First of LNER blue/grey ‘farewell’ coaches saved

ANGEL Trains has disposed of four vehicles from set EC56, the HST rake which was painted into blue/ grey livery for LNER’s Let’s Go Round Again farewell tour in December 2019. The coaches departed Ely Papworth, where they had been stored for almost 2½ years, during June for a new home at Park Farm in Thorney, near Peterborough, and will remain there until the new owners decide what opportunities can be found for them. The vehicles involved are Nos. 40720, 41118/170 and 42363, of which No. 41170 is one of the prototype HST coaches, having been constructed as TF No. 41001. Still at Ely from the rake are Nos. 42242/243 and 44098.

While there had been hopes by some that the rake would be saved as a complete set for use on the main line, this would have been an expensive exercise with, among other work, the need to fit retention toilet tanks. At least one tour promoter which inspected the vehicles rejected them due to the cost involved.

The sale of these four coaches means there are now 15 former LNER coaches in preservation or disposed of for further use (see table).