GCR carriages
60ft gangwayed matchboard stock
Robinson's matchboard style emerged in 1910 with his open "Barnum" carriages (see separate topic). Corridor stock followed in 1911 with a more elegant profile. Here are some useful pictures beginning with original prints taken at Dukinfield.
A 60ft restaurant composite to Diagram 5M2, the most numerous one built 1911-13, this being a 1911 example, No 707, captured at Dukinfield in slightly used condition. Either side of the kitchen were pairs of compartments for 1st and 3rd Class passengers, the higher Class with fixed tables, the lower class having them slid in as required. It was a pretty modest restaurant car and the whole batch was converted in 1935 to kitchen cars (5G4, LNER Code 5168). Photo: Gorton negative, Doncaster Dwg Office, author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A 60ft composite No 34 from the same year with a generous number of 1st class seats as CK(4,3). Photo: Gorton negative, Doncaster Dwg Office, author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A marvellous publicity picture of a Manchester-Marylebone train built in 1911, a 4-set with a BCK roof-boarded for Bradford-Huddersfield-Sheffield-Nottingham-Leicester-Marylebone which would in service, have been transferred at Sheffield. The loco in the distance appears to be 8F 4-6-0 No 1097 Immingham. The formation is:
BTK, CK, RC, BTK / BCKin which the restaurant car is No 707, same as the portrait above, and it is not supported by a 3rd class dining car. Perhaps one was not available when the picture was taken? The BCK is No 54. All the lettering and numbering on these carriages was by brass castings and very elegant. Photo: negative Gorton Dwg Office, LNER Press Relations Office, author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
The brake composite
This design deserves its own section because it was used as a through carriage for a long time, often behind the loco. And there is a kit.
The Diagram for the BCK in the photo above, to GCR 5H7 and in 1938, Hollerith code No 5163. The GCR running numbers were: 14, 16, 54, 63, 105, 110, 126, 129, 846 (=9).
With prefix "5" added by the LNER. Note how, unlike LNER practice, guard's duckets were fitted on both sides. Two were dual braked of which No 105 was transferred to the NE Area on 10-12-33. These were long lived carriages and No 514 was recorded as having had its height checked by BR on 3-2-53. Redrawn from a scan by Rupert Brown, author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
An unknown example of the same Diagram of BCK was captured still in varnished teak livery at Banbury General c.1950.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Another example, No E563E in BR carmine & cream livery in the mid-1950s, over forty years old and still in good shape.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A model based on the Jidenco/Falcon Brass kit which I'll run as a separate topic later, along with some detail photographs of the 60ft underframe on an example that lasted long enough to be preserved.
Click on the image for an enlargement
The BCK In service
A scene from 1925 near Rugby with D10 "Director" No 5435 Sir Clement Royds and a Marylebone express. The BCK behind the tender is the same type as described above and is carrying the same roof boards for Bradford and Huddersfield as the publicity picture above. Author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Clear pictures of carriages in trains are rare and it's a shame that this view has been cropped at both edges. Sometime in the 1920s B3 No 6165 Valour is at Nottingham Victoria with an Up express when the formations were still made up with Robinson matchboard stock. Behind the tender is a 1st/3rd brake composite looking quite superb. Lens of Sutton.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A close-up of the BCK. The LNER livery is being carried with the number 110 changed to 5110.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Another matchboard BCK, this time at the head of the 2.20pm Manchester-Marylebone as it sets off from Sheffield Victoria on 14th September 1929 behind D10 No 5437 Prince George. The main formation has been modernised with Gresley carriages but for the through coach from Barnsley behind the tender, a matchboard BCK was still being provided. A marvellous example of real life provision of carriages and that change came slowly. It's possible that the picture above with Valour at Nottingham Vic also captured the 2.20pm from Manchester and the same matchboard BCK. Photo: W.L. Good. Click on the image for an enlargement A marvellous picture which I have repaired and described, leaving the photographer's tilt because correcting it would lose detail and ambience. D9 4-4-0 No 5112 (SHE) stands at Hull Paragon in the early- to mid-1930s.with the "Barry" through portion of the "Ports to Ports" express. It's the same type of matchboard BCK as described above, strengthened by a Gresley 61'6" TK. The working is described in the book under "Cross Country Expresses, The "Ports to Ports", pp.99-103. Photo: L.R. Peters collection. Click on the image for an enlargement Near Neasden on the final approach to Marylebone, C4 No 5259 has the morning 10am express from Bradford. The composition of this train changed along the way and the carriage behind the loco was a timetabled strengthener added at Sheffield, actually the return working of the BCK in the overnight newspaper train, the 2.32am. This carriage conveyed many a late-night traveller and resulted in stirring descriptions of that train's battle with the schedule. Photo: Author's collection. Click on the image for an enlargement Entering Leicester Central with an Up express, which what may be another capture of the 2.20pm Manchester-Marylebone with the BCK from Barnsley behind the tender. In charge is "Improved Director" D11 No 5509 Prince of Wales. The date appears to be early 1930s and similar to the view of the same train behind D10 No 5437 Prince George when LNER 61'6" Gresleys had been used to modernise the train, except for the matchboard BCK. Photo: Author's collection. Click on the image for an enlargement To be continued... GCR London Extension - expresses: are here. GCR carriages - Parker style: are here. Modelling GCR clerestories: is here. GCR carriages - 50ft London Suburban: are here.
