The LNER Carriage Group
The LNER Carriage Group is part of the SVR Charitable Trust. The group has volunteers in common with The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund; it was formed in 2010 at the time the Coach Fund transferred ownership of three carriages to the Charitable Trust. Historically it maintained and restored LNER carriages owned by the Trust:[1] more recently it has engaged in projects for other rolling stock.
Contents
Carriage Group projects
The Group restored LNER 24506 Brake Third at Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department. This carriage is the body of LNER 70759 Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van on a replacement underframe from another BG(P) No 70442. Four passenger compartments with side corridor and toilet have been added at one end, whilst the other end consisting of Guard's compartment and luggage van remain in original condition. It was financed mainly by private sponsorship supplemented by revenue from a volunteer run shop and by a grant from Severn Valley Railway Company Limited. 24506 entered SVR traffic on 20 August 2016.
The Group raised the finance for the upgrading of the interior of LNER 43600 Open Third in conjunction with a scheduled overhaul carried out in 2015/16 by Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC. £13k was raised by private sponsorship to improve the seating, tables and wall lamps, plus new mirrors, luggage racks and coathooks. Replica LNER pattern moquette was also provided by the Trust to cover the seats. The Group also provided physical assistance by preparing the roof for re-canvassing. LNER 52255 Open Third was similarly improved in 2016. Subsequently, the Group has assisted with the scheduled overhauls of LNER 24068 Composite Corridor Brake, LNER 24105 Open Third and LNER 43612 Open Third.
It also restored GWR 17410 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van. This vehicle was in 2016 donated to the Charitable Trust. The Group commenced its restoration in December 2015 from a very run-down condition with work completed in June 2018.
In 2017 the Group commenced the restoration and conversion of SVRH's GWR 9581 Wheelchair accessible Buffet Car (formerly GWR 5043 Full Third) in Bewdley Down Yard, funded via the Charitable Trust.
Unfortunately COVID-19) lockdowns resulted in the retirement of some key Group volunteers, which slowed progress with its work[2].
Website and newsletters
The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund and the LNER Carriage Group publish joint newsletters. They maintain a joint website (see links below), but this is no longer regularly updated.
See also
References
- ↑ SVR Charitable Trust
- ↑ SVR News 225, Spring 2024, p. 58