Van 5
| Van 5 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Built By | Brown, Marshalls and Co. Ltd. |
| History | |
| Date Built | 1880 |
| Operating | Out of Traffic - Refit |
[edit] Background
This carriage was constructed as a bogie brake (luggage) van by Brown, Marshalls and, with no passenger accomodation, was originally numbered Van 5
Rebuilt in Boston Lodge between 1929-30 with a new body, incorporating a guard's compartment and passenger accomodation in 1st and 3rd class. Van 4 (Carriage 11) had been treated similarly.
In the 1955 renumbering it became Carriage 12, the original 4 wheeler having been scrapped around that time. There are early references (FRM NL/11) to this vehicle as Coach 12 and Van 12.
It was one of the two carriages first restored for use when the railway reopened and in 1957 it entered the works where it was refurbished and altered. The original longitudinal seating was removed, a sales counter installed, and a connecting corridor put in. This enabled a corridor connection with Van 4, the first in the railways history.
In 1963 it was rebuilt on a new steel 30ft underframe, making it one compartment longer than its sister. The success of the buffet led Allan Garraway to wish he had lengthened it to the full 36ft.
During the period when Buffet Cars carried names Carriage 12 was named Samuel Holland.
In 1982 larger windows were provided in the centre of the car with softwood to last 5 years.
Having run in standard red and cream livery for some years, it was restored in 1999 to the green and ivory livery carried in the 1950's and early 1960's (alongside fuller side beading), and in 2005 returned to its original identity as Van 5.
Van 5 was withdrawn in early 2011 following the introduction of 123 for a long overdue refit and restoration. Externally it will be restored to the look of, when first lengthened in 1963. The appearance will be in the same style as Van 4. See here for pictures from the refit.
