Category:Rolling stock previously part of emergency control trains

This page gives details of carriages on the SVR which, after being withdrawn from commercial service by BR, were used as part of emergency control trains in the 1960s and 1970s.

Emergency Control Trains

Plans were first drawn up in 1953 for emergency measures in the event of an escalation in the ‘cold war’. For the railways, these plans included re-locating district control offices and building replacement static emergency control centres. This was put on hold after four years, but in 1961 a revised government-funded scheme was introduced; part of which catered for the Ministry of Transport’s preference that mobile controls should be used.

Each of the then six Regions were provided with two trains each. A typical configuration consisted of a rake of four modified carriages comprising a generator car with two diesel generators providing power for the internal equipment, a stores and mess car; a control and apparatus car, and an office car. These were adapted from carriages which had been withdrawn from commercial use by BR. The trains were stabled at various strategic locations, often under cover, from where they would be moved to pre-prepared sites in the event of an outbreak of war.

By the late 1970s the threat of war had receded and there was deemed to be no further need for retention of the trains. The Ministry of Transport therefore issued a withdrawal order, permitting BR to dispose of the rolling stock. Having been stored under cover, these were generally in relatively good condition. A number of carriages that might otherwise have been scrapped therefore survived and found their way into preservation.[1]

Former use of carriages now on the SVR

GWR carriages 9653 and 9654 were adapted for use in the first and second West Region control trains respectively.[2]. Both were stored in a shed at Craven Arms.[3]

LNER carriages 24105 and 43600 formed part of the North East Region control train stabled at York, initially in the Queen Street sidings and from 1967 in the Clifton carriage shed. In the event of war this would have been moved to a pre-prepared site at Hebden Bridge.[1]

LNER 52255 formed part of two East Region control trains stabled at Retford. These trains each included a 12 ton van, formerly a banana van, used for cable storage.[1]

See also

List of carriages

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 “Gresley’s ‘Hush-Hush’ Coaches”, Murray Brown, article in Railway World June 1981 (Retrieved 1 February 2017)
  2. Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
  3. SVR Stock Book 9th edition

Links

Pages in category ‘Rolling stock previously part of emergency control trains’

The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.