Caroline

For this post (10th August 2010) I am concentrating on the Network Rail, Control Inspection Saloon 975025, Caroline, and its appearance at Earlestown on Wednesday 4th August 2010. The saloon was originally built in 1958 at Ashford (frames) and Eastliegh (body) as S60755, a trailer restaurant buffet vehicle, part of a 'Hastings' 6B DEMU . The car was numbered 975025 c1978 when it was converted to the General Manager's Saloon for the Southern Region. After other uses the vehicle was moved to Derby in 1999 where it was overhauled by Fragonset Railways Ltd., and moved to Network Rail.

In the two photographs from John Smith the saloon is being pushed or pulled by DRS class 37, 37409 Lord Hinton through Earlestown Station. The locomotive was named by the grandson of Lord Hinton at a special DRS Open Day at Crewe in July 2010. Lord (Christopher) Hinton was responsible for the design of Calder Hall Nuclear Power Station, officially opened by H.M.The Queen on 17th October 1956.