Old railway carriages repurposed for other uses.

[DB]

From this thread it seems to be one of the few "grounded" coaches that isn't either a Mk1 or some sort of Pullman.

Depends what you mean by 'grounded' (I've not seen this vehicle). If you mean underframe removed, this is only really practical with Mk1 and older where the body and the underframe are separate - Mk2 onwards are monocoque construction where it's basically a large square-section steel tube with the equipment mountings and bogie pivots welded to the bottom.

If you means still on wheels but static, there are a few - there's a Mk3a RFM used as holiday accommodation at Hawsker station on the former Whitby-Scarborough line. Also another one of those in use as a static buffet at Midsomer Norton station (pres site). 3M also has one at their Bracknell site, used as a demonstrator for the vinyls which they produce. There' a place at Skipwith, near York, whcih has three Mk2 aircons used as holiday accommodation.

Newer still, there are several bits of 390 033 still around - two at the Avanti (formerly Virgin) training site in Crewe, two at the fire service training place near Moreton in Marsh and one at a university (Cranfield?).

 

[Bobdogs]

The Station Kitchen is a 5 star restaurant in an old coach stood at the platform of the former West Bay station, the terminus of the branch that ran through Bridport.

 

[WesternLancer]

I

It is. Though I take the view "there's always tomorrow". As it still survives and there's always "Tomorrow" if you get my meaning....... I'll post some the photos I took a year or two ago. As I'm using my work P.C. and thus don't have access to them. In more recent times the carriage has been painted, though originally when it first arrived it was in full Teak panelled glory. Which when looked after is a sight to behold........ As for it's age it'll be 100 plus dating from just before the Great War 1905-1914 period, it being a Gresley and he became G.N. Carriage superintendent in 1905.

Thx - pics would be great

I doubt a 100-year old wooden bodied coach would be allowed on the national network today without major modifications that would destroy much of its heritage. Not sure what state it's currently in at Jesmond but maybe that's the best place for it?

From this thread it seems to be one of the few "grounded" coaches that isn't either a Mk1 or some sort of Pullman.

Not so sure about that - there are still lots 'hidden' in buildings which are much older carriages etc like the examples I posted which I found as holiday cottages in coastal locations. Some of those will be v old, and v rare survivors now. Best places for them (if feasible) is preserved to carriage condition I suspect - as when in houses they are always at risk of modification. But when you see some that are restored they are often £100k+ lottery supported projects - so not an easy one. But yes, it's not going to go back on the national network I feel sure!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The "Glenfinnan Dining Car" at Glenfinnan station for me! Not sure if this was an actual buffet car when operational back in the day!

In normal times, a meal/snack there also entitles you to a freebie look around the station museum.

 

[edwin_m]

Depends what you mean by 'grounded' (I've not seen this vehicle). If you mean underframe removed, this is only really practical with Mk1 and older where the body and the underframe are separate - Mk2 onwards are monocoque construction where it's basically a large square-section steel tube with the equipment mountings and bogie pivots welded to the bottom.

If you means still on wheels but static, there are a few - there's a Mk3a RFM used as holiday accommodation at Hawsker station on the former Whitby-Scarborough line. Also another one of those in use as a static buffet at Midsomer Norton station (pres site). 3M also has one at their Bracknell site, used as a demonstrator for the vinyls which they produce. There' a place at Skipwith, near York, whcih has three Mk2 aircons used as holiday accommodation.

Newer still, there are several bits of 390 033 still around - two at the Avanti (formerly Virgin) training site in Crewe, two at the fire service training place near Moreton in Marsh and one at a university (Cranfield?).

I was thinking about coaches in non-rail use whether on wheels or not, but quite surprised there are so many post-Mk1 examples!

 

[sprinterguy]

The "Glenfinnan Dining Car" at Glenfinnan station for me! Not sure if this was an actual buffet car when operational back in the day!

Not originally: The Dining Car is former Tourist Second Open (TSO) 3767, while (for completeness) the Sleeping Car is former Brake Corridor Second (BSK) 35215.

We've stayed in one of the two coaches converted into holiday homes at Coalport Station (Nr Ironbridge), and very good it was too!

Ah, so they're holiday homes: I had wondered when walking past, as it seemed like a particularly well tended setup for purely private residential use.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

There were a fair number of grounded Victorian carriage bodies in the Highlands about 40 years ago (a former colleague brought back a large number of photos). The near-Arctic climate is kinder to wooden bodies up there, so who knows what may still be there. One vehicle was a Highland Railway 1st Class, still with leather seats and gold leaf on the inside of the doors.
Pat

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Rainhill Museum is a Mark 1 coach parked next to the Library. Exhibits are mostly about the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. including the Rainhill Trials. See

Exhibition - The Rainhill Trials 1829

The exhibition is housed in a former British Rail Mk.1 carriage specially converted for the purpose. It is located in the grounds of Rainhill Library and connected to the main building by a permanent link. A team of volunteers from the society worked for nearly three years to convert the...

rainhilltrials.co.uk

Thanks - that's now on the list for a visit!

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

There is a couple of old carriages used as a very nice little café at Betws -Y-Coed with views of the station and the miniature railway next to it.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

There is a Mk2 at the Eureka Centre in Halifax. It is used as a base for school visits and has a little shunter attached.

