Last Big four stock
 

Something I have meaning to create a thread on for some time is when exactly was the date for the last withdrawal of Big four passenger stock on the network.
I refer to normal service of course.

There are many pics of LMS and SR and to some extent GWR stock in service in the 60's but not much after that era.

Makes you wonder.

The last 'Big Four' vehicles to run in normal service were ex-SR PMV/CCT vans, which lasted until 1986. Many vans from all four (especially ex-LMS) were still in service in the very late 70's, but I'm not sure about passenger stock, other than some Pullman coaches which also lasted until the late 70's.

I am not sure about passenger stock but we had a lot of ex GWR vans on perishable and parcel trains until the late 70s.

ccmmick.

Yes I heard that banana vans were working in the 70's but not sure from what era.
There was the SR EMUs but not sure if rolling stock category.

Gresley buffet cars were used up until 1976 I think.

I've just been scouring a 1978 copy of 'Coaching Stock of British Railways (RCTS), and from this I've found that apart from vans/bogie brakes, that two LNER-designed restaurant/buffet coaches, Sc1705E & Sc1706E (built 1948) were still in service then. Also, some vehicles in the Royal train were pre-nationalization: E395E & E396E were built in 1908 to a Gresley design for the ECJR; Royal Train Power/Brake M9006W & M9007W were built by the GWR in 1945; M31209M was a Royal Brake/Sleeper/Power Car, (later renumbered to 2910) was built by the GWR at Worcester in 1941; Royal Special Saloon First M45006M was built by the LMS in 1942, and later renumbered 2912. All of these were in service in 1978, and M31209M/2910 & M45006M/2912 lasted until late 1988.

Gresley buffets were a regular on the Manchester - Harwich boat train in the mid 1970s

I heard about a steam crane.
Was this big four originated?
This lasted until the 90's.

I can remember steam craines working into the late 70s in Cornwall

ccmmick.

The last operational steam cranes on BR were 95209 and 95210.
Finishing up at Stewarts lane Depot.
Sold out of service Jun 1989 to Swindon Railway engineering.
They were built by Ransomes and Rapier in 1940 allocated to the Southern Railway.
95209 is currently at Tyseley
95210 is currently at Southall