LNER 7960 Kitchen Composite
| LNER 7960 Kitchen Composite | |
|---|---|
 LNER Kitchen Composite 7960 | |
| Built By | LNER Doncaster |
| Status | In service |
| Number | 7960 |
| Other numbers | 9162, SC9162E, DE321021 |
| History | |
| Built | 1936 |
| Designed By | Gresley |
| Diagram | 187 |
| Lot | 673 |
| Type | RC |
| Length | 61ft 6in |
| Weight | 42t 15cwt |
| Seats | 12 first, 18 third (as built) |
| 1980 | Preserved on SVR |
| 2015 | Restoration completed |
LNER Kitchen Composite (RC) 7960 was designed by LNER CME Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster in 1936 to LNER Diagram 187.[1] It was originally equipped with an anthracite-electric kitchen to serve meals into separate First and Third class saloons seating 12 and 18 respectively.
Contents
7960 in service
7960 was renumbered as 9162 as part of the LNER's 1943 re-numbering scheme. On Nationalisation in 1947, BR initially allocated an E prefix to indicate its LNER origin, with a further re-numbering to SC9162E after 1951.[2] It remained in use in the former GNS area of the LNER until the 1960s. Its regular diagram was Aberdeen to Inverness, northbound serving breakfast, dinner on return.
Following withdrawal from passenger service it was converted to a Mess Coach for Scottish Region track workers, as departmental number DE 321021 from December 1963.[1] The third class saloon was most altered to three sleeping compartments with a side corridor, and the former first class to a messroom complete with coal burning stove. Surprisingly the kitchen remained largely untouched although at some stage in its life the anthracite-electric cooker had been replaced with gas.
7960 in preservation
7960 arrived painted black and in run down condition on the SVR, from Perth in late 1980, having been purchased privately by Mr John Giles. The ownership later passed to Mr Phil James who spent the next 20 years painstakingly restoring it to original condition. Sadly he died before he was able to complete the lengthy restoration, and in January 2011 7960 was generously gifted by his widow Louise to the SVR Rolling Stock Trust (now The SVR Charitable Trust. Final completion of the kitchen and pantry took place in 2015, and 7960 entered service in May 2015. Phil James and Paul Bennett created a very interesting website, hosted by the Great Western (SVR) association which may be found at 7960 pages
7960 newly restored in May 2015
On 5 April 2016 a contentious bronze sculpture by Hazel Reeves of Sir Nigel Gresley was unveiled during a ceremony at King’s Cross station in London.[3] 7960 was one of the stars of the show, on display on Platform 8.[4]
In 2019 7960 was used in "The Gin Train" and other similar events, where it was billed as "our 1936-built luxurious first class carriage (once hauled by the Flying Scotsman)"[5]
In 2022 gangway repairs followed a shunting accident. Also, a gas engineer has isolated two burners on the oven and installed heat-resistant extraction fans, which now allow 7960 to offer hot-work cooking when chartered[6].
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Longworth (2018) p.266.
- ↑ Longworth (2018) p.175.
- ↑ Pantry, L., 'Nigel Gresley statue unveiled at King’s Cross - and he’s out for a duck', Yorkshire Post, 5 April 2016 (Retrieved 18 March 2018)
- ↑ 'Starring Role for Kitchen Composite 7960', SVRLive webpage 23 April 2016
- ↑ Special Events on www.svr.co.uk
- ↑ Branch Lines, December 2022
Links
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