.

There were no plans for restoration while vehicles in better condition were also waiting. DTCL

Restoration started in late 2005 when the vehicle was dragged out of Oakamoor on the 15th October for stripping to start. Superior restoration facilities at Cheddleton (built up over the previous 10 years) have meant carriage restoration is infinitely easier there than at the sidings at Oakamoor, so M59137 has been based at Cheddleton for the restoration, and the group are grateful that space was made available for us.

In early 2006 stripping was complete and it became apparent that the vehicle had the worst bodywork of all the vehicles, quite a claim as 104s seem to be one of the worst classes of DMU for rotting! The water leaks were worse than previously expected, and the vehicle was stripped down to a windowless, metal shell; with only five interior bulkheads remaining of the interior. 2006 was spent inside the restoration shed cutting away the panelling and the supporting framework of the vehicle’s body from the middle of the windows to floor level. This was the first time such a level of metal replacement had been attempted on a vehicle at the CVR, so it took 12 months to complete 2/3rds of the vehicle. The vehicle was also sandblasted and primed underneath, a satisfying weekend blasting all the rubberised paint off the under frames, which had taken months on previous vehicles.

2007 was also spent indoors, with the metalwork of the remaining 3rd of the vehicle being completed, and the huge task of sanding/filling/painting. Work had also been done on floors, doors and the roof making the vehicle watertight. The vehicle entered the more suitably equipped carriage shed for a month where it was re-glazed using the original glass which has been cleaned. The vehicle emerged from the shed in December 2007 sporting a shiny coat of gloss green paint. The spaces for the doors, toilet window, and corridor connections were boarded up as they were not yet ready for refitting.

2008 saw attention turn to the interior. Many of the grime encrusted fittings removed in 2005 were taken away and returned to their 1950’s glory, while work on site concentrated on items such as exterior doors, which had to be made by modifying Class 101 doors, as four out of six of M59137’s were beyond repair. The toilet bulkhead was also returned to its position, the whole area having been ripped out in 2005 after the floor was found to be in horrendous condition.

2009 saw more work on the inside. Most of the supporting hardwood, (which lies hidden and is what is between the steel frame and the wooden panels that passengers see) had rotted away so brand new ones were made from scratch, with more complicated pieces having new bits skilfully spliced into them; a huge task which wasn’t to be underestimated. More components were restored and the first pieces started to be returned to the vehicle, such as the aluminium luggage rack backs and heaters. The wooden bulkheads were also stripped and re-varnished on the saloon facing sides. Unfortunately multiple engine problems on M50455 & M50517 resulted in M59137 taking a back seat for part of 2009, but this was thankfully solved by November.

The vehicle is currently at the centre of the group's activities and will remain so for the foreseeable future. If you could spare any time to help return this unique vehicle back into passenger service why not consider joining us? 2010 will see the team continue on the interior which involves more work on the floors, varnished bulkheads, veneered side panels, heating systems, electrical and lighting systems, ceilings and associated insulation, doors and vestibules as well as finishing off the exterior by restoring the roof and under frame/bogies/running gear.

At the current rate we would like an introduction into service in 2010; however we never compromise on quality and will complete the restoration to a high standard. In the short term, the plan is to run M59137 in between M50455 & M50517 on the CVR. This will boost the capacity of our running set by over 50% by raising the seating capacity from the current 114 to 177.

In the longer term this vehicle will be the centre car in the group's flagship blue Buxton 3-car set along with 53437 & M53494, which are vehicles currently unrestored waiting their turn in the restoration "queue".