LNER Kitchen Composite (RC) 7960 was built at Doncaster[1] in 1936. It was originally equipped with an all-electric kitchen to serve meals into separate First and Third class saloons seating 12 and 18 respectively.
7960 was renumbered as 9162 in 1946. It remained in use in the former GNS area of the LNER until the 1960s, and was then converted to a Mess Coach for track workers, as departmental number DE 321021.
7960 arrived on the SVR from Perth, Scotland in late 1980, having been purchased privately. The owner, Phil James, sadly died before he was able to complete the lengthy restoration, and in January 2011 7960 was generously gifted by his widow 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.
Sources
- ↑ (Or built at York, see sources below)
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey (states built at York)
LNER SVR Coach Fund (states built at Doncaster)
SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition (states built at Doncaster)