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Help Identifying Suburban Coaches - Clyde North


Sean the Bob
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Hi all, I'm looking for a little bit of help. I recently purchased a Bachmann V1/3 tank locomotive, as I understand these were commonly used on my local line (Glasgow - Helensburgh and Glasgow - Balloch). There are several photos of these locos and I would like to get some coaches to match, however my knowledge of coaches is a bit ropey so was hoping someone could help identify what variety of coaching stock was used here, mainly around the 1950s. 

 

Below are a few links to trains in that area, the coaches are pretty visible so hopefully that should help.

 

https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/52/111/

 

https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/59/864/

 

https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/50/8/

 

https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/62/898/

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Hi, Sean the Bob

 

Most of the coaches illustrated in the photos you selected are of LNER design.  The wood panelled ones are Gresleys and those with steel panels are of Thompson parentage.  In the second pic of Helensburgh Central there is at least one BR standard non-corridor.  The ones shown are ex-LNER so it is reasonable to assume that the pre-nationalisation coaching stock would have stuck around until the Blue Trains arrived in 1960.  As well as BR standards being sprinkled about, so were some ex-LMS vehicles.  Look closely at the photos - always good advice, that - and you will see that the sets were not always formed neatly of all Gresley or all Thompson - or all BR standard for that matter.  What the set looked loke was much less important than whether it had the right number of seats.

 

Someone is bound to be along soon who knows much more about how things were done in Scotland than I do but I hope this helps.

 

Chris 

Edited by chrisf
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Agree coaches in the images as described by others. Twin sets were also built and the Glasgow ones differed from Edinburgh with the number of compartments in the Brake 3rd. 4 or 5 from memory. They were however not exclusive to each city though. Also think 3 compartment Brake 3rd was fairly unique to Scotland

Edited by DOCJACOB
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Thanks for the assistance all, I could see that there was a bit of a mix of coach types but it's good to have some clarification on what these are. It's interesting that more of them appear to be ex LNER stock, as there were two lines running alongside each other from Glasgow to Dumbarton, one owned by LNER (ex Caledonian Railway) and one run by LMS (ex North British).

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Thanks for the assistance all, I could see that there was a bit of a mix of coach types but it's good to have some clarification on what these are. It's interesting that more of them appear to be ex LNER stock, as there were two lines running alongside each other from Glasgow to Dumbarton, one owned by LNER (ex Caledonian Railway) and one run by LMS (ex North British).

 

The other way round I'm afraid.

 

Caledonian Railway became LMS and North British became LNER.

 

I think some of the devoted fans would be spitting out their drinks in rage.  :laugh:

 

 

Jason

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The other way round I'm afraid.

 

Caledonian Railway became LMS and North British became LNER.

 

I think some of the devoted fans would be spitting out their drinks in rage.  :laugh:

 

 

Jason

 

Gah you're absolutely right, I need to put myself into the corner of shame!!!!  :pardon:

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Northside sets were largely ex-LNER, Southside ex-LMS. If I can find the Steam Days or Backtrack article I read that in I'll post details. Both increasingly diluted towards the end by BR stock.

 

If I could elaborate on this statement, yes Southside was almost exclusively ex LMS, but the two systems were intertwined on the north bank, particularly down towards Dumbarton and Balloch which was a joint line and both LMS and LNER would be seen sharing the same tracks.

 

Jim

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Northside sets were largely ex-LNER, Southside ex-LMS. If I can find the Steam Days or Backtrack article I read that in I'll post details. Both increasingly diluted towards the end by BR stock.

A few ex-LNER coaches appeared on the southside late in the day, after electrification of the northside lines and before complete dieselisation of the Gourock line.

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Very nice picture, but no, not quite.

 

More like this:

 

https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/22/484/

 

Thread drift, I am afraid, But a cracking photo pH

 

Next question, and apologies for hi-jacking the thread, but what are the two coaches nearest the camera. The second looks particularly interesting.

 

Regards

 

Ian

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Next question, and apologies for hi-jacking the thread, but what are the two coaches nearest the camera. The second looks particularly interesting.

 

 

That was the main reason for posting the link - the second coach is a ex-LNER Thompson Suburban Lavatory Composite at Gourock in 1966. I've tried to find a prototype photo, but can't find a good one with a caption. Here's an uncaptioned one: http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/images/Hornby-2012/coaches/lner_thompson_non_corridor_composite_lavatory.jpg (look at the web address).

 

and here's a picture of a Hornby model of one: https://www.stocktonmodeller.co.uk/r4575a-br-thompson-suburban-lavatory-composite-coach.ir

 

As for the coach nearest the camera - I have no idea. Coaches never were a great interest of mine. I'm sure someone else on here will be able to identify it - and perhaps provide a better prototype picture of the Thompson coach.

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