Carriage 1111
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Carriage 1111 | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Martin Ellis | |
| Built By | FR Co. / Bloomfield Steel Construction |
| Frames | Steel |
| Designation | PW Mess & Stores Carriage |
| History | |
| Date Built | 1997 |
| Operating | Permanent Way Fleet |
| Carriages | |
Contents |
[edit]Background
The PWay department always complain of being poorly provided for compared to Boston Lodge. Normally the only way of getting to site by train was 51 van, too small for a decent sized working party, or by requistioning the next carriage due to be overhauled.
Carriage 1111 was completed in 1997, to a design agreed with Fred Howes. It was the railways first, purpose built, mess van for PW use. It was assembled by at Boston Lodge with a welded all-steel body shell by Bloomfield Steel Construction, Tipton. Mounted on Polish diamond-frame bogies formerly under Carriage 110. The vehicle is 40ft. long and was financed under the Strategic Development Scheme.
It contains enough unconfortable plastic seating & tables for the gang, lockers to store clothing, cooking and washing up facilities and a loo. For winter use it has its own carriage heating. Outside it has balcony access at both ends to help with access in tight stretches of the line. It also has a rope hung along the side to allow to hang on as you walk alongside the carriage on the narrowest embankments.
*Date: Unknown *Photo: Andy Elms
Now the long suffering PW Gang and volunteer workers have the longest, smoothest riding and most efficiently heated carriage on the railway. Along with the tool vans, 1111 forms the main part of the Permanent Way Department train, with Works locomotive Harlech Castle and several RAFs.