From time to time the MR-B takes its VT out of the Matthew Kirtley museum building where it normally lives and gives it an airing. August Bank Holiday weekend 2013 was its most recent appearance.
This is not just having a train to look at but it is run in normal revenue service.
I think that this a brave thing to do because the coaches have been beautifully restored and must be worth a considerable amount of money.
The possibility that they may get damaged, (feet on seats, spilt drinks etc.) would make me think twice about it but as I said, a brave decision.
As befits a vintage train, a vintage loco is required.
This turned out to be a ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T loco currently painted in the old Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway livery of Prussian Blue and numbered 23. The reason for this colour scheme is that it was agreed between the MR-B and Bachmann who are to produce an ‘OO’ scale model of it.
Formerly numbered 47327 by British Railways, This Midland Railway designed machine was built in 1926 by The North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow.
There are six vehicles that make up the train. Four of them are passenger coaches whilst at either end is a vehicle that would be expected to run as coaching stock. One being a Horsebox and the other a Motor Car Van.
The horsebox, No. 42608 was built in 1948 by British Railways to an LMS design which itself was derived from a Midland Railway (MR) design of 1904. Their use was primarily for the transport of racehorses who were often accompanied by a groom who travelled in an additional compartment. He/she had access to the horse(s) so that they could be fed and watered.
The Motor Car Van, built in 1916 by the MR at Derby as its No. 26481.
One of its known uses was the carriage of Rolls-Royce car chassis to the various coach builders who were going to build on them.
This van has its main doors in the ends to allow straight in and out loading.
It was withdrawn from service in 1960.
This coach was built for The Lancashire Derbyshire & East Coast Railway by ‘Ashbury’s of Manchester’ in 1896 at a cost of £495.
It was originally numbered 6 but carries 26 at the moment. However it will revert to 6 at its next repaint.
Withdrawn from passenger service in 1938, it was converted into a tool van.
The only surviving item of rolling stock from the LD&ECR.
No. 78 is the oldest coach in the collection dating from 1866 and probably built at Derby.
Withdrawn in 1890 it then became part of a bungalow at East Bridgford in Nottinghamshire.
It is interesting to note the wooden buffer heads and the luggage on the ‘roofrack’. This being a carry over from stagecoach days. It was rescued in 1983.
Of similar appearance to No. 6/26, this brake third coach was built in 1884 in Derby as No. 253. It was originally turned out as a 5 compartment coach but was converted into a brake sometime later.
Withdrawn in 1910, it was further converted into a service vehicle. It was rescued in 1974 from Shotton steelworks where it had become a duck shooters hut.
Restoration was completed in 1990.
The only bogie coach in the train is this 1912 built clerestory roofed vehicle which again was built in Derby.
It was built for King George the 5th and numbered 1910 to commemorate the date of his coronation.
Not often used, it became a special saloon. Withdrawn in 1958 and rescued for the museum, it was restored in the 1980’s
To provide additional interest on the day, a ‘freight’ train hauled by ‘Whitehead’ was in use.
'Whitehead' is an 0-4-0 Saddle Tank was built by Peckett and Sons of Bristol in 1908.
Below, it is seen with its train laying over at Butterley waiting for its next trip.
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