The LNER Encyclopedia

Having acquired an album of photographs of LNER coaches dating from pre-grouping can I ask for help with some which lack detail. Original company and type, e.g. BCK, would be sufficient.

The attached picture I cannot make out the number its 4 of 3,6 & 8 then ends in 5. The end of the carriage in the picture is the same general style and is numbered 6365 or 6865 and is all first class. The picture has the wording "Private Carriage" on the luggage area doors next to the single compartment. Photo H.C. Casserley 48346

Other vehicle numbers are - E5675E a bogie brake; 22239 a third class twelve wheel corridor clerestorey; 63476 a bogie clerestorey composite and E63539E a bogie clerestorey brake?

A clue, not a definitive answer...

It's pretty certain that only LNER built carriages (and not all of them) were renumbered in 1946, although a fair bit of faffing about also took place immediately post-1923. However, for the bulk of the LNER period and into BR days, if you use the LNER Section prefixes you will have a good idea of the origin of the vehicle in question. (Of course some pre-Grouping vehicles in their turn came from other smaller railways...)

1x = ECJS
2x = NE
3x = NB
4x = GN
5x = GC
6x = GE
7x = GNoS

Of the ones you mention, it's possible that the photo is of a GE vehicle, note the Westinghouse air brake reservoir, and the adjacent carriage also probably is, given its running number starting with 6. As for the rest, try:

E5675E a bogie brake = GC
22239 a third class twelve wheel corridor clerestory = NE
63476 a bogie clerestorey composite and E63539E a bogie clerestory brake = GE

60022

The photograph shows the GER's second hearse carriage. Presumably the first class compartment was for the family and the other compartments for the servants. We have produced an article about the vehicle in the GERS Journal, which I can sort out if you wish and I'm also advised an excellent picture of the vehicle in GE crimson livery has been published, probably in British Railway Journal No. 9.

The GER's first hearse carriage was a four-wheeler.

Regards
Paul

Thank you gentlemen both for your general and specific information.

Re the hearse carriage I would appreciate its running number if known and if it helps with its history for the GERS the photograph is dated 18.04.47 and the location is given as "Wentworth Junction", wherever that may be.

60022

An article on GER Hearse Carriages by John Watling was published in the Great Eastern Railway Society Journal 28 October 1981 from which I have extracted the following notes.

The photograph by H.C. Casserley is of vehicle 63335, GER 509 a former composite converted as shown in the photo in January 1921 to Diagram 208 and withdrawn in April 1940.

For some unknown reason the carriage wasn't broken up immediately and lingered until 10 May 1947, i.e. about three weeks after the photo was taken.

Regards
Paul

60022Mallard wrote:Thank you gentlemen both for your general and specific information.

Re the hearse carriage I would appreciate its running number if known and if it helps with its history for the GERS the photograph is dated 18.04.47 and the location is given as "Wentworth Junction", wherever that may be.

Wentworth Junction was between Penistone and Wombwell on the GCR. The branch was used at various times for storing redundant stock.

I would be interested in seeing a blowup of the coach to the right of the hearse carriage. It seems to have the outline of a GC matchboard carriage, but is also paneled. Could it be CLC?