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GNR 2701 Composite Corridor

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{{Infobox carriage
|image = LNER_2701_20150307GNR_2701_20190723.jpg
|caption = GNR (LNER) Corridor Composite No 2701
|construc = 1922GNR Doncaster
|status = Operational
|carno = 2701|othernos = LNER : 2701N, 42701 <br>BR : E42701, E42701E, Camping Coach 157CC157,<br>DE321089, 041593
|designed = Gresley
|diagram = 164K
|lot =
|cartype = [[:Category: Carriage Type CK|CK]]|length = 61ft 6in|weight = 32t 16cwt
|seats = 21 first, 24 third
|built = Doncaster1922
|years1 = 1958
|events1 = Converted to camping coach
|years6 =
|events6 =
}}'''GNR 2701 ''' was designed by the Great Northern Railway’s Carriage and Wagon Superintendent Mr H N (later Sir Nigel) Gresley and built at Doncaster in August 1922 to GNR Diagram 164K, as one of a batch of ten 'Vestibule Composite' carriages to Diagram 164K(the LNER generally used the term 'vestibule' when describing corridor stock).<ref name=Longworth175>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] pp.175,368. </ref> It is a '''Corridor Composite ''' (CK), seating 21 first class passengers in three and a half compartments (the half-compartment with three seats being known as a ''coupé'') and 24 in four third class compartments. It is the oldest of the 'Gresley Teaks' on the SVR, being the only one built before the LNER came into being in the 1923 grouping, and August 2022 marks 100 years since it first entered service.
==GNR 2701 in service==
The carriage On 16 November 1922, some two months after entering service, 2701 was involved in part of a Doncaster to Peterborough train which collided with the rear of a collision Manchester to Cleethorpes service at Retford during its first year . 2701 survived relatively undamaged and was returned to service.<ref name=LNERSVR>LNER (SVR) Coach Fund</ref> While in passenger-carrying service it was renumbered on a number of useoccasions. On grouping in 1923, but survived the newly created LNER initially allocated a suffix to become LNER each carriage number based on the area of origin and accordingly 2701 became '''2701N'''. This system proved unsatisfactory and in April 1925 the suffix was replaced by a numeric prefix, with 4 being the Great Northern section, resulting in a new number of '''42701'''. From 1932, carriages of this type were used in the Kings Cross-Cambridge 'Beer trains' - the 'Garden Cities and Cambridge Buffet' expresses.<ref>SVR News 163, ''The story of GNR No 42701. 2701'', Richard Gunning and Richard Hill</ref><ref name=Longworth175/> On Nationalisation in 1948 British Railways in turn allocated a regional prefix to its newly inherited carriage fleet based on the area of origin with E being the Eastern Region, resulting in '''E42701'''. Shortly after that time 2701's LNER varnished teak livery was overpainted with BR 'crimson and cream' while some (or possibly all) of the ten Diagram 164K coaches had their first class compartments declassified to third class. Finally the introduction of the BR Mk 1 stock in the early 1950s saw all carriages given a regional prefix to indicate the area to which the carriage was allocated (with E again being the Eastern region) and the letter denoting the pre-Nationalisation area of origin becoming a suffix, resulting in the final number of '''E42701E'''. It <ref name=Longworth175/> 2701 remained in passenger carrying service until June 1958 when, together with sister carriage No 69, it was withdrawn and converted at Stratford to a camping coach . This involved the interior being removed and replaced by cooking, living and sleeping areas, while the exterior was re-liveried in green and cream. Renumbered '''CC157''', it was stationed at Mundsley until closure in 1964. Following transfer It was then transferred into Departmental stock to departmental be used as a Divisional Engineer Messing and Sleeping Coach for which it was given the number '''DE321089'''. Finally it was transferred into Internal User stock its as number '''041593''', serving as a CCE Staff and Workshop coach.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] pp. 368, 474, 476.</ref> Its long and varied career on "The Big Railway" ended c1980 circa 1980 at Boston , serving as the painter's bothy.
