The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association 

Derby Lightweight M79612 is a Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory of aluminium construction. Built in the early 1950s, the vehicle featured 53 third class seats (now second) and 9 first class seats.

 

Having operated services in the West Cumbernauld area until the late 1960s, the vehicle was taken into Departmental service as the Ultrasonic Test Train, paired with 79018, which has allowed it to survive into the preservation era.

 

Withdrawn in the 1990s wearing Departmental livery and in a heavily modified state, the set was taken to Doncaster Works for extensive asbestos removal. This process left both vehicles as an empty shell. The vehicle was taken with completely restored partner 79018 to the Railcar50 event at the Severn Valley Railway in 2004 when it featured as an example of an unrestored vehicle, showing visitors the start point of a project. Work began on the restoration in the late 2000s, with a complete rewiring, bogie overhauls and the fabrication of internal bulkhead partitions.

 

Having moved to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the restoration continued with the refurbishment of the running gear, electrical work and fitting of a new interior to allow the two Derby Lightweight cars to operate together.

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M79612 is owned by the Derby Lightweight Preservation Group