LNER Beaver tail observation saloons, what's happening with them ?

Wishful thinking...the remaining rake of coaches to complete the Coronation....now that would be a mainline trip of a lifetime...if only...

 

I did say it was merely my own opinion. The Beavertail is a tough act to follow.

That's not to say I don't appreciate all the other projects being worked on, which all have their own unique difficulties and challenges and be impressive and award worthy in their own right when complete. Two of my local lines are the Bluebell and Isle of Wight, who have worked wonders in carriage restoration and I greatly enjoy travelling in those carriages and appreciate how much hard work went into them for me to do so.

 

I think this is one of those rare occasions where those who have a even a passing interest in the vehicle in question can see that the workmanship doesn’t just extend to the coat of paint: but in the research hours, painstaking modelling required to get the complex curves at the rear right, going through the archives of many different manufacturers of upholstery, vinyls, and more, photographic archives, the list goes on...

...the point I am making is that the level of attention to detail is possibly the highest on any project we've seen to date. It really is astonishing. I have been lucky to have seen a few behind the scenes pics over the years, and the work done at Nemesis Rail by the different people and teams involved really, truly, cannot be underplayed: it is THE highest quality L.N.E.R. restoration to date. The finish is staggering.

So, should it win awards? Yes definitely. Does it matter if it does or not? No, ultimately, because railway preservation in this country has got back an absolute gem into its ranks.

If the funding and parts were there, the rest of the Coronation should follow. We can but dream...

 

Might seem an unrelated question but what are the ages of the considerable no of Pullmans still allowed on the Network...

 

Sawdust, I've only just seen this now, and I have no words. I cannot for the life of me, think of a more stunningly beautiful vehicle that ever ran on rails.
Imagine walking through the barrier at Kings Cross in 1937 and seeing that gleaming at the rear of the train, and the sense of excitement and anticipation of the journey to come...
If one was fortunate enough to be reasonably well-off in the 1930s, what an exciting time to be alive, even with a war just over the horizon. To you, and everyone else involved in this project, seriously, bloody well done!

 

You make an excellent point, if we, living in this age of the azuma, tgv, AVE, bullet train etc., find this vehicle breathtaking. What must people have thought of them when new? The visual impact must have been colossal.

Sawdust.

 

They just knew how to do "style", then. Everything today looks like a pale compromise- like it was (and probably has been) designed by a committee.
Incidentally, do you know if Oliver Bulleid had a hand in the design? There is something about it which suggests he might.
I suppose I've got the interiors of his Bognor Buffet cars in mind:

 

A great shame there isn't a book of samples for these vehicles in the NRM. The lengths they went to on the prestige stock was extraordinary. The two 1938 Flying Scotsman buffet lounge cars had different colour schemes!

Sawdust.

 

It was amazing, looking back. And perhaps it was just too good to last, thanks to bloody Adolf, and his obsession with "lebensraum"

 

I see that the restoration of 1729 has been nominated as one of the 10 projects for people to vote on in the Steam Railway Magazine/ HRA award - link is here, I've cast my vote!
https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/blog...32HzkpcyqsACvtG0dhGcspmt-XkksaGBNABdrZNsgj1ho

 

I hope it wins, but look out also for the LNERCA's ECJS 189 dining car of 1894, albeit in a few years time, which will undoubtedly be a showstopper with its gilded lincrusta ceiling, gasoliers and ornate cast iron seating - see the news page at www.lnerca.org.

 

Gordon Bennett! That's some gold leaf, alright. Yes, its going to look fantastic.

 

Is Beavertail E1719E still at the GCR, and does it ever get used these days?

 

Recently reported as being in Rothley shed for a repaint. Don’t think it has run since before Covid.


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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...d=253008594712323&m_entstream_source=timeline

Being repainted at the moment it seems.

 

Over on the LMS the three "Coronation Scot" trainsets also had individual decorative schemes. One of them was even veneered with wood taken from the piles of old Waterloo Bridge when it was demolished, apparently!

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Here it is outside at Quorn yard.

 

Would the potential fare supplements justify creating something similar for the Jacobite stock ?

 

I bet you could charge a premium for it.

Does anyone know what the status of the Coronation beavertail is? I heard rumours it was supposed to attend an NYMR gala either this year or last but I haven't seen any reports of it running at all.

 

It would need turning at Mallaig though... Not currently an option, sadly.

Richard.