VOLUNTEERS at Llangollen Railway are celebrating the conclusion of three years of hard work to restore one of its coaches.

For the autumn season, Llangollen Railway has introduced a train formation of suburban coaches dating from the 1950s.

The formation includes a newly restored brake/compartment coach adapted to accommodate less-mobile passengers.

The coach No. E43359, a Brake Second Suburban unit, was built at York in 1955 for a seated capacity of 72 persons. The coach features six separate compartments for passengers with a guard’s compartment. 

It has taken three years of volunteer effort to restore it at the railway’s Carriage & Wagon Works.

After a previous trial run, the restored brake was attached to the railway’s other suburban coaches for the 11 am departure on Friday September 17. 

Hauled by the class 26 diesel locomotive No.5310, it recreated a scene from the late 1950s when such trains ran on the Eastern Region into London Kings Cross. 

As a five coach rake it offers a unique train operating formation on Llangollen Railway and is a fair imitation of how trains might have operated on the Barmouth to Ruabon line had it not been closed in 1965. 

During the restoration the opportunity was taken to provide additional capacity for the less able passengers to travel. The luggage space within the guard’s compartment was partitioned off and fitted with seats and space to accommodate wheel chair users and their carers.

Project leader Peter Jump said: “When the coach was acquired in dilapidated condition from another railway its restoration was considered a major job. 

“So it proved to be and three years later the Llangollen Railway Suburban Group members are more than pleased with the outcome of their endeavours. It shows what dedicated volunteers can achieve working one-day-week in the open air with a minimum of facilities. 

"This style of coach has 18 doors, half of which had to be replaced and the rest repaired. The bench seating in each compartment has been reupholstered with a Scot Rail machete material and each compartment has four framed reproduction prints of British Railways countrywide scenes, each sponsored by supporters. The project has cost about £5,000, plus innumerable volunteer hours of work.”

Now formed as a five-coach rake, the Suburban set offers a modern-day seating capacity of around 300. 

The restoration of a sixth coach is in prospect. As a composite suburban coach this will offer three first class and three second class compartments. 

The group’s fundraiser, Paul Bailey, said the estimated cost of the restoration is £2,000 and he is looking for supporters to sponsor another batch of 24 framed carriage prints costing £20 each to go in the compartments.