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After 21 years of negotiation with various owners, the Butterley Narrow Gauge Railway Association have finally been able to obtain Ashover Light Railway coach No 4 for their collection.
The coach, which was built in 1924 by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co had been used on the railway between 1924 and 1937, then grounded in 1953 and used as a pavilion for the Clay Cross Co's Bowls Club.
The coach was moved in October 2007 - images of the move can be seen here
There are a remarkable number of original features still on the body (like the door locks and handles) unlike the two survivors on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, which had already had one side removed as they were used as grandstands on side of the football pitch.
One interesting point to note is that the T&G between the windows is narrower than the T&G below the windows - something which will be replicated on the restoration.
The division between the two saloons was moved when the coach was used as a pavilion............
....... but some of the windows still open..............
....... and there is one original plywood seat back still in place. Unfortunately, it's started to delaminate but will serve as a pattern for new ones. |
Created on 17th November, 2007