Van 5
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Van 5 | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Martin Ellis | |
| Built By | Gloucester Wagon Co. |
| History | |
| Date Built | 1880 |
| Operating | Operational |
| Carriages | |
[edit]Background
This carriage was constructed as a bogie luggage brake van by Gloucester Wagon Co. It was originally numbered Van 5 and had no passenger accomodation. Rebuilt in Boston Lodge in 1929/30 with a new body, incorporating a guard's compartment and passenger accomodation in 1st and 3rd class. Van 4 (Carriage 11) was treated similarly.
In the 1955 renumbering it became Carriage 12, the original 4 wheeler having been scrapped around that time.
It was one of the two carriages first restored for use when the railway reopened and for a time ran as a buffet car as Carriage 12. There are early references (FRM NL/11) to this vehicle as Coach 12 and Van 12. In 1963 it was rebuilt on a new steel 30ft frame, 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.
It was restored in 1999 to the green and ivory livery carried in the 1950's and early 1960's (also in 1999 larger windows were provided in the centre of the car alongside fuller side beading), and in 2005 returned to its original identity of Van 5.
*Date: Unknown *Photo: Martin Ellis