Central door locking to safeguard Scottish Mk 1s

Locomotive Services Limited’s Royal Scot arm and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society have entered into a partnership that will enable the SRPS’s Mk 1 coaching stock to be upgraded with central door locking (CDL), thereby ensuring its long-term survival on the main line.

“The SRPS and Royal Scot are delighted to announce they have entered into an exciting, long-term and mutually beneficial partnership that will see LSL offer traditional-style railway carriage accommodation, and ensures the long-term deployment of SRPS’s main line-capable fleet of carriages,” said SRPS Finance Director Andrew Wells.

“The SRPS has invested significantly in terms of volunteer and financial resources in overhauling its carriage collection to meet the latest safety standards required.

“This has recently been boosted by arrangements with third parties to expedite this work, with some carriages recently travelling to Barrow Hill.”

Wells added: “The first of the overhauled carriages is expected to return in July, with Royal Scot having generously supported some of this work.

“As part of the partnership, LSL will stable locomotives and rolling stock on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, and visiting locomotives will feature on B&KR trains. LSL will also provide locomotives and support services for the SRPS’s railtours.

“As we approach our 55th year of operation, the partnership with Royal Scot is exciting for the SRPS. We look forward to our passengers being able to enjoy journeys on the main line in our newly overhauled carriages.”

The arrangement provides vital funds to assist in the SRPS’s prime purpose of restoring and preserving its significant Scottish Railway collection for future generations.

Jeremy Hosking, chair of the Royal Scot Trust and the wider LSL Group, added: “It is a pleasure to be partnering with the SRPS.

“Rail-worthy Mk 1 carriages remain unfailingly popular with travellers, and the upgraded features they require to operate on the main line in 2024 and beyond requires external finance.

“We are pleased to be in a position to provide this. The carriages will now be seen in operation on the main line many years into the future”.

Mk 1 3115 was moved from Barrow Hill to Cranmore on June 24 for contract repairs as part of the deal.