L&BR Coach 16 next rebuild

So it was announced that coach 16 will be the next L&BR heritage coach to get rebuilt, I can understand the reason why this has been chosen, as it will give the L&BR a second brake coach should Coach 17 need to come out of service for any reason.

 

not sure I agree with the choice of another brake coach. I thought the idea was to build either 10 or 11 which were both composites, so therefore for would provide more seating space? if 16 must be built, then surely it would be better to save it for the SR rake?
furthermore, how much of 16 is left? I know there isnt much of 10 and 11, but im guessing there is even less of 16 if anything.

 

Why not? It's quite logical really, and has been arrived at after considerable thought:

Bearing in mind that the Thorpe Park coaches cannot be run in the same train with the full-size stock (modern OR heritage). With coach 7 and 17 operating, if 7 fails, we can run just 17 with reduced capacity. if 17 fails, we can't run anything. With two brake vehicles, we have additional redundancy, plus we can provide more disabled accommodation. True, Van 23 could be made useable, but couldn't be used as passenger accommodation, and would therefore not give such a good return on investment. Other Heritage coaches will follow - possibly 10 or 14 next...​

 

I hope

1. There is enough money for this to be done at Boston Lodge where the standards are peerless.

2. There is enough money to build a good quality shelter for, once having spent a lot of money on a splendid vehicle, it would be foolish for it to deteriorate in the rain.

P.H.

 

Hi Paul, yes I too like what Boston Lodge can turn out, however I think the L&BR East Group are just as capable of doing just as a grand job. I am one of those guys who does not like to put all his eggs in one basket.

 

I agree with Paul on the shelter front, where are the heritage coaches going to be stored?

Excited about the heritage coaches, think they will necessitate another trip down to Devon. Part of me would have liked to see them in SR colours though.

Regarding Van 23, what is happening there?

 

according to the latest SR mag, coach 16 is indeed going to be built under contract at Boston lodge. so maybe the guys at essex can work on another coach also. And I agree, i hope there are storage plans for the coaches.
As for Van 23, no idea. last I heard it was awaiting new bogies i think. but that was a while back...

 

There is quite a sizable rolling stock shed on the Lynton side of WB station. A while ago, this was extended in preparation for the storage of the Heritage Coaches, so they will be protected. Van 23 has had suitable bogies fitted, but is in need of couplings and brakes before it can be used. As it isn't currently in use, I'm not sure if grandfather rights would apply, and yes, there is a requirement not to rely on the current wooden underframe, so some modification will be needed. As a potentially low revenue earner, it isn't a high priority to bring it into service.

 

That might be true, but Lyd, the two heritage coaches and Van 23 would look amazing!

 

It's a strange arrangement.

The contract to build coach 16 has been awarded to the Festiniog Railway who will build only the metal underframe and bogies, etc. The construction of the wooden body has been sub-contracted back by the Festiniog to the L&B Area Group based in Essex!

Chris

 

This may have something to do with the Essex (now East Group) guys having turned out two fantastic coach bodies plus the fact that this one coach project has some grant money which may have required a named company to be the main contractor. The contractor could then turn to anyone as the sub contractor to get the job done, which in this case is the L&BR East Group...