Midland saloon returns to Foxfield to be restored for ‘Knotty’ vintage train
A MIDLAND Railway saloon has returned to the Foxfield Railway for restoration and use with the line's North Staffordshire Railway vintage train.
The First Class Picnic/Family Saloon, No. 2741 of 1884, is the sole survivor of a batch of 10 and classified as `exceptionally important' on the Vintage Carriages Trust register.
Withdrawn and grounded in the 1930s, its body was preserved at the Foxfield in 1976, but since 2005 it has been on loan to the LMS Carriage Association at Peak Rail.
The LMSCA carried out extensive conservation and restoration work on the body before using it as a meeting room.
It returned to the Foxfield on September 7 and has been temporarily placed on an accommodation underframe, pending restoration to join the Knotty Coach Trust's rake of North Staffordshire Railway carriages.
“We've got a Midland six-wheel chassis in store,” said Foxfield Railway chairman Dave Scragg, “so we have all the parts for an authentic restoration.” In the short term, the railway plans to carry out further restoration and repair work on the body, funded by the Knotty Coach Trust, before using it for functions and book sales to give it a revenueearning role prior to full restoration.
The line stated: “The limiting factor in restoration to running order is not finance or skill sets; it is the lack of covered accommodation. It would be criminal to restore a vehicle of such historic significance and leave it out in the wind and rain.”
Tenders are being issued for a 120ft extension to the existing running shed at Caverswall Road, and further covered accommodation is planned in the future.
➜ Donations towards the coach can be made via the Paypal account at https://knottycoachtrust.org.uk, or cheques payable to ‘NSR Rolling Stock Restoration Trust' can be sent to the trust at: 57 Camborne Crescent, Westlands, Newcastle, Staffs ST5 3NQ.