Today we look at the 'newest' vehicle on-site, the recently delivered Lambton mess van 21.
Not a lot is currently known by us about this quirky little wagon but we’re piecing together its’ history as best we can. Any further photos or history of the van would be welcome!
Firstly we sadly don't have a build date for the van, however, the style of the construction dates it to around 1900 - 1920.
No 21 is a mess van built on a wooden chassis. She was part of the maintenance train based at Philadelphia works on the Lambton railway in Co Durham. She possibly traveled all over the extensive system and provided a mobile bait room for the platelayers. She is fitted with tables and benches and coat hooks(!) and would have had a stove too. She once had windows at each end for which the frames still exist but have since been planked over.
Philadelphia possessed numerous box vans that, as far as we know, were built at the works and may have been based on coal wagon chassis. Photos show that sister wagon no11 was a weights van.
No 21 was one of two similar vans preserved at Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway. 21 is privately owned by a group of NTSRA volunteers. She was spotted in a siding by a working party visiting Embsay to collect parts for austerity loco South Hetton 69. Inspection revealed a timber chassis in excellent condition, a replacement roof, and a body basically structurally sound though badly in need of a re-plank. Though they were on site for loco business the team fell in love with her, made an offer on the spot, and arranged to have her transported north alongside 69 in autumn this year.
She has been weatherproofed against the winter and the aim is to begin restoration work mid-2021 returning her to former glory as an NCB mess van.
Photos credits:
C Mountford
S Thornton
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