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.