The Trust's Vintage Train has taken a step up, to the highest echelons of passenger travel! Our latest purchase was built for no less than the wife of the heir to the throne! This flagship vehicle joins our already-restored North London Railway Second Class carriage, and the still to be restored NLR First Class Coach and NLR Birdcage Brakevan in our Vintage Train.
Great
Eastern Railway Number 5 was built in 1898 at the company's Stratford Works.
It was built for the then Princess of Wales, Princess Alexandra, the wife
of the future King Edward VII. It's recorded that it had two saloons at either
end of the vehicle, as well as a smoking compartment, servants quarters and
lavatory. The GER was regularly used by the Royal Family: the company served
the Sandringham Estate. The coach ran in varnished teak livery.
After the Grouping of the railway companies, it was removed from Royal Train service and became the dedicated vehicle for the Stratford Civil Engineer to inspect the infrastructure and to travel around the network. The interior was modified with a pantry and Guard's compartment added. The toilet facility was retained, and one of the end saloons was lengthened during this work. At a later date Gresley-pattern bogies were fitted.
This vehicle has been independently surveyed and found to be "unique" and to be historically "very important".
It has been based at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway in private ownership for a number of years, but remains unrestored. The Furness Railway Trust has bought the vehicle for restoration to its former glories and the Trust will be seeking funding in due course to cover cost of the restoration.
An initial examination has found no sigificant deterioration has taken place. There is a crack in the roof canvas, but that presents no problems as long as the vehicle is stored under cover.As can be seen from the picture above, the vehicle is ventilated by leaving windows open to prevent a build up of condensation or damp. In the light of this assessment, the Committee of the Trust has that no preventative maintenance is required at this stage.
The first challenge is to devise a conservation and restoration plan. The Trust is now the custodian of an important historical artefact, and the restoration must tell this vehicle's fascinating story, conserve the existing remains, and be a useable asset for the Trust.
It has the potential to be a stunning addition to our vintage train or be used on its own; because it contains a compartment for the Guard, as well as toilet and pantry facilities, it is a complete train in a single vehicle. But first the form of this restoration must be determined.
Then, it will form an illustrious flagship for our Vintage Train.
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