Pickering railbus
The embryonic North Yorkshire Moors Railway acquired AC Cars railbus W79978 immediately after withdrawal in 1968. It was one of five units supplied by the Thames Ditton manufacturer in 1958, as part of an unsuccessful effort to prolong the life of un remunerative rural lines. AC Cars - a company best known as a sports car manufacturer - was one of five companies that supplied a total of 22 vehicles as part of the short-lived railbus experiment. Deemed non-standard, all were withdrawn from revenue by the end of 1967, but two AC Cars vehicles, plus a further four other units were secured for preservation.
The former W79978 is seen here just beyond the precincts of Pickering station, standing by the bridge spanning Pickering Beck. It has had a peripatetic life since this view was taken, involving spells on the Kent & East Sussex Railway (1979-84), the Colne Valley Railway (1984-2019), before moving to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, where it currently resides.
March 1974
Zorki 4 camera
Agfa CT18 film.
Pickering railbus
The embryonic North Yorkshire Moors Railway acquired AC Cars railbus W79978 immediately after withdrawal in 1968. It was one of five units supplied by the Thames Ditton manufacturer in 1958, as part of an unsuccessful effort to prolong the life of un remunerative rural lines. AC Cars - a company best known as a sports car manufacturer - was one of five companies that supplied a total of 22 vehicles as part of the short-lived railbus experiment. Deemed non-standard, all were withdrawn from revenue by the end of 1967, but two AC Cars vehicles, plus a further four other units were secured for preservation.
The former W79978 is seen here just beyond the precincts of Pickering station, standing by the bridge spanning Pickering Beck. It has had a peripatetic life since this view was taken, involving spells on the Kent & East Sussex Railway (1979-84), the Colne Valley Railway (1984-2019), before moving to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, where it currently resides.
March 1974
Zorki 4 camera
Agfa CT18 film.