| LNER 24506 Brake Third | |
|---|---|
 LNER Brake Third 24506, formerly Pigeon Van 70759 plus much replacement material from 70442 | |
| Built By | LNER York |
| Status | In service |
| Number | 24506 |
| Other numbers | 70759, E70759E Frame 4069, 70442, E70442E |
| History | |
| Built | 1943 (frame 1940) |
| Designed By | Gresley |
| Diagram | 245 |
| Lot | 1073 |
| Type | BGP (as built), now BTK |
| Seats | 24 third (none as built) |
| 1972 | Preserved |
| 2005 | Arrived on SVR |
| 2016 | Restoration/conversion completed |
24506 was built in 1943 as Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van 70759 (Type BGP). Being equipped with fold down shelves it was a very versatile carriage able to carry a wide variety of traffic including parcels, passenger luggage (occasionally accompanied by its owners!) and racing pigeons. There was a guard's area which in about 1945 was enclosed as a compartment in response to complaints that the guards were feeling the cold.
Contents
24506 (formerly 70759) in preservation
After withdrawal by BR in 1972, it was purchased from York and used as a store by publishers David & Charles at their Newton Abbot premises. In April 1991 it moved to the South Devon Railway where it was again used as a store.
As 70759, it was purchased by The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund in 2005, arriving at Kidderminster SVR in March of that year. Initially it was used at Bewdley as a combined storeroom for parts waiting to be fitted to 2701 and the LNER/Bewdley Station Funds joint shop. In 2010 it was gifted to the SVR Rolling Stock Trust (now the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd) and restoration began to return the vehicle to service as a second LNER brake van (BTK) for the teak set.
Part of the restoration involved moving the body from its original heavily corroded underframe onto the newly refurbished underframe of another BGP, No 70442 (built in 1941 to Diagram 315 Lot 1017 and originaly numbered LNER 4069). A time lapse video of the move which took place on 12 July 2011 is available on Underframe Swop. The restoration of 24506 has seen the larger van portion converted to 4 passenger compartments with a corridor and toilet; the small van and guard's compartment have been restored to 1950s vintage condition, and the original pigeon racks have been refitted. Many parts from the body framing of 70442 were incorporated. A new roof was fitted in Bewdley C&W works as a joint volunteer/full time project. The work was paid for by the owners, the SVR Charitable Trust which raised £70.1k in donations, gift aid and grants through the generosity of its many enthusiastic supporters.
70759 in loading dock for conversion to LNER Fund Shop
70442 in Rothley C&W Works prior to dispatch to SVR
70759 on 70442's underframe during restoration at Bewdley in March 2015
The centre section of 70759's underframe survives as a workbench
Finished compartment in 24506
Luggage Van with folding shelves for pigeon baskets
Guard's compartment in 24506
On Thursday 30 July 2015 24506 was shunted out of Bewdley C&W, moving to Kidderminster on Friday 7 August 2015 for further varnishing, and then to stay in the carriage shed whilst awaiting its turn in the mechanical workshop and paintshop. It entered the paintshop on 14 December for lining and lettering, further paint and varnish plus internal finishing. The seats have been upholstered in red & black cut moquette. Reproduction frames for the oval mirrors were made at Boston Lodge and their oval beveled mirrors by a firm in Kidderminster. The batteries were put in place and made to work, and LED lamp bulbs installed. On the mechanical side, the gangways, vacuum brake cylinders and dynamo/regulator set were refurbished and re-fitted, whilst the bogies were refurbished by volunteers and apprentices. It was outshopped from the paintshop, matching the rest of Set N in full prewar livery and carrying the number 24506 on Tuesday 9 February 2016. On Thursday 17th March it entered the mechanical workshop for the completion of steam heating, re-bushing of brake linkage, a small amount of new platework, fitting of refurbished bogies, brake cylinders and gangways,and other mechanical work necessary before entry into SVR service.
On Wednesday 17th August 2016 24506 was successfully test run between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth behind GWR/PTR No813. It was added to Set N on Friday 19th prior to its first run in SVR passenger service on Saturday 20th August 2016.
The number 24506 has been "borrowed" from a 1939 built four compartment Brake 3rd which was not in existence by mid 1943 (believed destroyed by enemy action) whilst 70759 was part of the only batch of Gresley carriages outshopped new without ever carrying a prewar style number. In view of the LNER's practice of transferring the identities of destroyed rolling stock to their replacements (A3 "Grand Parade" being probably the best known example) this was felt appropriate.
The underframe of 70759 has been dismantled for spare sections, the centre portion being retained at Kidderminster carriage works as a strong and stable workbench.
See also
References
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
LNER (SVR) Coach Fund
Links
- 70759 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line
- Donor carriage 70442 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line
- 70759 on lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk
- 75069 on svrtrust.org.uk
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