A historic four-wheel railbus, No. 79962, has arrived at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway for restoration to operational order.

Loaned to the railway by the Vintage Carriages Trust, once it has been restored, the railbus could provide an environmentally sustainable shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn. Built by Waggon & Maschinenbau at Donauworth in West Germany in 1958, 79962 is powered by a 150hp engine. has a maximum speed of 55mph, and is one of only four surviving examples of its type anywhere in the world.

Originally designed to operate frequent services on short branch lines, railbuses were seen as an economical solution for lightly used lines. The restoration of 79962 is being funded by the Vintage Carriages Trust, which will also provide technical advice, operational guidance, and driver training.

With a seating capacity of 56 and weighing just 15 tons, its low weight makes it well-suited for sustainable transport options, in particular in supporting a regular shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn in Denbighshire, North Wales. This is emphasised by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty wishing to establish a shuttle service, because of traffic congestion and pressure on parking at the Horseshoe Falls.

The restoration of 79962 will provide new opportunities for volunteers, and the development of training and skills in mechanical systems and heritage restoration, and will bring environmental benefits to support the railway’s sustainability aims

Another four-wheel railbus, No. 79978, which was built by AC Cars, is being restored at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway in Wiltshire.

“The arrival of Railbus 79962 is a significant and exciting moment for us. A great deal of preparatory work has already been completed, including asbestos removal, floor repairs, heater overhaul and soundproofing. From an engineering perspective, this is a well-understood vehicle with clear solutions to the remaining challenges. Our volunteers have inspected it thoroughly, and we are confident it can be restored to a high standard and returned to operational use.”

Tim Pulford, Engineering Manager at Llangollen and Corwen Railway