LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880

LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880
LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880
Built By	BR Derby
Status	In service
Number	26880
Other numbers	E26880M, DM 395979, TEST CAR NO. 9
History
Built	1950
Designed By	Stanier
Diagram	2161
Lot	1501
Type	CH, BTK
Length	57ft
Weight	30T
Seats	24 third
1973	Arrived on SVR
2012	Restoration completed
Carriages

LMS 26880 Brake Third Corridor (BTK) is an example of the port-hole stock designed by William Stanier before the Second World War but implemented by his successors C E Fairburn and H G Ivatt.

Sir William Stanier was succeeded as CME of the LMS by C E Fairburn in 1944 and H G Ivatt in 1945. Although neither produced any new carriage designs, they did implement some of Stanier’s style changes. Among those was the port-hole stock, echoing that used by the 1938 streamliners. Following nationalisation in January 1948, BR continued to build LMS style carriages into the early 1950s. Unlike the Corridor Composite version, the Brake Third Corridor continued the use of timber framing with steel top, bottom and corner members.

Contents

Service

LMS Brake Third Corridor (BTK) 26880 was built in 1950 by BR at Wolverton as part of lot number 1505 to diagram number 2161. All 439 of the Diagram 2161 BTKs were built post-nationalisation and were believed to have entered service in BR's crimson and cream livery and to have been fitted with post-War BR-type torpedo ventilators. It carried the number E26880M, the mixed prefix and suffix denoting a coach of LMS design allocated to BR's Eastern region.

After passenger service, it was converted for use as a test vehicle. An article in SVR News by Hugh McQuade, written in 1998 during its subsequent restoration at the SVR, described its use:

"These trials formed the basis of the BR "Depot Loads Book" with which all ex-BR drivers and guards will be familiar. It lays down how many wagons a particular class of locomotive over a particular route should be allowed to convey. Also, each wagon is credited with a brake force in tons and each route given a minimum figure that must be achieved in order for the trains to be able to stop safely. This book guided guards and yard staff for thirty years until all braked trains with powerful air-brakes ensured that run-away trains became a thing of folklore. All of this was devised using data compiled in 26880, formed at the head of a vacuum-braked train of mineral wagons which roamed the country."

Other articles in SVR News suggest it was also used in Advanced Passenger Train experiments. 26880 carried the Departmental number DM395979 until withdrawal in 1972.

Preservation

In late 1972 the L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Fund identified four LMS BCKs in the sidings at Chaddesdon, Derby as possible candidates for preservation. No 27043 was rejected as being in very poor condition but the other three were acquired for the SVR including 26880 which was initially mis-identified as 26680. It arrived on the SVR on 6 January 1973 from Chaddesdon, having been privately purchased by Mr DA Johnson. The other two (26668 and 27023) were also acquired by the SVR to be used as a source of spares.

During 1981 '26680' was moved from storage at Highley to Bridgnorth where it was used as the Bridgnorth C&W stores vehicle. It was subsequently moved to Eardington and by summer 1989 had been acquired by Steve Downes. Later that year, some 26 years after arrival, the coach was finally earmarked for a long-term restoration by the Bridgnorth C&W team as one of three main projects at the time. While preparatory work for the restoration was being carried out at Eardington, the correct original number E26880M was discovered under the later DM number.

By 1993 26880 had moved to the Bridgnorth cattle dock where the 'slow but steady' restoration by Steve and a small team of volunteers continued. 1998 saw the external panelling completed and the missing compartment walls reinstated. By summer 2001 26880 was "…at last looking like a complete coach. In September 2002 it was turned at Kidderminster, after which work continued on the internal refurbishment.

During 2006 Steve instigated the production of 350 metres of reproduction early BR-pattern Moquette for use in refurbishing the seats of late LMS and early BR carriages, the cost of which was sponsored by the Charitable Trust. Part of the material was in turn sold back to Steve for use in the restoration of his own coach.

The decision had been made during restoration to use 26880 as a wheelchair-accessible coach. In autumn 2008 SVR News noted that The wheelchair area is completed and so the coach is now about 95% finished.

In 2011 26880 moved to Kidderminster to have a set of overhauled bogies and the brake gear fitted. Other work including final painting was also carried out there. On 30 May 2012 26880 underwent a test run behind class 20 D8059 including a visit to the weighing machine. It was declared fit for use and entered the LMS set to provide it with wheelchair accommodation.

26880 forms part of the LMS Maroon set (Set L), notwithstanding that it was not built until after nationalisation and first carried Carmine and Cream livery.

See also

• List of carriages

Links

• 26880 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line