The Avon Causeway Hotel at Hurn (near Bournemouth) is built around the old station. Check in is at the ticket office, whilst in the platform is a Pullman carriage used for serving breakfast and also for private parties at other times. It is attached to a shunter.

 

[DB]

There is a Mk2 at the Eureka Centre in Halifax. It is used as a base for school visits and has a little shunter attached.

I'd forgotten that one! Mk2a, I think - last time i saw it it was done out in full Northern purple livery (think they sponsored it) - amusingly, the logos got removed, just as they did from the Northern fleet, when the franchise changed.

 

[Paul Jones 88]

On a purely practical note, could the 321 and 317 coaches be turned into temporary accommodation for homeless people instead of being sent off for scrap?

 

[snakeeyes]

There's a pub just north of York (beside the ECML) with several coach bodyshells (restaurant, I think). Also a Mk1 cut in half at a pub in Hull - somewhere round the avenues area as I recall.

I stayed there about 10 years ago.
I remember reading in Rail Enthusiast when they were taken by rail and craned off the bodies from the running line ( well before the line was electrified)
Must of been in the early 80's

 

[FQTV]

I stayed there about 10 years ago.
I remember reading in Rail Enthusiast when they were taken by rail and craned off the bodies from the running line ( well before the line was electrified)
Must of been in the early 80's

Opened in 1985.

 

[Bald Rick]

There’s 2 x Mk2s on St Annes on Sea prom, “the carriage cafe”.

One of them has a whole side missing, with a brick built extension!

 

[DB]

There’s 2 x Mk2s on St Annes on Sea prom, “the carriage cafe”.

One of them has a whole side missing, with a brick built extension!

Must have something supporting it underneath then! Otherwise it would very probably sag badly as a result of that.

 

[Bald Rick]

Must have something supporting it underneath then! Otherwise it would very probably sag badly as a result of that.

Still on bogies.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

there are several bits of 390 033 still around

Think There are several bits of both 390 033 and 365 526 scattered across the Cumbrian fells thanks to the RAF

 

[John Webb]

There’s 2 x Mk2s on St Annes on Sea prom, “the carriage cafe”.

One of them has a whole side missing, with a brick built extension!

View of the untouched side in 2012 (click on the photo to go to the larger original):
Station Café Bar

© Copyright Gerald England and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[Bald Rick]

View of the untouched side in 2012 (click on the photo to go to the larger original):
Station Café Bar

© Copyright Gerald England and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Thank you John. The photographer even managed to get it in typical St Annes weather as well.

 

[John Webb]

There is a Mk2 at the Eureka Centre in Halifax. It is used as a base for school visits and has a little shunter attached.

The Avon Causeway Hotel at Hurn (near Bournemouth) is built around the old station. Check in is at the ticket office, whilst in the platform is a Pullman carriage used for serving breakfast and also for private parties at other times. It is attached to a shunter.

Click on the photos below to go to the larger originals on the Geograph website.
Eureka's coach as seen in 2015:
Part of the Eureka Children's Museum

© Copyright Ian Greig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Hurn station conversion as seen in 2008:
Avon Causeway pub

© Copyright Mike Faherty and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[pdeaves]

I have seen pictures of carriage bodies being used as canal boat bodies. A quick Google search has not brought up any images, unfortunately.

 

[Peter C]

I believe there's a grounded carriage on the platform at Chinnor (Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway) which is used as a bookshop. There's also a Mk1 coach used as an extra seating area for the café at Bodmin (Bodmin & Wenford Railway), and a Mk1 used as an exhibition coach IIRC at Toddington (Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway). Perhaps not as interesting as coaches being turned into restaurants or holiday homes, but relevant to this thread nonetheless I suppose.

-Peter

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

East London has a pair of 1983 Jubilee Line carriages atop a collection of shipping containers in Shoreditch. The whole complex is a creative hub place. Not far away a former C stock cab section is in the reception area of an office between Aldgate and Aldgate East.

 

[lincolnshire]

There's a pub just north of York (beside the ECML) with several coach bodyshells (restaurant, I think). Also a Mk1 cut in half at a pub in Hull - somewhere round the avenues area as I recall.

The coach parts are right under Beverley Road railway over bridge on the Hull Docks Branch ( ex. Hull and Barnsley overhead line to the docks.

 

[alexl92]

There is a Mk2 at the Eureka Centre in Halifax. It is used as a base for school visits and has a little shunter attached.

It used to be the designated packed lunch area!

There is an old Mk1 behind platform 2 at Huddersfield; I think it’s used by a charity.

 

[DB]

There is an old Mk1 behind platform 2 at Huddersfield; I think it’s used by a charity.

Forgotten that one - seen it many times while waiting for trains - a close look reveals that the visible side is more gaffer tape and filler than metal, painted over several times!

 

[VWRO2]

Is the Orion Pullman still at Pecorama?

Bekonscot model village has a mk1 as part of their gift shop

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

A former C Stock car is at Royal Greenwich University Technical College for teaching students about engineering

 

[Cowley]

Is the Orion Pullman still at Pecorama?

Yes it’s still there and in decent condition too.