Churchill funeral van completed

I see from the ESR website ( http://www.eastsomersetrailway.com/newsitem.php?item=250) that the Churchill funeral van's overhaul has been completed.

What is its immmediate future? Will it return to swanage soon? or will it stay at the ESR???

 

commendable though it is to see a NPCCS vehicle restored, I do wonder what they will use it for now. Hardly right to use it for storage or as a shop or similar is it? It sems to me if it IS of any historical importance it should be part of a display about the Great Man in a suitable location. An odd one this, anyone know what the plans are? (Oh and I assume the bogies will get painted too...)

 

they were going to convert it into a museum, but HLF wouldnt give any money.

 

that doesnt really surprise me as on its own it isnt of sufficent interest IMHO. I guess it would need to be somewhere like the Imperial War Museum for that to work. I cant see a role for it on a Preserved Railway tbh

 

I can't see it having a working role either in its current Pullman livery. It would, though, have a role if it were painted in its 'workaday' livery before it was catapulted to fame as a funeral van. Perhaps it could carry a small plaque on a door to mark its one day of glory?

Sorry if this offends.

Regards

 

It is still planned to be part of the museum at Corfe, and fundraising is ongoing:-

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news475.htm

and

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news514.htm

 

I know it has been asked before, but what is the current situation regarding the Pullman coaches that formed this train? Of course we stll have 34051 with us albeit not working. I remember watching the coffin being taken up river & then the train "being loaded" & leaving London on my old B&W TV all those years ago. I then went to Reading Station & watched the train go through.
A quite exciting event for a mere schoolboy!

 

that would be Lydia and Isle of Thanet I think which went to the USA with Flying Scotsman and are under the wing of the Swanage railway also (I think)

 

Lydia and Isle of Thanet are currently stored at Carnforth; I understand they are destined for Swanage eventually but there is no covered accommodation there at present.

Of the other vehicles, Perseus is part of the VSOE, Carina is at the NYMR. Car 208 was the other vehicle in the train; is it this one?

http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2231

Thanks

Nick

 

Managed to do a bit of searching & found this off Nine Elms Enginemen website:-

[FONT=verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] No. 208, Carina, Lydia, Perseus, and Isle of Thanet and a bogie van S2464, containing the coffin.

Also found this,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmCCn2xsm7I
[/FONT]

 

I think the boat that carried the coffin is also still with us as well.
http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/vessels/havengore/

http://www.havengore.com/

 

Intersting.

How many complete trains can be run today from the BR Steam era, only using stock that formed the original train then and still exist today?

Not many others, I guess, if any at all. The Royal carriages still exist, but what about the locos?

 

If any of the group that is going to restore this vehicle is watching this thread , perhaps you would like to contact me on chris.willis1@virgin.net please?

We are restoring SECR 154 on the Mid-Hants with complete new doors but with Southern Railway ironmongery.

That said we have two full sets of SECR door ironmongery up for grabs free to a good home. I thought that this would be the ideal project for this.

Best regards
Chris