LMS ‘BRAKE THIRD OPEN’ READY FOR DEBUT AT ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY

LMS ‘Brake Third Open’ coach No. 27001 is ready to make its preservation debut at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.

Built at Wolverton under BR auspices in 1950 as a Brake Third Corridor, the Stanier Period III carriage has been restored by the LMS Carriage Association.

Withdrawn from BR service in 1968, it was acquired by the Manchester Ship Canal Company for transporting employees’ wages around its railway system.

It was preserved by the original restorers of BR ‘8P’ No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, who intended to use it as a main line support coach – but because BR banned the use of wooden-framed vehicles, it was sold to private owners in 1996 and was initially moved to Peak Rail for restoration, later passing into the LMSCA’s hands.

As the MSCC had stripped out the original compartments, it has been restored to an open configuration, as well as adding an extra pair of windows and seating bays, and converting the luggage compartment for disabled access.

The LMS originally built around 250 Brake Third Opens, and the new interior has adhered to the company’s 1930s Art Deco style. However, the seating has been changed to a 2+1 layout, as the plan is to use it for dining trains along with the LMSCA’s 1945-built Third Open No. 27162, although they will also be available for normal service trains.

The group’s next project will be to complete the restoration of No. 27162, which was operational for the EVR’s opening in 2011, but was accidentally damaged by fire the same year. It is externally complete following repairs to the fire damage.