Appeal to restore LNER TTO 23981

Detail: RVP is currently running a long term project to restore a train of LNER “Teak” carriages to run on the Great Central Railway. This train will show to the visitor and traveller how their counterparts of 80 years ago travelled. To date pigeon van No. 4050 has been restored and Buffet Car No. 24278 will be completed this year. To provide a reasonable number of seats supplementing the 24 of the Buffet Car, carriage No. 23891 is to be restored providing a further 64 seats and two toilets. Carriage 23981 was built by the Birmingham Carriage and Wagon Company of Smethwick, Birmingham in the year 1936 to LNER diagram 186, classified Tourist Third Open (TTO). This design gave 64 seats with tables in an open saloon and two toilets at one end all connected by a centre aisle to a vestibule at each end. Over 400 of this type of carriage were built and 23981 is one of only four to survive from this builder. It initially worked in the North East of England and later in Scotland. It was purchased in 1993 for inclusion in the LNER Teak Train to run on the Great Central. The TTO carriage came about as a response to the old and uncomfortable carriages causing many complaints to the management of the LNER. At the same time the country was emerging from a recession and energetic marketing was drawing the public to train travel. The Government of the time supported the LNER’s request for assistance (possibly the first time for rolling stock renewal, setting a precedent) providing contractors were given the opportunity to help. The open style saloon style reduced construction costs and provided pleasant, modern passenger accommodation. Technically carriage 23981 clearly shows the dramatic change in construction methods occurring in the 1930s. Arc welding reduced tare weights by removing the need for riveting and this also allowed the body to be mounted directly on to the underframe members giving greater vehicle strength. Long production runs of this standard design enabled bulk manufacturing methods to be employed. The design also reduced the number of doors giving stronger body frames. For nearly 30 years these TTO carriages were a common sight all over the whole of the LNER system. They ran daily over the line now known as the Great Central Railway. Many local people of that era would have travelled in them, safely and in comfort. Railway Vehicle Preservations have now launched this restoration appeal and support both financial and physical is needed. It is estimated that a sum approaching £35,000 will be needed to purchase the remaining materials and fittings needed to complete the restoration. Please help with Gift Aided donations, Standing Orders for regular amounts, purchase of raffle tickets dedicated to 23981, volunteer assistance, offer of materials and sellable items. Please do try and help get carriage 23981 restored and into use on our Great Central Railway. The "Just Text Giving" service is a free service for charities, that has no set up or fundraising costs for charities, no network charges for people making donations and every penny donated goes to charity. Gift Aid can also be added to donations. For further information about JustTextGiving by Vodafone please visit justtextgiving.co.uk Please send donations (made payable to Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd) to: 16 Otter Lane Mountsorrel Loughborough LE12 7GF Please enclose an SAE if an acknowledgement is required. Use the following forms to make donations to the appeal: TTO 23981 Donation Form - Standing Order Form

Fund Raising Updates: 7th December 2011 The fund now stands at £8,599.80, which means we are almost 25% of the way to our target. Thank you so much to all those who have donated so far or who have purchased raffle tickets. 4th September 2011 You can now donate to this appeal by using your mobile phone. Just text RVPL11 £1 / £2 / £3 / £4 / £5 or £10 to 70070, e.g. RVPL11 £5 14th August 2011 The fund now stands at £4,707 9th July 2011 The fund has now increased by £700 and currently stands at £2,793 29th May 2011 The fund currently stands at £2,093

Our thanks to the LNER Carriage Association for allowing us to use the line drawing of a TTO from their website.