Griddle Car E1104 stands at Shenton on the Battlefield line, 30th May 2010. With its B5 bogies this vehicle on first glance would appear to be a late build Mark I, however it is probably one of the oldest Mark I’s still in existence. It was originally one of a batch of five diagram 16 Restaurant First (W301 – W305) built at Doncaster works in 1952 to lot 30013. They entered traffic in early 1953 on Western Region duties, however they were not a very satisfactory internal design and by 1960 they were only being used occasionally. Around September 1963 W301 was condemned and this was followed in 1964 by W302 and W305. On the 3rd July 1964 W302/05 arrived at York works and joined W301 (which had been in open storage since being condemned) to be converted to Griddle Cars 1103 – 1105 with 1104 being converted from W301. In the mid 1970’s all three vehicles were allocated to the Scottish Region. Again they do not appear to have been particularly successful as they had all been withdrawn by 1982. My thanks to RW Carroll for some of the detail and any further information regarding this vehicle would be gratefully received.
Tags: 30th May 1104
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Griddle Car S1105 stands at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway, 29th August 2015.
Vehicle History
With its B5 bogies this vehicle on first glance would appear to be a late build Mark I, however it is probably one of the oldest Mark I vehicles still in existence. It was originally one of a batch of five diagram 16 Restaurant First (W301 – W305) built at Doncaster works in 1952 to lot 30013. They entered traffic in early 1953 on Western Region duties, however they were not a very satisfactory internal design and by 1960 they were only being used occasionally. Around September 1963 W301 was condemned and this was followed in 1964 by W302 and W305. On the 3rd July 1964 W302/05 arrived at York works and joined W301 (which had been in open storage since being condemned) to be converted to Griddle Cars 1103 – 1105 with 1105 being converted from W302. In the mid 1970’s all three vehicles were allocated to the Scottish Region. Again they do not appear to have been particularly successful as they had all been withdrawn by 1982. My thanks to RW Carroll for some of the detail and any further information regarding this vehicle would be gratefully received.
Tags: 29th August 302 1105
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Mark I “First Open (FO)” E13236 forms part of the service train on the Churnet Valley and departs Cheddleton, 10th May 2015.
Vehicle History
E13236 was built at Swindon works in 1959 (lot 30381) as a Corridor First (FK). When built it was vacuum braked and steam heated but has gained dual heating, dual brakes and B4 bogies during its career. It was sold for preservation in 1995 and spent a period stored at Oakamoor sidings. In 2009 it was overhauled and completely gutted internally being rebuilt as a First Open.
Tags: 10th May 13236
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Recently released from the Midland Railway Centre carriage shops is 13328 and it is seen here at Butterley, 9th April 2011.
Vehicle History
13328 is one of three hundred and sixty Mark I Corridor First (FK) vehicles built. The type was introduced in 1951 and 13328 was one of a batch of fifty eight vehicles (13303 - 13360) built at Swindon works in 1962 to lot 30667. When built it was vacuum braked and steam heated but has gained dual heating, dual brakes and B4 bogies during its career. It was allocated to the London Midland Region but had transferred to the Western Region around 1983. It lasted well in British Rail service and was still in traffic as late as 1993 allocated to Old Oak Common in the Network Southeast Western fleet (N) and carrying the Network Southeast livery of the period.
Tags: 9th April Midland Railway Centre
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Mark I Brake Corridor First (BFK) 14007 stabled on Grosmont MPD, 24th August 2017.
Vehicle History
14007 is one of only twenty eight Mark I Brake Corridor First (BFK) vehicles built and is thus a rare type of Mark I coaching stock. It is interesting however that out of the twenty eight vehicles, eight still survive in preservation. The type was introduced in 1959 and the twenty eight vehicles were built in five batches with E14007 being the first of the third batch of six vehicles (14007 - 14012) built at Swindon works in 1960 to lot 30382. When built it was vacuum braked, and steam heated and fitted with B1 bogies but has gained dual heating, dual brakes and Commonwealth bogies during its career. It was renumbered 17007 during the early 1980’s. It lasted well in British Rail service and was withdrawn in 1990. Following withdrawal it has been used as a support coach for both 35028 Clan Line, 61264 and 60163 Tornado although its Network Rail registration is currently lapsed.
Tags: 24th August 14007
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