Trustworthy, administrator
6,720
edits
Changes
m
Typo
==Service and preservation==
4690 as was built at York in 1957 to Diagram 93 (AC204), Lot 30375, and entered service in BR's North Eastern Region in August 1957. Carriages in that region initially carried the same 'E' prefix as other Eastern Region stock, adopting a distinct 'NE' prefix in the mid-1960s, before reverting to the 'E' prefix when the Eastern and North Eastern Regions were amalgamated in 1968. The coach became NE4690 between February 1965 and January 1968.<ref name=Longworth>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2013)]] pp 9,59.</ref>
4690, fellow TSO [[BR 4509 Tourist Standard Open |4509]] and SK [[BR 25346 Standard Corridor |25346]] were all acquired from BR at York in early 1982, with their purchase initially being funded by the SVR. However at that time SVR(H) preferred not to invest in coaches and they were offered for sale to individuals or groups on the Railway, with the other two quickly being sold. All three were in good working order and were able to enter service without even needing a repaint from their BR 'blue and grey' livery.<ref>SVR News 64, 65</ref><ref group="note">In 1982 the SVR provided a rake of blue and grey carriages for filming [[L For Lester]], probably including 4690.</ref> 4690 arrived on the SVR from York on 21 July 1982,<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> needing only a sweep out before entering service.<ref name=4690Info>Information notice displayed in 4690</ref>
Around 2017, 4690 and the other wheelchair accessible carriages were equipped with 'on-board' wheelchair ramps. 4690's ramp was pictured in SVR News at the time and can be seen in the photograph above.<ref>SVR News 198</ref>
On 13 August 2019 4690 was withdrawn to allow it to have a repaint and repairs, its place being temporarily taken by newly-restored [[BR 4399 Tourist Standard Open]]. 4690 returned to service in early November 2019.<ref>SVR News 208</ref> Following the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]] 4690 has been fitted with clear screens between each set of tables to enable better social distancing; these can be seen in the interior view picture above. The coach remains jointly owned by the [[SVR Wolverhampton Branch]] and [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd | The SVR Charitable Trust]], however at the 15 January 2024 General meeting it was decided to wind up the Branch.
==See also==
