Restoration of this privately owned vehicle is continuing, photos of progress on the corridor screen, which is now nearly complete have been added to the 3669 website, and can be found here
Gresley TK 23896 arrives at NYMR
Gresley TK 23896, which was built in 1935, to Diagram 115, has been delivered to the NYMR. The coach has spent many years at Carnforth, where restoration work on it has been carried out. The plan is for work to commence on 23896, once Thompson TK 1623 has been completed. Although both coaches are TK ( 3rd class coaches with compartments), there are significant differences, such as the body of 1623 being steel panelled, whilst 23896 is wooden panelled, and 1623 having only four external doors, whilst 23896 has an external door for each compartment, plus four more on the corridor side of the coach.
A view of the corridor side of 23896
It ran throughout the 1930s, the war and the austere 1950s until it was withdrawn from passenger-carrying service in 1961 after 28 years use.
However, instead of being scrapped, it was earmarked to become one of BR's most secret carriages as it became part of the Easter Region Control Train. The government had ordered all regions of British Railways to make provision in case of war to ensure it could operate the railway system if the headquarter's office were put out of action. Each region would have a 4-coach train which could be shunted onto a remote branch line to become the railway's control. These carriages were converted to form a generator carriage, telecommunications, office and stores.
23896 was extensively altered internally, given a special number - DE321008 - and was painted black with windows whited out. It was kept securely locked and out of public view at Doncaster Carr locomotive depot.
A view of the compartment side of 23896 - each compartment has an external door
The years rolled by until 1979 when the government decided that all these secret carriages could be dispensed with. The world had moved on - there was no longer a Cold War and the carriages were seen as obsolete compared to modern air-braked rolling stock.
Railway preservationists had a field day and many of the 16 Gresley-designed carriages were snapped up. DE321008 was bought by Resco Railways but in 1984, ownership passed to the L.N.E.R Coach Association who moved the carriage to store at Carnforth.
It will be restored to as-built condition with number 23896 and the LNERCA hopes to have it carrying passengers once more in time for its 80th birthday in 2015. Photos and information supplied by Dave Young and Murray Brown.
ECJS 189 arrives at NYMR
The latest vehicle to be purchased by the LNERCA, ECJS 189 built in 1894, has now arrived on the NYMR. Photos of this coach have been added to the gallery, starting here .
March working weekend report
The March working weekend saw more visible progress being made on TK 1623, with most of the corridor ceiling panels now fitted, and a start being made on fitting laminated panels to the centre compartments. Other work carried out included staining woodwork in the corridor and vestibules, sanding and filling the bodysides, and also the tubes which the passenger communication cord passes through in the compartments were refitted. Photos from the weekend can be found starting here .
Andrew Daniel busy fitting one of the laminated interior panels, which fits above the top of the compartment seats and below the luggage racks.
New DVD avaliable
We have a new DVD available in the shop:
Tornado Absolutely Chuffed
This 52 min BBC DVD tells the story of the new Peppercorn A1 pacific Tornado.
In 1990 a group of dedicated people came together with a vision of what seemed an unachievable task. They were united by an extraordinary ambition - to construct a brand new steam engine and to bring back to life the Peppercorn class A1 pacific. After 18 years of incredible teamwork, their dream became a reality when locomotive 60163 Tornado, moved under its own power for the first time. This BBC programme tells the story of an amazing tale of cooperation, skill and sheer hard graft by men who defied the critics, who had said it could never be done. Contains footage of the naming ceremony and the first run to
A donation will be made to the A1 steam Locomotive Trust for every DVD sold.
Price £14.99 + P&P
Website updated
The website has been updated with the News , Shop, and the 1623 Gallery amended.
If you would like to be notified when this website is updated, please click here .
On-line fund-raising schemes
We have just launched several new schemes to help raise restoration funds on-line for the LNER Carriage Association on-line, with just few extra clicks. The new on-line fund raising schemes consist of two web shopping portals and two search engine schemes, and by using these schemes you can help raise money for us, without it costing you a penny!
Shopping Portals
The two shopping portals are buy.at and easyfundraising.co.uk. If you shop on-line, using either of these portals, then for every purchase you make, we receive commission on that purchase, whilst you pay the same amount as you would have, if you had made the purchase direct!
On-line shops available through the Buy At scheme include Amazon, Asda, CD Wow, E.on, Hertz, Ikea, More Than, National Lottery, Premier Inn, and many more. The complete list of participating stores, and what commission they offer, can be viewed on the site. This scheme doesn't even require you to register, all you have to do is go to http://buy.at/lnerca , and start shopping!!
On-line shops available through the Easyfundraising scheme include AA Travel Insurance, Argos, Blockbuster, iTunes, More Than, The Trainline, Thomas Cook, WH Smiths and Wickes. The complete list of participating stores can be viewed here . To use this scheme, you do need to register first, a process that only takes a few minutes and can be done here .
Search Engine Schemes
The two search engine schemes are www.everyclick.com and www.easysearch.org.uk . These schemes work by the web company donating some of the money they receive from advertising fees, for each search that is completed using the search portal.
Site last updated 15th June 2010
Opinions expressed on this web site do not necessarily represent the policies of the LNERCA Committee. © 2010 L.N.E.R. Coach Association.