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[[File: LNER_70759_20150315LNER_24506_20160829.jpg |thumb|300px|right| LNER Brake Third 24506, formerly Pigeon Van 70759]]
24506 was built in 1943 as Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van 70759 (Type BGP). In around 1945 the guard's compartment was enclosed in response to complaints that the guards were feeling the cold. After withdrawal by BR in 1972, it was used as a store by publishers David & Charles in Newton Abbot. It later moved to the South Devon Railway where it was again used as a store.
As 70759, it was purchased by [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] in 2005, arriving at Bewdley in March of that year. Initially it was used as a combined store and Station Fund shop, before restoration began to return the vehicle to service as a second LNER brake van for the teak set.
Part of the restoration involved moving the body from its original heavily corroded underframe onto the newly refurbished underframe of another Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van, No 70442 (formerly LNER 4069). A time lapse video of the move which took place on 12 July 2011 is available on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjTLy7qBSf4 Underframe Swop]. The restoration of 24506 has seen the larger van portion converted to 4 passenger compartments with a corridor and toilet; the small van and guard's compartment have been restored to 1950s vintage condition, and the original pigeon racks have been refitted. Many parts from the body framing of 70442 were incorporated. <gallery>File: LNER_70759_20150315.jpg | During restoration at Bewdley in March 2015</gallery> 24506 was shunted out of Bewdley C&W on Thursday 30/7/15 and was moved to Kidderminster on Friday 7/8/15 for further varnishing, and then to stay in the carriage shed whilst awaiting its turn in the mechanical workshop and paintshop. It entered the paintshop on 14/12/15 for lining and lettering, further paint and varnish plus internal finishing. The seats have been upholstered in red & black cut moquette. Reproduction frames for the oval mirrors were made at Boston Lodge and their oval beveled mirrors by a firm in Kidderminster. The batteries were put in place and made to work, and LED lamp bulbs installed. On the mechanical side, the gangways, vacuum brake cylinders and dynamo/regulator set were refurbished and re-fitted, whilst the bogies were refurbished by volunteers and apprentices. It was outshopped from the paintshop, matching the rest of Set N in full prewar livery and carrying the number 24506 on Tuesday 9/2/16. On Thursday 17th March 2016 it entered the mechanical workshop for the completion of steam heating, re-bushing of brake linkage, a small amount of new platework, fitting of refurbished bogies, brake cylinders and gangways,and other mechanical work necessary before entry into SVR service.
On Wednesday 17th August 24506 was successfully test run between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth behind GWR/PTR No813. It was added to Set N on Friday 19th prior to its first run in SVR passenger service on Saturday 20th August 2016.
24506 was one of three coaches which in 2010 were gifted by the LNER (SVR) Coach Fund to the SVR Rolling Stock Trust (now the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd]]), along with 24068 and 43600.
==SourcesSee also==[[Carriages#LNER (and constituents) Designed Coaches| List of carriages]]<br>: [[LNER 52255 Open Third | Previous ]]<br>: [[BR 1667 Restaurant Buffet | Next ]] ==References==
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey<br>
LNER (SVR) Coach Fund
[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk//teak_set.html#70759 70759 on lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk]<br>
[http://svrtrust.org.uk/our-vehicles/lner/70759-2.html 75069 on svrtrust.org.uk]
[[Category: Rolling stock owned by The SVR Charitable Trust]]
[[Category: Carriage Type BGP]]
