The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi Chaps,

Am considering getting Hornby’s new splendid looking B17 Sandringham model, but am at a loss as to what coaching stock B17's would have pulled (preferably on the Great Eastern mainline) in 1938, From the limited research I have done (and the GE being known for its less than generous loading guage) most photos suggest the suburban non corridor stock would have been used.
Would standard Greasly teaks or Pullmans ever be used on B17 services (as I already have these models rather than the suburban stock)?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Hello, If you don't mind building kits, Coopercraft (Originally Mailcoach) produces kits of the 52'6 Gresley Corridor Coaches, which were used on the East Anglian lines. Also, I believe that Bill Bedford does etches for these coaches, if you would rather work in brass. If you wanted a taste of pre grouping, Worsley Works does etches for the GER built 50 ft corridor coaches, assuming that the D&S kits aren't available. Hope this helps.

Thanks Royal Lancer, At the moment am not building kits, but it may be an option in the future to look into.
I may just use my standard Gresley Corridor Teaks as stand ins for 52'6 versions and acquire some Gresley non corridors to give a mismatched look as seen in photos of GE B17'S.

Will also look into the history of the Gresley 52'6s and GER 50 ft coaches.

Thanks

Mark

streaks and teaks wrote:Hi Chaps,

Am considering getting Hornby’s new splendid looking B17 Sandringham model, but am at a loss as to what coaching stock B17's would have pulled (preferably on the Great Eastern mainline) in 1938, From the limited research I have done (and the GE being known for its less than generous loading guage) most photos suggest the suburban non corridor stock would have been used.
Would standard Greasly teaks or Pullmans ever be used on B17 services (as I already have these models rather than the suburban stock)?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

If you can obtain a copy of "Power Of The B17s & B2s", there is a great photo of 2807 on the 5.30pm Colchester to Liverpool Street 10th June 1938. The stock is a motley collection of 6-wheeled and bogie vehicles, although a coaching stock specialist would give far more detail than I can.

There are other photos from the 1930s in that volume.

strang steel wrote:
If you can obtain a copy of "Power Of The B17s & B2s", there is a great photo of 2807 on the 5.30pm Colchester to Liverpool Street 10th June 1938. The stock is a motley collection of 6-wheeled and bogie vehicles, although a coaching stock specialist would give far more detail than I can.

There are other photos from the 1930s in that volume.

Cheers John, from what I have seen and heard so far the train make up on the GE was a case of what ever could be cobbled together on that day

Mark

streaks and teaks wrote:Thanks Royal Lancer, At the moment am not building kits, but it may be an option in the future to look into.
I may just use my standard Gresley Corridor Teaks as stand ins for 52'6 versions and acquire some Gresley non corridors to give a mismatched look as seen in photos of GE B17'S.

Will also look into the history of the Gresley 52'6s and GER 50 ft coaches.

Thanks

Mark

There are two books that I can think of that give reference on the GE Section 52'6 Gresleys. "LNER Carriages" By Michael Harris, which explains which services they were used on, and which types were built. It even has a picture of a B17 pulling a Boat Train consisting of Gresley and Pullman Coaches. "Historic Carriage Drawings Volume One"by Nick Campling gives 4mm drawings of the 52'6 Gresley and GER Corridor coaches, and includes a nice picture of a B17 pulling a train consisting of a Horsebox, 3 Gresleys and a GER Corridor coach. In the end, if you want to use RTR Gresleys, they will look the part too; If I get a new B17, thats what I'll be doing anyway

The restriction on coach length, which resulted in the short stock, only applied to the Liverpool St - Norwich line. Standard 61'6" stock was always used on the Harwich and Cambridge trains.

Thanks Royal Lancer and Bill.

That clears it up then, standerd Gresley teaks and (to a lesser degree) pullmans will fit the bill and mean I need not bother gettting new coaching stock for the time being at least.

Mark