THE COUNTY GATE ROLLING STOCK


L & B passenger stock

County Gate trains are made into fixed consists, so some coaches are duplicated. We have 27 coaches in all. A few of the coaches are freelance and represent units that may have been supplied to the Minehead extension.
 

County Gate Coaching Stock
L&B
No.
Southern
Number
Coach Type Manuf Date
2  6992 Saloon brake end observation 3dPerfect 2008
3  2473 Third (as SR rebuild) 3dPerfect 2007
3  2473 Third (as SR rebuild) 3dPerfect 2009
4  2474 Third (as SR rebuild) 3dPerfect 2010
5  6364 Composite Langley 2007
5  6364 Composite Langley 2007
6  6365 Composite Langley 2007
6  6365 Composite Langley 2010
7  2465 Third centre observation Langley 2007
8  2466 Third centre observation Langley 2007
9  2467 Third centre observation Langley 2009
12  2470 Third 3dPerfect 2008
13  2470 Third 3dPerfect 2008
13  2471 Third 3dPerfect 2009
14  2472 Third 3dPerfect 2008
14  2472 Third 3dPerfect 2009
15  6993 Third Brake Langley 2007
16  4108 Third Brake Langley 2007
17  6994  Composite Brake 3dPerfect 2008
17  6994  Composite Brake 3dPerfect 2008
   6995 Composite Brake (as 6994) 3dPerfect 2008
   6996 Composite Brake (as 6994) 3dPerfect 2009
   6997 Composite 3dPerfect 2010
   6999 Composite end observation 3dPerfect 2010
   8048 Third 3dPerfect 2010
   6308 Composite 3dPerfect 2010
   991 all open 3rd observation 3dPerfect 2009
   'Lilian' Pullman   2012
   'Lilian' Pullman   2012
   'Lilian' Pullman   2012
   'Lilian' Pullman   2012
   'Lilian' Pullman   2012


Langley 1st 3rd composite No 6363 (click to enlarge)


Langley 3rd centre observation No 2465 (click to enlarge)


Langley 6993 third brake

Frustrated that a complete range of L&B coaches is not available, a new range of coaches are being built using etchings developed by Neil Moss and ourselves. The first four coaches in this range are now available to purchase.


all third SR2473 - 3dPerfect kit alongside a Langley kit (on right) the Langley coaches have now been lowered by replacing their bogies


all third SR2473/2474 - 3dPerfect kit


all third SR2469/2472 - 3dPerfect kit

Although there is a general perception that the L&B was a 'spick and span' railway, this was not the case by 1935 when much of the rolling stock was looking a bit tired. We have not painted all the coaches in quite the same green. There were colour variations depending upon which Southern depot supplied the paint, and also paint, at that time, faded quickly. A few items of stock will look a lot better having been recently painted.


SR 6991 and 6992 under construction - click on image to enlarge


coach SR 6991 completed, weathered and with Blackham decals- click on image to enlarge


coach SR 6994 under construction - click on image to enlarge


coach SR 6994 completed, weathered and with Blackham decals- click on image to enlarge


semi open tourist coach nicknamed 'Monsoon' by the staff- click on image to enlarge


Pullman 'Lilian'
 

L&B goods stock

Rolling stock is fitted with Greenwich couplers and are lettered and numbered by Peter Blackham of Blackham transfers So far, we have built 21 wagons, all from Nine Lines and Langley. Sadly, the bogies supplied with the kits just did not seem to work, so we have used Green Max N gauge bogies. These give excellent running qualities. I have painted the wagons in slightly differing shades of brown. To my mind this is more as it would have been, as paint faded more quickly in that era. There were also variations in colour whether paint was supplied from Eastleigh or one of the other Southern centres. We have mostly used weathering powders for aging the stock. The three tarpaulin bogie wagons include the tarpaulins, made in tissue paper.

We have ballasted the stock with lead shot where necessary. This has certainly increased reliability. We have also built a track cleaning wagon which seems quite effective. The photos above were taken before the lettering was also weathered.
 

County Gate L&B Goods Stock
 
Southern
Number
Wagon Type source
general 4 wheel goods wagon
28304 Open Goods Parkside Dundas
28305 Open goods Parkside Dundas
28306 Open goods now flat Parkside Dundas
28308 Open goods Parkside Dundas
28309 Open goods Parkside Dundas
28310 Open goods Parkside Dundas
 
4 wheel closed goods wagon
47038  Goods van Parkside Dundas  
47039 Goods van Parkside Dundas
39 Goods van/track cleaner Nine Lines/Roco
 
bogie goods wagons
28312 Bogie open goods Golden Arrow
47042 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
47043 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
47044 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
47045 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
47046 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
56039 Bogie brake van Nine Lines
56040 Bogie brake van Nine Lines
28301 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28301  empty Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28302 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28302  empty Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28320 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28320  empty Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28321 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28321  empty Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28312 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28312  empty Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28313 Bogie open goods wagon Nine Lines
28316 Bogie open wagon Nine Lines
28315 Bogie platform wagon Langley

Bogie brake van No 56039 (click to enlarge)


The L&B did not have special stock wagons. Sheep were carried in open wagons under a net.
 

Glenthorne Harbour Authority rolling stock

While the Glenthorne branches were independent, it was necessary to run Glenthorne stock on the main line to avoid transhipment. Most of the Glenthorne traffic ran between the harbour and Porlock power station. Some general goods were delivered throughout the two foot system, however.

Glenthorne locomotives and stock were required to be inspected annually by Pilton staff for main line certification. Glenthorne drivers and train staff also had to be certified by the Minehead and Barnstaple Railway before being allowed to operate on their metals.

In reality, goods stock was used indiscriminately by both companies. Glenthorne wagons were usually painted grey, initially with black painted iron work.

It had initially been hoped that a passenger service would be operated to connect with the steam packet that never materialised at the harbour. Three coaches were provided for the harbour and Porlock branches alike. Both services were temporarily suspended during World War 1. The coaches were stored in the open at Glenthorne sidings and rapidly deteriorated. Two coaches were eventually patched up and converted into a railcar while three more, after a desultory coat of paint once again operated a shuttle service from Porlock West to Wootton Courtenay. This was called the 'Porlock Dawdler' by the local population.

Their livery remained 'brick red'. Occasionally being painted cream above the waist.
 

Glenthorne Harbour Authority Goods Stock
GHA Number Wagon Type source
3 4W brake van Parkside Dundas
 
bogie goods wagons
20 Bogie brake van Langley
21 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
22 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
23 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
24 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
25 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
26 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
27 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
28 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
29 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
30 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
31 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
32 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
33 Bogie open goods Nine Lines
34 Long Bogie goods van Nine Lines bash
37 Bogie goods van Nine Lines
38 Bogie brake van Langley
40 Bogie brake van resin casting


No 20 goods brake van (Langley)


No 21 to 33 bogie coal (Nine Lines)
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Private Owners stock
 

Recently, new goods stock has been added to the Glenthorne fleet to cater for its additional traffic needs. Several private owner wagons have also appeared.