==GNR 2701 in preservation==
2701 was then purchased by the landlord of the Plough Inn, a few miles away at Swineshead. Following a difficult road transfer involving a lorry and two cranes [http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/boston_lift.html recounted here] it was to be converted to a dining room, but the project failed to gain planning permission. Despite an attempt to preserve it in Norfolk, 2701 was moved to another pub at Stoneyford Lodge in Derbyshire, also with the intention of use as a dining room, but this time the adjacent open cast mine was extended over its intended site.
2701 was purchased in 1994 by [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] from Stoneyford Lodge, with a view to restoration. The move to the SVR was achieved by Allelys with the aid of a lorry, two cranes and some difficulty. A video of the move can be seen here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhHzsWTW5nI The Big Lift] Initially there . After arrival the coach was some confusion over the identity stored initially at [[Kidderminster]] and subsequently at [[Eardington]] until after restoration of the carriage; the SVR Stock Book 9th edition describes the carriage as “Our example, assumed to be No 69…” and lists it as such<Ref>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref>Coach Fund's other coaches.
Filming took place in October 2000 for Initially there was some confusion over the identity of the coach, which the published records had incorrectly described as an episode LNER Diagram 23 Vestibule Third. The maker's plates were missing and none of the 2001 TV series “[[List of film internal fittings were still in place, but the toplights over the doors and compartments and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway#TV Documentary | Off fact that it was a 'mirror image' of the Rails]]” featuring Vince Henderson. The restoration normal LNER layout suggested it was of GNR 2701 rather than LNER origin. Furthermore it was 9ft wide rather than the standard 8ft 6in, meaning it could only be one of the items featured10 GNR Diagram 164K Vestibule Composites.<ref>SVR News 113</ref> By 1996 it had been confirmed that it was either No 69 or No 2701, both of which had been converted to camping coaches in 1958. SVR News reported that "''In 2001 the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant absence, as yet, of £84k towards any further firm evidence, we have decided to refer to the cost of restorationcarriage as No 69. Murphy's law will undoubtedly ensure that it turns out to be No 2701!''"<ref>SVR News 118</ref>  The 1998 SVR Stock Book still referred to "''Our example, and GNR assumed to be No 69…''".<Ref>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> By spring 2000 Murphy's law had proved correct as the Coach Fund had finally established the identity as No 2701 entered SVR service in July 2008, the number being formally launched into service found on 16th August the underside of that year by Mr Tim Godfrey, a grandson door. They had also completed restoration of Sir Nigel six GresleyTeaks and had secured a set of teak panels for 2701, the outside of which was mostly plywood. It Although the Fund had exhausted its finances, 2701 was declared the overall winner in the Heritage Railway Association Carriage & Wagon competition 2009moved from storage at Eardington to [[Bewdley Down Yard]] on 17 April 2000 for restoration to begin.<ref>vintagecarriagestrust.orgSVR News 132, 133</ref>. <gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:2701_pre_restoration.jpg | 2701 before the start of restoration in 2001File:2701_1st_class_seat_back.jpg | Making a first class seat back in 2006File:GNR_2701_Award_20150707.jpg | HRA award 2009
</gallery>
In late 2014 An initial survey revealed that 2701 received was still mounted on its original underframe and GNR bogies, which had been built in 1921 by the Leeds Forge Company.<ref>SVR News 136</ref> Restoration began in mid-2000 and in October 2000 filming took place for an overhaul episode of the 2001 TV series “[[List of film and revarnish at Kidderminster Carriage worksTV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway#TV Documentary | Off the Rails]]” featuring Vince Henderson, with the restoration of GNR 2701 being released one of the items featured. However progress was initially slow due to traffic the lack of funding. The Coach Fund reported in time 2001 that "''We could probably restore 2701 for about £20,000 but that would mean doing everything the hard way, and would probably take 20 years''." They therefore investigated the possibility of attracting grants, and on 12 September 2001 the [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]] awarded a grant of £84,300 towards the cost of restoration.<ref>SVR News 137</ref> With funding secured, official permission to start work on 2701 was received on 22 December 2001. The coach made a short trip to Kidderminster to be placed on accommodation bogies while its own bogies were overhauled. The bodywork was then stripped almost to a bare framework so that the contractors C&L Walker could replace all the waist level 'stringers' and carry out other framework repairs.