Trustworthy
275
edits
Changes
no edit summary
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. 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 are in place and working, and LED lamp bulbs installed. On the mechanical side, the gangways have been refurbished prior to re-fitting, whilst the bogies have been refurbished and are almost ready for re-fitting. 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 it enters 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.