Just writing up details of LNER Camping Coaches in Lincolnshire - according to the LNER's leaflet there were three: one each at Seacroft, Theddlethorpe and Woodhall Junction. The latter appears to have been a short-lived venture and was only there for one year (1935).
Having contemporary details of the wagons at Seacroft, the camping coach was there during a quiet period (late May/early June - September) with just a few engineering wagons as opposed to the more regular wagonloads of agricultural produce.
Whilst I have gathered a reasonable amount of information (will post my findings in a few days), and this book has been very usefull http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Railway ... 1870119487 , but there are still a few gaps in information, such as where the coaches were stored out of season. From documentation it appears that they were transported by goods trains with an instruction to keep the carriage next to the locomotive when forming the train. Also, information about the one at Woodhall Jn is scant (presume it was there in hope of gaining anglers to use it?).
If anyone has anymore information regarding the Lincolnshire carriages, I would be pleased to hear from them
I have done a little research into camping coaches in the North East. Are you aware when you booked a coach you had to travel by train. There was a camping coach at Wooler in Northumberland but that station had lost its passenger service in the 1930s so if you booked a holiday in it they coupled a spare coach on to the local parcels train I wish you could still do that. BTW the parcels in the 1950s was D20 hauled.
Hi interested in the area served by 52D. also researching colliery wagonways from same area.
Already comprehensively described for the whole of the LNER in British Railway Journal issues 23 (main article) and 30 (corrections and additions) by CS Carter and AA McLean...
65447 wrote:Already comprehensively described for the whole of the LNER in British Railway Journal issues 23 (main article) and 30 (corrections and additions) by CS Carter and AA McLean...
52D wrote:I have done a little research into camping coaches in the North East. Are you aware when you booked a coach you had to travel by train. There was a camping coach at Wooler in Northumberland but that station had lost its passenger service in the 1930s so if you booked a holiday in it they coupled a spare coach on to the local parcels train I wish you could still do that. BTW the parcels in the 1950s was D20 hauled.
Thanks, very interesting. There were quite a few conditions involved in camping coaches. Luckily I have some circulars issued to station staff. Also interesting that the LNER appeared to have its own laundry (at/near Colchester North) to which the used linnen had to be sent after each week!
The laundry was indeed at Colchester (North) and there were either special workings or additional carriages attached usually to parcels workings to transport the laundry to and from it.
Copy of letter to the Stationmaster at Seacroft shown below:
LONDON & NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY
KING’S CROSS STATION,
LONDON, N1
18 JAN 1938
Station Master, Seacroft
Camping Coaches 1938
Your Station has been selected as a site for a Camping Coach, and you should do all in your power to give tenants any reasonable facility, and see that they enjoy themselves. A copy of the Folder issued in connection with these coaches is enclosed, from which you will see a copy of the advice booking sent to the passenger, will also be sent to you.
You should check the contents of the coach and point out to the tenants any discrepancies. The coach will convey chocks and a sleeper to be placed across the line to protect it, and these should be put in position on its arrival. You should warn your staff to exercise every care in moving the coach and see that it is always marshalled next to the engine of Goods Trains.
On arrival of the Tenants, you should skew them to the coach, at the same time pointing out to the whole of the party which are the running lines, and warn them against accident. You should also tell them what time approximately the pick up train will be shunted in the Station Yard, and war them to keep away from all sidings during that time.
The Tenants will use the station water supply and lavatories, for which tyhey will be provided with keys. Will you please let the Passenger Manager, King’s Cross, know by return what extra keys you will require. The Tenants should be shewn where the facilities may be found, and advised as to the purchase of food, and suitable walks. Will you please see before the Tenants arrive that the lavatories at your station are specially cleaned and disinfected. At certain Stations the only public water supply is from a tap in the urinal. In such cases arrange for Tenants to obtain water from thje Station House, or Company’s cottages during all reasonable hours.
A supply o paraffin oil will be needed for the heating and lighting of the coach, and you should buy these locally and issue them to the Tenants as they require, charging them the cost price. The paraffin should be bought out of the Floating Cash Account, and the money re-paid when the Tenants pau for it. A can is provided with each coach for storing paraffin. You should arrange for your staff to keep the cooking and lighting lamps in the coach clean and filled with fuel.
A deposit of 10/- per booking is now required from each Tenant, and this will be collected by the Passenger Manager at King’s Cross, and credit given you by Warrant. You should arrange to collect the balance of the rent, up to £3 3s 0d from the Tenants at the end of each week, and to check over and charge for any deficiencies in the equipment of the coach. The receipts will include the fixed weekly rent for the coaches, and any amounts received in deficiencies in stores, equipment, damage etc.
