The LNER Encyclopedia

Can anyone solve the mystery surrounding a Scarborough Spa Express carriage board which I have had since 1992.
It is 11 foot long and 5 ½ inches wide and is painted brown with red & cream relief lettering. On the reverse, written in white marker ink are; “4672 Main line side” “MLS” “24 (or 26?) 2 89”.
Despite extensive research in York & Scarborough area, there is no record of any railtour on that date. I have also been informed that carriage boards have never been carried on the SSE.
Any info appreciated.

A short carriage board was carried on at least one Scarborough Spa Express, hauled by Mallard in 1896, as seen HERE, but other than that (which I have no idea what it says) you seem to be correct in your conclusion that the SSE never used carriage boards.

From what I can remember, the Scarborough Spa Expresses ceased regular running in 1988. Is it possible that this carriage board was made in anticipation of a run in 1989 which never occurred?

Thanks for the info & photo link. 1986 fits nicely, as the board was found in 1992, in a basement storeroom of offices we took over in 1988.
Could 24289 or 26289 refer to the coach number?

stockton39 wrote:Thanks for the info & photo link. 1986 fits nicely, as the board was found in 1992, in a basement storeroom of offices we took over in 1988.
Could 24289 or 26289 refer to the coach number?

You say you took these offices over in 1988, which was indeed the last year that a regular Scarbhorough Spa Express service ran before the 200s.

It's possible that the coach nunber could be (E)4672, I was thinking that 24289 or 26289 could be the coach number, but that would leave 4/6/72 as a possible date, which is impossible because the SSEs didn't start until 1981. Then again, why would there be a need to put the date on a carriage board? I could imagine 24289 or 26289 being the "registry number" of the carriage board.

Or the inverse, i.e. the coach number being 24289 or 26289 and the carriage board being "Carriage Board number 4672".

Is there any chance of a photo of both sides of said 'board?

Two different styles of writing on reverse, so probably used on two different occasions, hence two coach numbers?

stockton39 wrote:Two different styles of writing on reverse, so probably used on two different occasions, hence two coach numbers?

I think that is a decent conclusion to come to. However it doesn't help in pointing out WHEN it was used, or any they don't seem to be used often.

I'm more and more coming to the thought that the 'board you have may be they very one seen on the second coach behind 4468 in my earlier post...

From Railway Observer 1985 – coach 4672 painted chocolate & cream at Marsh Junction Depot for GWR 150.
From Railway Observer 1986 – SSE formed of the GWR 150 Mk1 stock.
Now have 1986 photos of SSE with carriage board on second coach, hauled by 4771 (July 27), 34092 (Aug 17) & 4468 (Aug 25).
Thanks to all for their assistance in this matter.