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

Nah be fine if its at the smokebox end of the loco....

 

It certainly would be fine for me, as long as the windows opened as well!

Richard.

 

When the Kyle line still had loco hauled services, the former DMU car observation saloon no. 6300 remained at the Inverness end of the train and wasn't moved. It was still quite popular.

 

As was the GWR saloon they were using in 1984....

 

Was that Bill McAlpines?

 

Don't know who owned it, but it appears to have been used as the regular observation car on the Kyle line from the end of the 1970's at least until 1984. I was on a 2 week All-Line Railrover at that time, but I didn't bother travelling on it. I did, however travel on the LMS saloon that was being used on Oban to Glasgow trains that year. I think it was something like a £5 supplement to travel in it and not many other passengers bothered, which was surprising.
As an aside, if you look closely, the nameplates on 37 260 are still covered up, the loco not being officially named Radio Highland until a day or two after I took the photo.

 

Why? Hebridean wasn't turned at Kyle, which made the added concession for being in it a bit cheeky when 1/3 of the view was the nose of a 37 rather than rugged Highland scenery.

 

I’d quite happily pay for the view of the nose of an EE Type 3 in Scotland, for me it’s the equivalent of sticking a tenner in a a certain persons clothing in a certain venue!

 

Diesel-wise I'd go for a 27 or 25. But for steam I'd go for anything - But preferably a Stanier 5 or The Great Marquess.

Richard.

 

Having done the Kyle line for the first time a few weeks ago, I would certainly have made use of an obs if there had been one. The views were still good from the ordinary DMU but I'm sure they would have been even better from a saloon...

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

NZ railways have open-sided observation cars. Rode a large portion of the way from Picton to Christchurch listening to the DC(?) Doing it's stuff (and getting covered in bits of cicada, which was less nice...

 

Interesting that they did not bother attaching the GW saloon to the rear of the train at Kyle in 1984. They certainly ran it round when I travelled in 1979 as seen here with 26025

And here is the view from the rear observation saloon leaving Strathcarron. It was indeed owned by Bill Macalpine at that time and a lovely vehicle to travel in

Peter

 

Still shunting the saloon to the rear of the train in 1982. By 1984 the 37s had largely taken over, though I don't recall the saloon on the train I went to Kyle on that year.

 

Actually Matt you could have indulged yourself on the Mallaig line in 1983 with an observation saloon at both ends of the train.
With the coming of steam trains the following year these were discontinued.

 

Would have been a tad difficult for me Scott, my Mum didn’t have a headache in late June 1983 so I entered the world in 1984, 2001 was the first time I made my way that far North and West. 37427, 62005 and 37415 were the weapons of choice between Edinburgh and Mallaig that week

 

They did survive into the steam revival era, Scott. This is a view taken at Arisaig on Tues. 29/5/84 during the first week of steam operation.


It shows 5407 on a two coach special for the Royal Navy crossing the mid morning Mallaig - Glasgow train which was hauled by a certain 37264, which seems to have plagued me this summer on the NYMR. Only one saloon per train that year.

Peter

 

Sad news from Railway Vehicle Preservations today.

 

Really shocked to hear of Brian’s passing. He was posting on his Facebook page over Christmas from his hospital bed and saying he’d be in there for a few days longer. Sadly he didn’t make it. Railway preservation in general and the world of TPOs in particular has lost a great servant. RIP Brian.

 

It's really difficult to "like" these sort of posts because of the content, but please treat my "likes" as a sign of respect above.

Really sad to hear this, his work on the TPOs and RVP is well known and we have lost a great fount of knowledge.