Gangwayed Brake Pigeon Van No 70759

The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund acquired BGP 70759 from the South Devon Railway (where it was surplus to requirements) and moved it to the SVR in 2005. It is a full brake vehicle with guard’s compartment and fold-down racks intended for the transport of racing pigeons. It was part of a final 1943-build of Gresley carriages, and could thus be the newest Gresley survivor. Although designated as ‘pigeon van’, when built in the middle of the Second World War such vehicles became urgent to handle heavy volumes of war-time traffic and for the D-Day Allied Normandy landings. Among their rôles was transport of injured forces’ personnel to UK hospitals. We do not know 70759’s full history, but similar carriages were used in ambulance trains both here and in Europe. At least one carriage of this LNER design was in the very first US Army ambulance train to enter Germany with the Allied Forces. Similar vehicles were also used in ambulance trains to bring wounded troops to the United States Army Hospital at Burlish, on the now closed section of the SVR south of Bewdley.

Withdrawn from BR in 1972, 70759 was used as a store for publishers David & Charles at Newton Abbot, becoming a familiar sight to passing main line passengers. Twenty years later it move to the South Devon railway at Buckfastleigh, again being used as a store before its purchase and move to the SVR. On arrival at Bewdley it was converted (in an easily reversible manner) to serve as the station shop while the LNER Fund volunteers restored GWR 1145 for this rôle. The SVR has identified a need for a second brake vehicle in the LNER teak set to cover repairs and maintenance needs. The Railway also wanted any second brake vehicle also to have revenue earning potential. Although several potentially suitable carriages survive in preservation, all are either in use or would require expensive repair and restoration before they could run on the SVR.

The Coach Fund drew up plans accordingly to convert 70759 to a Brake Third (BTK) based on LNER Diagram 114. Transfer of the vehicle to the Trust Company will enable tax-efficient fund raising that is not available to the Coach Fund, and the Trust intention, through their new LNER Carriage Group, is to implement this £50k project to meet the Railway’s needs. The ‘short’ van end and guard’s compartment (about half the vehicle length) is to be overhauled and restored to original condition with its authentic pigeon racks, reflecting times when pigeon-carrying trains were a significant railway traffic. The ‘long’ van will be converted to provide four passenger compartments, as the best option for traffic needs and the available spares. ‘Significant sponsorship’ will be needed for this project, including around £7k for the requisite teak panels, which fortunately are available from a sustainable source.

How to help with the restoration and conversion 70759.

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