| The Quad Arts set, which we ran a feature on in issue 8,
have at last begun their long journey to restoration. |
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On 4th March the difficult job of removing the Quads from
Sheringham was completed. Thanks to some burly truck drivers, an experienced crane
operator and a group of cheerful spectators. Three of the carriages where lifted by the
cranes onto the back of the trucks and the last one was winched onto the waiting vehicle.
It was certainly I sight to be seen. It was a dry but very cold day and the task extremely
time consuming, but successful, by 4:00pm all four carriages were on their way to
Carnforth, where restoration work can begin. |
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These Quads were built in 1886 by Midland Railway in Derby
and transferred to Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway in 1903.
They were withdrawn from passenger duties in 1932 and used as a departmental vehicle in
the Signal and Telegraph Department as a mobile workshop come mess room. |
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| In 1935 the body was removed from the underframe and used
as a clubhouse at Briston Recreation Ground, near Melton Constable. |
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They then moved to 9 Edgefield Road in 1937/8, they were
taken there by horse and cart and lifted over the garden wall by a group of men from the
nearby Melton Constable railway works.
They were moved to Holt for storage prior to coming to Sheringham ready for their
restoration. The money needed to restore these carriages came from a variety of
places, a National Lottery grant for some and then local supporters donations were matched
by Alan Moore. |
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| The cost of restoration will reach up to half a million
pounds, with the teak alone costing £60,000. |
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| The set has appeared in several Film & TV programmes
over the years including in the early 70's by John Betjeman, but sadly they have been out
of use for a generation. They are one of the finest examples of a passenger railway
vehicle and the National Railway Museum placed them at number one on an order of
importance of stock requiring restoration. |
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The Quads are one of many 'Prides of the North Norfolk
Railway'. We are all looking forward to their return in around two years time.
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