Carriage Conundrums

Features -top page The principal purpose of carriage conundrums is to try and solve mysteries concerning the history and disposal of locomotive hauled coaching stock after it was either taken out of normal service or condemned. Some of what is included has appeared in print previously but has to the best of our knowledge never been combined with what is not known. Generally, although not entirely, the focus is on vehicles that existed in the 1970s and subsequently. The publication in the 1970’s of the ‘Coaching Stock of British Railways’ books, the first appearing in 1972, created increased interest in locomotive hauled coaching stock. Previously no listing had been available to enthusiasts of precisely which passenger carrying and non-passenger carrying coaching stock was in use with British Railways. The following years also saw the appearance of various books giving greater detail about active vehicles as well as what were then referred to as departmental vehicles. Despite this there are still a number of carriages that existed in the 1970’s that very little, if anything, is known about. Several of these are highlighted here in the hope that someone can help solve the conundrums surrounding them and add further details. Blue & Grey pre-nationalisation design carriages – (added November 2025) Ashington Colliery Railway bogied carriages – (added June 2023) Rannoch’s mystery carriage Exhibition Train Formations – 1970s Weedkilling Trains Carriages Where was LMSR TO 27109 hiding in the 1970s & 1980s? Internal User Coaching Stock c1970-1997 Harwich Cartic Ramp Mystery GWR/BR Mink D / Fruit D ENPARTS Vans mystery Mystery of the Thirsk GWR Mink G’s

Carriage Disposals

It also the intention here to give details of the disposals of carriages, the details of which are not available elsewhere, that have existed in the 1970’s and subsequently. That is those included in the afore mentioned ‘Coaching Stock of British Railway’ books.   Details of the disposals of the majority of carriages can be found in the Coorlea Publishing books.