Following the success of the LNER’s newly-introduced ‘Coronation’ trains in 1935, a new train was introduced to operate between London King’s Cross and Leeds and Bradford in 1937.
A new set of carriages was built that was identical to the ‘Coronation’ with four twin articulated coaches, though not the streamlined beavertail observation car, and named the ‘West Riding Limited’. Carriages were in pairs, sharing a bogie between the two, thus reducing friction and improving ride quality.
The train first ran on 27th September 1937 and achieved an average speed of 63.3mph (101.9km/h) between King’s Cross and Bradford. It was hauled by Gresley ‘A4’ No. 4492 ‘Dominion of New Zealand’, which had emerged from Doncaster Works only three months earlier.
Services were suspended for the duration of the Second World War, but were reinstated in 1949. A modern version of the train is still operated by the present-day LNER with a 6.30am departure from Bradford Forster Square station.
The carriages are in pairs, sharing a bogie between the two. Coaches ‘A’ and ‘B’ in the eight-coach rake include an open third brake with accommodation for the guard, and a coach with a further third class area plus kitchen. These are the highly detailed OO gauge model coaches shown in this pack.
The next vehicles in the rake are coaches ‘C’ and ‘D’ and these comprise of two identical first class open coaches which offered enhanced comfort and also had a lavatory at each end. These coaches are the ones presented in this highly detail OO gauge coach pack.
Vehicles ‘E’ and ‘F’ include a Third Class Open Coach and a another coach with third class seating and a second kitchen area. These highly detailed OO gauge LNER coaches are excellent replicas of the 'West Riding Limited' carriages.
The final pair are made up of an open third class coach with lavatory, plus another third class brake coach with alternative accommodation for the train’s guard, and these are the highly detailed OO gauge model coaches shown in this pack.
The LNER built two ‘beaver tail’ observation cars for its ‘Coronation’ service that operated between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line.
Both have survived, finding further use in converted form in Scotland, though Car 1729 has been painstakingly restored to its original profile with a streamlined tail that mirrored the shape of the ‘A4’ Class ‘Pacific’ on the front of the train.
Passengers paid an additional fee to enjoy the comforts of the observation car in which refreshments were served by the steward at passenger’s individual armchairs. The ‘beaver tail’ was only added to the train during summer months.
This OO gauge coach model is a highly detailed replica of that classic 'Coronation' Observation Car, as seen in the One:One Collection in Margate.
