Is Pullman car "MALAGA" still at Shepperton? Any news on its future?

[AY1975]

Does anyone know if South Eastern & Chatham Railway Pullman car No. 92 "MALAGA" is still at Shepperton? Any news on its future?

AIUI this vehicle was acquired by Ian Allan in 1963 and had been used as a boardroom/dining room by the company ever since, but now that Ian Allan is effectively defunct as a company and AFAIK has vacated its premises adjacent to Shepperton station, I would guess that the coach faces an uncertain future. Much could depend on whether the new occupant of the former Ian Allan HQ (assuming that someone else does eventually take over the building) wants it, or if not, who else (if anyone) wants it.

The entry for this coach on the Vintage Carriages Trust website at http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2211 shows it as still having been there in April 2017, but the entry has not been updated since then.

 

[paul1609]

Looks an interesting shunt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prese...ile:Shepperton_station_Malaga_pullman_car.JPG

 

[Alanko]

Looks an interesting shunt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prese...ile:Shepperton_station_Malaga_pullman_car.JPG

Shunt with a chinook, perhaps.

 

[Towers]

Judging by that photograph, unless the building itself is demolished it looks unlikely that anyone could remove or dismantle the carriage even if they wanted to!

 

[alf]

It was there last week. Still protected by a roof but with one side open to the elements as planned by the late Ian Allan to allow the air to minimise rot. Seemed in good shape from the platform a track away.

 

[joystick]

Yes it is still there.

 

[Townsend Hook]

It may be technically possible to demolish the canopy protecting it and then skate it sideways onto the adjacent siding during a possession? Whether or not it would be remotely financially viable is of course another matter.

 

[Invincible]

Ian Allen group's subsidary Tennay Properties Ltd still seem to be operating from Shepperton building, although some of the offices are available for rent. It's not clear if the coach is still part of the offices as an hospitality area?

 

[Titfield]

Judging by that photograph, unless the building itself is demolished it looks unlikely that anyone could remove or dismantle the carriage even if they wanted to!

Not that dissimilar to how Devon Belle Car 14 was repatriated from the USA.

 

[Taunton]

IA's autobiography describes how it was lifted in from the adjacent track by the Feltham shed steam crane.

Same book says that the office building, built 1960s, was pretty poorly done on the cheap, because there was an issue over the land ownership where it might only get a limited life. Later resolved, but then they wished they had built a better place. 60 years on, ropey office building in the far suburbs doesn't stand much chance of a good relet; it's an awkward site, thin and split by the end of the railway, but I guess demolition to build two apartment blocks is the most practical solution. Whereupon you could get the Pullman car out again.