PRESERVED ROLLING STOCK

A clear-out of Long Marston towards the end of 2020 saw Mk 1s 3746, 3749, 18735 and 34531 relocated to the Avon Valley Railway. All had been stored unrestored at the former MoD base for the best part of three decades, with the two TSOs and the SK retaining their as withdrawn BR blue/grey livery and the BSK carrying a weather-beaten green.

Also on the move during the first week of January was Mk 2 BFK 17031, which departed Long Marston for the Churnet Valley Railway.

Two further disposals from the East Lancashire Railway’s fleet of Mk 2 coaches have been confirmed, albeit somewhat after the fact. Mk 2a TSO 5277 and Mk 2b TSO 5439 were both sent for scrap to the Stafford yard of J Watson & Sons last June, the latter never having seen passenger use on the line and still retaining

Network SouthEast colours with the amended Regional Railways light blue stripe.

Part-restored Southern Railway CCT 1770 was delivered to the Kent & East Sussex Railway on January 7 from the private storage and restoration site at Sellindge, near Ashford. Sold to Railway Retreats, it is to be converted into holiday accommodation for use at the company’s site alongside Northiam station. Already based there are Mk 1 RU 1972 and several wagons.

At Minehead, Mk 1 4987 has received some body repairs, paint touch up and a fresh coat of varnish on its BR maroon livery. Completed just before Christmas, the former TSO serves as one of the West Somerset Railway’s buffet coaches, having been internally altered 20 years ago. At the Bluebell Railway, the 1897-built Great Northern director’s saloon 43909 was similarly treated to a fresh coat of varnish during December as it had been six years since the teak finish was last refreshed.