Let’s all support the Barnums

THANK you Andrew Johnston for your article in issue 296 on travel on the ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ to the West Country. You really brought to life an era when train travel was something to be enjoyed rather than endured, as it has now become.

And how appropriate to read in the same edition what the GCR Rolling Stock Trust is achieving in restoring its Barnums – surely the epitome of civilised travel.

I do hope my fellow readers will contribute to the appeal; it is a cause well worth celebrating in my book.

NJ Bailey, Wroughton, Swindon. ➜ To support the appeal, visit https:// gcr-rollingstocktrust.co.uk/donate, marking donations as the ‘Barnum Restoration Club.’

Prior to its relocation to the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington, 1910-built Great Central Railway Barnum coach No.228 in Hull’s Alexandra Docks in the 1970s after being used tomato growing. It is currently the subject of an active restoration scheme, for which a £50,000 appeal has been launched. RICHARD W BEAMER/GCR ROLLING STOCK TRUST