LNER 24105 Open Third

LNER 24105 Open Third
	; LNER Open Third 24105
Built By	BRCW for LNER
Status	Under overhaul
Number	24105
Other numbers	13317, E13317E, DE320957
History
Built	1936
Designed By	Gresley
Diagram	186
Type	TTO
Seats	46 third + 4 wheelchairs; (64 third as built)
1980	Preserved on SVR
Carriages

Wheelchair accessible area

LNER Gresley Tourist Open Third (TTO) No 24105 was built 1936 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW). It seated 64 passengers in one large saloon, with an entrance vestibule at each end and two toilets at one end. Officially these carriages were meant for excursion work, but most of them seem to have quickly gravitated into general passenger service. In the early 1960s the carriage was modified to act as the control and apparatus car in a mobile control train for use in the event of war and was based at York with LNER 43600 Open Third. The modification included the blanking out of many windows and the fitting of double doors to one side.

24105 in Preservation

24105 was originally purchased for preservation by VSOE, then based at Carnforth, but arrived on the SVR in 1982, having been swapped for LNER 4236 Gangwayed Passenger Brake . It spent many years in static use at Bewdley, in maroon livery and serving as The Erlestoke Manor Fund's sales shop. In the early 1990s ownership transferred to the LNER(SVR) Coach Fund for restoration and traffic as a wheelchair accessible open third.

Restoration 1993 to 1997

Control Train modifications to 24105's original Diagram 186 were retained and gave access for up to four wheelchairs, (with 46 ordinary seats) via the existing double door modification and the addition of an extra half-door on the opposite side to facilitate access. A single toilet, described by a wheelchair user as "tight but manageable" completed the interior. The missing windows were reinstated and much new teak paneling fitted to the exterior. The entirely new but authentic looking interior included a new floor, ceiling and green and grey Rexine wall cladding. It was completed with tables, oval mirrors, coathooks, BR pattern wall lamps and luggage racks. It was also equipped with fairly accurate reproductions of the Gresley "High Backed" seats. It entered traffic early in 1998. The restoration was made possible by much commercial and private sponsorship, a large public contribution raised via sales and sponsored walks, plus substantial donations from Bewdley Round Table, The SVR Company and the SVR Association.

24105 was owned for many years by The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund who donated it, in March 2016 to the SVR Charitable Trust for future safekeeping as part of the SVR's operating carriage fleet.

2017 overhaul

A major overhaul commenced on 3 January 2017 and is expected to take 8 months. Roof board refastening has meant a complete strip-down followed by rebuilding with new canvass (fitted 4 July 2017), rainstrips and tacking covers. Also completed is the obligatory window re-sealing with new retaining beading and fresh sealent. A section of frame was found to be rotten due to a leaking window seal and this, together with some panels have been repaired. The old varnish was removed, the woodwork restored to its original colour, sanded, linseed oiled and varnished; lining and signwriting were underway as of July 2017^[update]. Internally the lighting has been improved with LED bulbs and reproduction LNER wall lamps whilst the Rexine was either cleaned or where necessary, replaced. The rather tired tables recieved a re-varnish and were covered in linoleum in lieu of the old Rexine. New seat frames and ends have been constructed, and the seats and backs re-covered in reproduction LNER fawn patterned moquette to bring it up to standard. The toilet is to be remodeled to improve its ambiance, increase available space, and simplify the plumbing.

Replacement seat ends and frames 2017
24105 in Kidderminster C&W Works 7 March 2017. Photo W Parker
LNER BGP 4236, SVR resident from 1975 to 1982 was swapped for 24105. Photo D Massey
A section of water damaged frame being repaired 11 April 2017. Photo R Hill.