A COACHthathelpedsowtheseed of a cornerstone of the preservation movement 68 years ago carried off a national accolade at the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards 2023.
On May 15 and August 20, 1955, the Narrow Gauge Railway Society travelled in the coach, the Queen Mary, on a tour of the 23-mile 2ft gauge Nocton Estates Railway in Lincolnshire. The coach was built in 1927 using the frames and bogies from a War Department Light Railway Class D wagon. Fitted with swivel chairs, drinks holders and gun racks, the vehicle was used for shooting parties of the private agricultural system. The name Queen Mary was given by estate workers as response to the aloof manner of the shooting party guests.
During one of the society’s visits, the conversations while riding in the coach turned to conserving part of the Nocton system, which was then being scaled back and gradually
