10th May 2021 · On-Line Meeting: 3P20 and Other Trains

Presenter: Richard Newton

Our Zoom presentation for May 2021 was by Richard Newton, entitled “3P20 and Other Trains”.  In his introduction Richard explained that he and some other enthusiasts with an interest in photographing working trains on heritage lines found that, while there were plenty of working steam locomotives and much historical passenger rolling stock and freight vehicles available to form demonstration trains available for photographic charters,  they could not identify a suitable set of parcels vehicles (NPCCS – Non-Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock). They decided to rectify this omission, naming themselves the 3P20 Parcels Group, after one of the last steam worked parcels trains run by BR in August 1968.  The first vehicle they acquired was a BR Motor Car Ferry Van B889011, followed by others including CCT (Covered Carriage Truck) M94705, GUV (General Utility Vehicle) E86654, a TPO (Travelling Post Office) vehicle, another CCT, LMSR Stove R BGZ (6 wheeled Gangway Brake) M32978M, SR PMV (Parcels and Miscellaneous Van) S1391S, BR BG (full brake) M80788 and a few fitted four-wheel freight vans.  Based on the East Lancashire Railway, these have all, over the years, been restored (and subsequently overhauled) to first class condition, mostly in BR maroon livery, a process Richard recounted and illustrated in some detail: it is one of those activities on preserved railways where, while the results are much admired, the substantial effort involved in achieving them is little understood or appreciated. These eventually formed a typical parcels train for photographic charter and demonstration purposes – shown in some excellent photos – while they have also earned their keep on the ELR as buggy carriers, and other such purposes.  To raise funds for the group, Richard organised many photographic charters – not just on the ELR – and concluded his presentation by showing a superb selection of pictures taken on these.