Coaching Stock News
Carnforth disposals
Scrap merchant Ron Hull continued to dispose of numerous coaches at West Coast’s Carnforth depot throughout February and into March, cutting a wide variety of stock that had not seen use for many years. Now known to have been scrapped in late January are Mk.2b TSO 5491 and Mk.1 Super BG 94406, while February’s casualties included derelict Mk.1 buffet coaches 1655 and 1663, another Super BG in 94431 and former Great Western Mk.2d TSO 5737.
Notable was the disposal of Mk.1 First Class sleeper (SLF) 2110, further reducing the ranks of the survivors to six, four of which are at Carnforth. Disposals in early March were a quartet of Mk.1s with TSO 4997, FK 13323, former Motorail GUV 96135 and breakdown train staff coach ADB977095, previously BCK 21210, all scrapped, with Mk.2f TSO 6050 also disposed of.
By mid-march, Mk.1s 34525, 80212, 92159 and 94332 were all lined up nearby and appear likely to be next for scrapping.
Mk.2 movements
British Pullman staff coach Mk.2e BSO 9502 was released from attention at Locomotive Services’ Crewe depot on March 6, 67005 returning the coach to Stewarts Lane ahead of the Pullman set commencing this year’s programme of tours.
Less fortunate is Mk.2f TSO 6141, which was moved from Cockshute Sidings to the Stafford scrapyard of J Watson on February 9.
The former Riviera Trains vehicle had been stored at the Stoke yard since last May but had suffered from vandalism. Expected to make the same journey are sister TSOS 5910 and 6006, which have also received similar damage.
Bulleids go home
Mentioned in the last issue of Railways Illustrated, the trio of Bulleid-design Southern coaches employed on a filming contract at Hull Paragon were returned to Carnforth on February 16.
Hauled throughout by West Coast Railway’s Stanier 5MT ‘Black 5’ steam locomotive 44932, Tops-registered 99460-62 were included, along with similarly hired-in Mk.1 RMB 1818 and West Coast’s own quartet of Mk.1s, 3058, 4854, 99312 and 99327.
The RMB and the three Bulleid vehicles – Third Opens S1464S and S1482S, along with semi-open Brake Third S2526S – were then returned by road to the Bluebell Railway in two pairs on February 18 and March 6.