Class 159s

In the late 1980s, the locomotive-hauled stock on Network SouthEast's West of England route was in urgent need of replacement. The BR Class 50s locomotives were not suited to the stop-start nature of the route, and frequently broke down. With the UK economy in decline in the early 1990s, it was found that Regional Railways had over-ordered Class 158s at the same time as Network SouthEast was looking for a similar number of new diesel trains. NSE agreed to take on the surplus Class 158s. The original 22 units were rebuilt by Babcock Rail in Rosyth Dockyard before entering traffic. This entailed fitting first-class accommodation and retention toilets, and various other modifications, and they were named Class 159s. Illustrated with over 150 images from around the country, this book charts the routes and services undertaken by the BR Class 159s.