Quad Articulated Set No 74

(Photos by Steve Allen)

The Quad Art set behind WD 2-10-0 90775 April 2008

Brief Outline

The Quad Art set is unique and possibly the most important historic coaches in preservation today. The set owned by the M&GNJRS is Set No. 74, built at Doncaster in 1924 for the intensive London suburban services from Kings Cross Station.
The set is currently being restored at Carnforth funded, in part, by a HLF grant.
 

History

Quad Articulated Set No 74 was built at Doncaster in 1924 by the LNER to a GNR design, albeit with electric lighting, upholstered seating and mounted on single bolster bogies. The Set originally comprised two close coupled 4 car units, a brake all third and a brake composite. In 1967 it was withdrawn from BR service on the former GNR Suburban routes. The brake third unit was rescued from a scrap yard at Wymondham and brought to the North Norfolk Railway where it became the mainstay of the Railway’s services until the condition of its doors forced its withdrawal in 1979.
 

Preservation

Finance for the restoration of the half Set not being immediately available, steps were taken to ensure the long term integrity of the basic structure. In 1987 the formica wall coverings, the hardboard ceilings and the seats and their back rests were removed along with rotten partitions and roof timbers. Part of the cant rail of one coach and the associated roof timbers were replaced and the now bare wood-work soaked in preservative first by a garden spray and later professionally. The roofs were felted and the half Set cocooned in tarpaulins.
 

Restoration

It was always intended that the half Set would be returned to the 1924 varnished teak finish.

The first steps towards restoration were taken in 2001 with a comprehensive survey of the Set. This survey confirmed the structural integrity of the Set and estimated the cost of restoration at £500 000.

Restoration in earnest was kick started with a challenge to match, within two months, a potential donation of £50 000. Appeals were launched, tenders obtained and Heritage Lottery funding sought. Simultaneously, Steam Railway carried a very supportive article.

The outcome was an HLF grant of £341 000 with matched funding either in place or guaranteed. A Contract was let and NRM appointed as project monitor on behalf of HLF.

Restoration commenced in 2003 and has since proceeded steadily with completion promised for March 2007. Structurally, few problems not anticipated by the survey have emerged, the doors requiring the major effort, principally because originally each had been tailored to fit its particular opening. A distorted under-frame required remedial action.

The major problems have concerned the interior furnishings. All the literature about the introduction of the Quad Articulated Sets referred to their Spartan interior. However, the BR refurbishment of the fifties had reduced the internal fittings even further to a bare minimum. In the absence of specific drawings an investigation of forensic proportions was necessary to determine precisely how the coaches had been furnished originally. Similarly, determining the exact pattern of upholstery required considerable input, fortunately the original suppliers are still in business.

The set will be externally restored as near to its original 1924 condition as possible, so the coaches will have varnished teak ends ( they were painted black after 1925), they will carry the early LNER coach numbers 8861n to 8864n at both ends of each vehicle with 'LNER' on the centre panel. Internally, though, three of the coaches will be in 1924 condition, whilst the fourth, probably the full Third end coach, will be restored to its 1950s refurbished BR condition. This will then give us the opportunity to show future generations both styles of interior.

When the coaches arrived on the Railway, the openings above the drop-lights had been plated over, resulting in the conundrum as to whether originally there had been ventilators or top lights. Examination of the wood-work surrounding the openings confirmed that there had been top-lights. Why they were removed and the openings plated over remains a mystery.

Acknowledgements

Great Eastern Railway Society
Gresley Society Trust
Heritage Lottery Fund
Llangollen Railway
LNER Coach Association
Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society
North Eastern Railway Coach Group
North Norfolk Railway
Transport Trust
Vintage Carriages Trust