LMS bogie Theatrical Scenery vans nos 37508, 37518 and 37519

These three vans appear similar to LMS Parcels Van 38268, and share a similar history, but there are differences.They all started life as seven compartment third class passenger carriages built at the Midland Railway's Derby works in a batch of 362 between 1881 and 1886. The body of one of these types of carriages also survives at Foxfield, after rescue from a site at Uttoxeter: for details see MR bogie Third class compartment coach 01101.

The conversion of number 37508 to an LMS scenery van was carried out to diagram 1875 at Derby in 1925, and until the LMS renumbering scheme in 1933 it carried the number 46. It has seen use at Foxfield as a workshop and mess van but currently rests in a siding at Foxfield Wood as a store. This vehicle is the most likely potential underframe donor for the restoration of MR bogie Third class compartment coach number 01101 as a complete carriage at some point. FOr the Vintage Carriage Survey entry for 37508 see: http://vintagecarriagestrust.org/sd/1.HTM (although the photograph is of 37518!)

The other two, 37518 and 37519, were converted to diagram 1882 and originally carried the numbers 4700 and 4714 respectively. 37518 is still in original condition, restored in LMS livery as a store at Caverswall Road station, but 37519 has undergone a radical transformation. In the early 1970s the side and end doors and the upper side planks were removed to make an improvised observation car. Large verandahs were provided at each end and the interior was furnished with old bus seats. It was not very popular with passengers in this form and was soon withdrawn from service. After a period of storage 37519 was converted to form an on-train bar. The bodyside framing was panelled over and flush glazing fitted, together with doors at opposite corners. A corridor connection and toilet was provided at one end and observation windows at the other. It was professionally painted in an attractive black lined livery as "The Bass Belle" and has remained a very popular feature of the Foxfield Railway ever since. However, its use has declined since the development of a station bar at Caverswall Road and it is now only used on special occasions. It is usually to be found in the yard at Caverswall Road. For the Vintage Carriage Survey entries on 37518/9 see: http://vintagecarriagestrust.org/sd/666.HTM and http://vintagecarriagestrust.org/sd/667.HTM.

Below: LMS Scenery Van 37508 in original condition as a store at Foxfield Wood sidings in July 2003