E43145 - Mk1 Coach
British Railways - Mk1 Coach
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Oswestry
Location:
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Regular Passenger Service
Service Status:
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Restored
Condition:
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Passenger Carriage
Unit Type:
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E43145
Running Number:
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1955
Built:
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No.30045
Lot Number:
- Train Brakes: Vacuum
Built in 1955 at York Works of British Railways, North Eastern Region, to Lot No.30045, Diagram 371, this vehicle is known as a Brake Second (BS) carriage, seats 72 passengers and has an area for the train guard and parcels and luggage. You will note this vehicle has individual compartments and thus no corridor to enable movement to other carriages in the train.
This vehicle worked in suburban services out of King’s Cross in its last years of service but also saw service out of Broad Street and Moorgate, the latter a station shared with the London Underground which saw it work on what was known as the Metropolitan Widened Lines.
After withdrawal, the carriage was purchased by the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where it saw many years of operation with similar vehicles. Upon withdrawal from traffic, it was stored for a few years alongside a brook and was purchased by the Cambrian Heritage Railway in January 2018, with the aim of getting into service by Easter of that year!
The years of storage alongside the brook had taken its toll, especially in respect of the woodwork. However, with volunteers with carpentry and bodywork painting skills, the vehicle was completed in late 2021.
One modification was undertaken during the restoration in respect of fitting two windows in the end of the guard’s/parcels area, to enable the guard to see the line ahead when the train is propelled. The guard has a brake handle which can be activated, in the case of an emergency, to bring the train to a halt. The propelling move is necessary due to the current absence of a run-round loop at Oswestry, so that the locomotive cannot change ends. A run-round loop is one of the major projects currently being pursued. In the mean-time there is also an option to shunt the train at Oswestry to release the locomotive if it is at the head of the train coming into Oswestry but this requires an additional locomotive and crew.
The additional windows also bring light into a normally dark area and with cream interior paintwork helps make the environment suitable for any wheelchair passengers. There also a seat added for their carers.
This vehicle worked in suburban services out of King’s Cross in its last years of service but also saw service out of Broad Street and Moorgate, the latter a station shared with the London Underground which saw it work on what was known as the Metropolitan Widened Lines.
After withdrawal, the carriage was purchased by the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where it saw many years of operation with similar vehicles. Upon withdrawal from traffic, it was stored for a few years alongside a brook and was purchased by the Cambrian Heritage Railway in January 2018, with the aim of getting into service by Easter of that year!
The years of storage alongside the brook had taken its toll, especially in respect of the woodwork. However, with volunteers with carpentry and bodywork painting skills, the vehicle was completed in late 2021.
One modification was undertaken during the restoration in respect of fitting two windows in the end of the guard’s/parcels area, to enable the guard to see the line ahead when the train is propelled. The guard has a brake handle which can be activated, in the case of an emergency, to bring the train to a halt. The propelling move is necessary due to the current absence of a run-round loop at Oswestry, so that the locomotive cannot change ends. A run-round loop is one of the major projects currently being pursued. In the mean-time there is also an option to shunt the train at Oswestry to release the locomotive if it is at the head of the train coming into Oswestry but this requires an additional locomotive and crew.
The additional windows also bring light into a normally dark area and with cream interior paintwork helps make the environment suitable for any wheelchair passengers. There also a seat added for their carers.
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