<ref>SVR News 140</ref> By early November 2002 all the brackets, panels, and glazing had been re-fitted to the sides and ends. All the internal doors had been refurbished or replaced, with the four 1930's pattern sliding doors replaced by older ones retrieved from 24068.<ref>SVR News 143</ref> By mid-2003 all 12 external doors had been rebuilt and rehung and the roof had been re-canvassed.<ref>SVR News 145</ref> With external work substantially complete, 2701 was released from the 'back siding' in Bewdley yard on 26 July 2004. Later that year the [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|SVRA raffle]] 'Bums on Seats' raised around £8,000 in aid of the 2015 season2701 and [[LMS 7511 Restaurant First Open]]. <ref>SVR News 148, 149</ref>
Early in 2016, a principal supplier of 24 Volt LED lamp bulbs introduced a 40 Watt equivalent "golf ball" style bulb, Between 2005 and 2007 work continued on the refitting the installation of which would improve lighting levels and reduce power consumptioninterior. A public appeal raised sufficient money In spring 2008 2701 moved to replace all Kidderminster Carriage Works for 'professional finishing off' of brakes, steam heat and installing the lamp bulbs restored bogies which had been finished early in the LNER carriages of set N. The electrician reports that since the replacement, Set N has required very little top up charging from battery chargers as the dynamos are now able to supply sufficient current to charge the batteries (as they should)2007.<ref>SVR News 161</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">2701_1st_class_seat_back.jpg | Making a first class seat back in 2006</gallery> GNR No 2701 entered SVR service in July 2008, being formally launched into service on 16 August of that year by Mr Tim Godfrey, a grandson of Sir Nigel Gresley.<ref group="note">During his visit, Tim Godfrey presented the SVR with his grandfather Sir Nigel Gresley's top hat on loan for display in the newly-opened Engine House where it remains {{As of|2022|lc="y"}}.</ref> It was declared the overall winner in the [[Awards|Heritage Railway Association Carriage & Wagon competition 2009]].<ref>Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey</ref> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GNR_2701_Award_20150707.jpg | HRA award 2009</gallery> In March late 2014 2701 received an overhaul and revarnish at [[Carriage Repair Works|Kidderminster Carriage works]], being released to traffic in time for the start of the 2015 season.  <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">LNER_2701_20150307.jpg | 2701 in 2015</gallery> Early in 2016 , a principal supplier of 24 Volt LED lamp bulbs introduced a 40 Watt equivalent "golf ball" style bulb, the installation of which would improve lighting levels and reduce power consumption. A public appeal raised sufficient money to replace all the lamp bulbs in the LNER carriages of [[Carriages#Set_N|set N]]. The LNER electrician reported that since the replacement, Set N has required very little top up charging from battery chargers as the dynamos are now able to supply sufficient current to charge the batteries (SVRas they should) Coach Fund|. In March 2016 the LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] donated 2701 to the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]] for long term safekeeping. Sometime over the Christmas Bank Holiday 2017, 2701 was one of two coaches vandalised at Kidderminster (the other being [[GWR_1146_Full_Third | GWR Corridor Third No. 1146]]). A flash appeal by the Charitable Trust raised more than £13,000 to help pay for the repairs, which involved stripping and repainting both coaches over a six-week period.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2017/12/26/historic-severn-valley-railway-carriages-vandalised-by-yobs/ Shropshire Star]</ref><ref>SVR News 201</ref><ref>SVR Charitable Trust accounts to 30 June 2018, p.5</ref> 2701 is regularly used in Set N, normally rostered at the Bridgnorth end of the set.
==See also==
[[Carriages#LNER (and constituents) Designed Coaches| List of carriages]]
 
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
==References==
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey<br>
LNER (SVR) Coach Fund<br>
<references />
==Links==
*[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2430 GNR 2701 on vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]<br>*[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk//teak_set.html#2701 2701 on lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk] 
{{CarriageNavbox}}
[[Category: Rolling stock owned by The SVR Charitable Trust]]
[[Category: Carriage Type CK]]
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
[[Category:SVR fundraising lotteries]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
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