All amounts received must be remitted as “Traffic Cash” and brought specially to debit under “Amounts due to other Departments and Company’s Camping Coaches”. The rents should be shew separately from the receipts for damage etc., a short description of the damage should be given.
The outgoing Tenants should be advised of the time they should be out of the coach, which will give you time to get it cleaned by the Company’s staff before the next party takes over.
You should report any deficiencies in the equipment of the coach to the Passenger Manager, King’s Cross Station.
CLEAN LINEN
You will receive on or before the preceding Friday, a hamper containing the clean linen for the use of Tenants the following week. The clean linen should be put of the beds when the coach is cleaned at the end of the week. In the even of the hamper not arriving by mid-day of the Friday, the Station Master must wire the Colchester Laundry, to that effect.
DIRTY LINEN
The hamper containing the dirty linen must be despatched on the Saturday, addressed to the L.N.E.R. Laundry, Colchester North Station and marked “Urgent”; the enclosed form should be filled in and sent with the dirty linen in the hamper shewing the articles in the hamper and the station to which they are to be returned.
Your attention is especially drawn to the fact that dirty linen must be inspected before departure of the tenants. If you find that any linen in an objectionable condition rendering it unsuitable to be sent to the Laundry, a claim should be made upon the tenants for replacements in accordance with the Price List attached. The dirty articles should be retained at the station for instructions as to disposal and renewals obtained in ordinary course.
The 10/- Holiday Season Tickets, where applicable, will be of advantage to Tenants of the Coaches. The facility should be brought to their notice on arrival.
It is essential for the comfort of the Tenants that there should be no hitch in these arrangements and each Station Master should therefore see that these instructions are faithfully and promptly carried out.
RAIL TRAVEL
Occupants of camping coaches are expected to travel to the coach site by rail, In order to provide a check, particulars should be recorded currently on the attached statement of:-
(a) Amount of rent collected.
(b) Number of people using the coach.
(c) Originating point
(d) Fares charged.
This information should be sent to the Passenger Manager, at the end of each month. Supply forms for this purpose is attached. “Nil” returns need not be sent.
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Booked for the 1938 season were:
May 28 to June 11: WSJ Ward, 113 Lynn Road, Ely.
June 11 to 18: No Booking.
June 18 to 25: J Grayson, 103 Brynn Street, St Helens, Lancs.
June 25 to July 2: Mrs B Wheat, 54 Broughton Avenue, Doncaster.
July 2 to 16: Mrs EM Bentham, 79 Bondican Terrace, Blyuth, Northumberland.
July 16 to 23: G.E Pickles, “St Annes”, Boothferry Road, Hessle.
July 23 to 30: J.E Hawkin, 13 Wythen Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds 5.
July 30 to August 13: E Collins, 357 Camden Street, Brookfields, Birmingham.
Aug 13 to 20: E Blase Esq, 9 Queen Street, Marple, Cheshire.
Aug 20 to Sept 3: G.A. Walters, Willesdene, Ickleford, Hitchin.
Sept 3 to 10: J Marsh, 6 Norman Street, Hyde, Cheshire.
Sept 10 to 17: W Walters Esq, 18 Essendine, Nr Stamford.
Note: Seacroft was an isolated location at least half a mile from the Skegness to Boston road. The beach (and Seacroft itself) could be reached by road from the station to the Croft Grange Farm, and thence a footpath alongside fields. The nearest shops and amenities would have been in Skegness itself which could be reached by train or (from the main road) Lincolnshire Road Car bus.
65447 wrote:The laundry was indeed at Colchester (North) and there were either special workings or additional carriages attached usually to parcels workings to transport the laundry to and from it.
Thanks, presumably in the case of Seacroft and smaller station probably only a hamper load at the most
The laundry was still in existence when I first moved to the Colchester area in 1967, but the buildings disappeared as part of the rebuilding of the station in the early 70s.
Already comprehensively described for the whole of the LNER in British Railway Journal issues 23 (main article) and 30 (corrections and additions) by CS Carter and AA McLean
Issues 58,62 & 68 also had further coverage of the subject. I dont have access to the copies but noted from the index of articles in BRJ,
It would be interesting is someone tried tracing the descendants of the 1938 holiday makers listed above. Some of the families may still be alive, it was only 76 years ago.
A few camping coach pics have been posted in my fb site does anyone know a list of numbers/original numbers and type of coach they are. Also locations of particular coaches. The two that are clear are numbered LNER Camping coach 13 & 15. They are 6 wheelers of some type.
Hi interested in the area served by 52D. also researching colliery wagonways from same area.
This seems like a good place to ask - was the LNER laundry at Colchester the only one for all LNER Camping Coach linen? It does seem odd that it would go all the way to Essex, but perhaps it was economy of scale? Or were there other facilities available for, say, the Camping Coaches in various locations in Yorkshire?
