French Nord Rapide Carriage b9yfi-7122 in the UK

Is anyone aware of the existence of the above in the UK?

 

Yes it used to be on the Nene Valley.

 

Many thanks. Any idea where it is now?

 

http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2384

MoD Bicester for storage it seems. It was at Finmere until the site was cleared.

 

Many thanks. Someone in France was asking.

 

A shame it left the NVR. It had some great art deco styling inside.

Hard to believe the French were turning out monocoque stressed frame coaches in the 20's, whilst we were still churning out teak coaches... 40 years before we did with that mark 2s over here!

I heard mixed reports about the structural state of the coach before and after it left the NVR, depending on who you listened to.

 

According to David Jenkinson ("British Rly Carriages of 20th Century"), several hundred monocoque or "all-steel" carriages were built in 1926-7 by external contractors for the LMS, with a few also built for the LNER. They were mostly Open Thirds, Brake Open Thirds and Full Brakes. The carriages appear to have been successful but the idea did not take root in the UK at the time, being largely forgotten until integral construction reappeared in the 1960s with the BR Mk2.

 

Does anybody know who the owner is?

 

You learn something new every day