LNER 70759 Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van
70759 was built in 1943 as Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van (Type BGP). In around 1945 the guard's compartment was enclosed in response to complaints that the guards were feeling the cold. After withdrawal by BRBritish Rail or British Railways in 1972, it was used as a store by publishers David & Charles in Newton Abbott. It later moved to the South Devon Railway where it was again used as a store.
70759 was purchased by The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund in 2005, arriving at Bewdley in March of that year. Initially it was used as a combined store and Station Fund shop, before restoration began to return the vehicle to service as a second LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway brake van for the teak set.
Part of the restoration involved moving the body of 70759 from its original heavily corroded underframe onto the newly refurbished underframe of another Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van, No 70442 (formerly LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway 4069). A time lapse video of the move which took place on 12 July 2011 is available on Youtube. The restoration of 70759 has seen the larger van portion converted to 4 passenger compartments with a corridor and toilet; the small van and guard's compartment have been restored to 1950s vintage condition, and the original pigeon racks have been refitted.
Parts have been recovered from the body of 70442 for use in the restoration on 70759 and elsewhere, while the underframe of 70759 has been dismantled for spare sections, the centre portion having been retained at Kidderminster carriage works as a strong and stable workbench.
70759 was one of three coaches which in 2010 were gifted by the LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) Coach Fund to the SVRSevern Valley Railway Rolling Stock Trust (now the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd), along with 24068 and 43600.
Sources
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) Coach Fund
Links
70759 on vintagecarriagestrust.org
Donor carriage 70442 on vintagecarriagestrust.org
70759 on lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk
75069 on svrtrust.org.uk
