MR bogie Parcels Van no 38268

This vehicle was originally a passenger carriage built in 1884/5 by the Midland Railway's Derby Works, as part ofa batch of 80 ordered on lot 108. It's original body had six compartments, two first class located in the centre and two thirds at each end, with a luggage compartment also at one end. In 1920 four of the carriages were rebuilt as bogie parcels vans under lot 950. This involved stripping off the original body and constructing a heavily framed luggage van with sliding doors and fixed ends (unlike the end doors of the LMS theatrical scenery vans).

After withdrawal by BR it was sold to Boots of Nottingham for use on their internal railway system, and when redundant there was donated to the Foxfield Railway in 1968. In 1970/1 number 38268 was converted to an "observation car" and used on regular passenger trains until the arrival of BR Mark 1 carriages in 1976. It then underwent another conversion to a kitchen car for use on Wine & Dine trains. The four large doors were removed and the openings filled in, leaving three conventional door openings. The bodysides were panelled over with plywood, covering the external framework, and glazing was added to the upper parts of the sides. A corridor was fitted at one end to allow through access to the rest of the train, and extensive worksurfaces and cooking facilities were fitted inside. Since the railway opened catering facilities in the Caverswall Road station building 38268 has been used for storage in the yard pending any further conversion.

For the Vintage Carriage Survey entry for this MR parcels van see: http://vintagecarriagestrust.org/sd/614.HTM