HISTORIC ARRIVAL AT THE MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway is pleased to announce the arrival of the historic former Great Eastern Railway Coach number 14, that has been bought by members of the railway.
The coach is the only known surviving vehicle that was used on the original Mid-Suffolk Light Railway and is the only 6-wheeled coach in the railway’s fleet. To successfully acquire this historic coach is the most important addition to the railway’s rolling stock that has been made for many years,
The addition of GER Coach 14, now means that the Middy has four 19th Century coaches. This also means that the railway can begin a rotation of its coaches to allow a programme of restoration to commence without impacting the public operating days.
The new coach was originally built as order G24 at Stratford works and completed in December 1889 for use by the GER’s chief engineer. As originally built, the coach was 27’6” long and was mounted on a long wheel base four wheel frame. Latter the coach was lengthened by 4’6” and the under frame changed to the six wheel frame seen today.
No.14 was the first GER carriage to have electric light from new. Built for observation, one end has large windows and guards type lookouts. The main saloon originally had fixed couches either side and a table.
When the GER and the original Mid-Suffolk Light Railway were amalgamated as part of the creation of the London and North Eastern Railway, the coach continued in service with the Engineers Department, first based at Ipswich and later at Norwich. The coach survived into British Railways service and was last used in Yorkshire before being sold in 1973. GER No 14 was restored by a private owner and has been based at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for many years before its sale and move to the Middy.
It will now begin the next stage of its life as a star part of the Middy’s collection to be experienced and enjoyed by visitors to the Mid- Suffolk Light Railway museum and it’s demonstration line.
The first public operating days will be the Easter weekend 5/6th April when it is planned that two steam engines ‘Illingworth’ and ‘May’ will be operating.