In the mid 1930s some pre-First World War LSWR carriages were rebuilt and lengthened onto new underframes (as with No. 320 in our
collection). The old underframes were themselves given a new lease of life, also lengthened, and used to build these large luggage vans.
In 1939 this van became part of casualty evacuation train No. 34 as a "stretcher van". Returning to service as a luggage van in
1945, it entered departmental service in 1961, loosing its gangways and receiving extra-wide doors, as DS70141, for the use of the
Power Supply Section at Horsham.
On arrival on the Bluebell Railway it was initially returned to traffic as a kitchen car for our dining train. We re-instated
the gangway connectors and have subsequently rebuilt the doorways back to their original width.
No.2462 has been adopted by Matthew Cousins and used as an Art Gallery in the dock on platform 5 at Horsted Keynes. Matthew has steadily refurbished the exterior and kept the vehicle in good order, having over a period of years progressively replaced much of the external planking. If you have a few spare moments while waiting for a train at Horsted, please pay Matthew a visit and perhaps purchase one of his Bluebell inspired prints. It is usually open at weekends.
