York-based rail firm looking for answers after 1930s LNER train unearthed in Belgium

Archaeologists unearthed the carriage during an excavation in Antwerp. Credit: LNER

The remains of a 1930s British train have been unearthed by archaeologists in Belgium.

The LNER vehicle was found in the Noordkasteel district of Antwerp, more than 400 miles from the company's headquarters in York.

Investigations revealed it is a wooden removals truck, used to carry people’s belongings when they moved house. It isthought to be almost 100 years-old.

But it is unclear how it came to be buried there. Very little remains of the truck as it disintegrated while being excavated.

LNER, which operates trains on the East Coast Mainline, has been in touch with the team who discovered the wagon to find out more.

Communications director Stuart Thomas said: “We’re fascinated by the history of our brand - just last year we celebrated 100 years since the LNER came into being in 1923.

"In our 101st year it’s incredible to discover a little bit of LNER history has been buried in a field in Belgium for so many decades.”

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