We have a large and diverse collection of rolling stock on the Bluebell Railway, built up over the years since we started in 1960. These include gems such as the Metropolitan Railway stock, which is the oldest operational standard-gauge train in the country. We have seven Pullman cars, mostly from the 1920s and '30s, an unrivalled collection of old SECR, LSWR and Southern Railway coaches, plus the unusual and unique 1913 built LNWR Observation Car and the venerable Great Northern Railway Directors' Saloon.
Right: Restored London, Chatham & Dover Railway carriage No.114 of 1889, seen on the morning of its re-launch into service, 4 November 2006. The carriage body had been used as a bungalow from 1926, and was rescued by the Bluebell in 1977. It is now running on an adapted SR van underframe, after 8 years restoration.
Two old London Brighton & South Coast Railway coaches have been restored to traffic after 68 and 80 years out of use, and another is currently being restored. All three were recovered after more than half a century as dwellings, and have been mounted on suitably modified underframes.
Passenger rated stock is that which could be included in passenger trains. It includes luggage vans, carriage trucks, horse boxes, perishable produce vans and milk tankers.
The list shows vehicle number, type, (building date), and alternative numbers carried at various times in the vehicle's history. Links from coach numbers are to photographs of each vehicle.
Other documents provide an Introduction to the Carriages, a Review of the Carriage Fleet, and a Stock List of our Wagons.
35 Craven 4w Second (c1856) www page [dismantled body only]
60 Directors' Saloon (1913) www page
328 Stroudley 4w Third (1890) www page. [body only]
661 Stroudley First (1880) (originally 6w, now 4w) (Brake 2nd 262(1909), Brake 3rd 1648) www page [Operational] (at one time erroniously thought to have been numbered 667)
676 Stroudley 4w Brake Third (1875) www page. [body only]
949 Stroudley 4w Brake Third (1881) www page. [Under Restoration]
7598 First (1903) (LBSCR 142) www page. [Operational]
London Chatham & Dover Railway (LCDR)
48 6-wheel Brake 2nd (1894) (Brake 3rd 2781, SR 3630 (1927)) www page.
51 4-wheel Brake 2nd body (1889) (Brake 3rd 285 (1897), SECR 3360 (1901)) www page.
114 4-wheel Brake 3rd (1889) (Brake 2nd 106, Brake 3rd 114 (1891), 548 (1899), 3068 (1903)) www page. [Operational]
668 28' 3rd body (1897) (SECR 3188 (1907), Brake 3rd, SR 3652 (1926)) www page.
South Eastern Railway (SER)
5546 Composite (later all 3rd ) (1880's, reconstructed by SR in 1924) (SECR 1440, later 1050) www page.
33 Drawing Room Car (1891) - Later Pullman Car "Constance" www page. [body sections only]
South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR)
950 Birdcage 2nd Saloon Brake (later 3rd) (1907) (3582) www page. [Not Bluebell stock; in private ownership]
971 "100 seater" 3rd (1923) (1434) www page. [Withdrawn pending overhaul]
1061 Birdcage 3rd Brake (originally 2nd/3rd composite) (1909) (3334) www page.
1098 "100 seater" 3rd (1922) (1416) www page. [Operational]
1170 Birdcage 3rd Brake (1912) (3410) www page.
3363 Birdcage Lavatory 3rd Brake (originally 2nd/3rd composite) (1910) (SECR 1084, DS22) www page. [Under Restoration]
London & South Western Railway (LSWR)
25 34' family saloon (1885) (SR 0905 and 7937) www page.
320 Lavatory 3rd (1900, rebuilt and lengthened in 1935) (1228, 288) www page.
494 Corridor 3rd (1911) (673) www page.
1520 Lavatory Brake 3rd (1910) (2975) www page. [Under Restoration]
Metropolitan Railway
368 Composite (Built by Ashbury, 1898) (515, 9702) www page. [Operational]
387 Brake 3rd (Built by Ashbury, 1898) (512, 2761) www page. [Operational]
394 Full 3rd (Built by Ashbury, 1900) (518, 6702) www page. [Operational]
412 Composite (Built by Cravens, 1900) (516, 9705) www page. [Operational]
Great Northern Railway (GNR)
43909 Directors' Saloon (1897) (706, 706E, 942090) www page. [Operational]London & North Western Railway (LNWR)
1503 Observation Car (1913) (LMS 5316, 15843) www page. [Operational]
806 Semi-Royal Saloon (1903) (LNWR 74, 5074 (1910) LMS 10506 (1924), 806 (1933)) www page. [Operational]
(all are Restriction 4 (i.e. 9ft wide), unless stated otherwise)
1309 TO Open Third (1935) www page. [Operational]
1336 TO "Drop-Light" Open Third (1933) www page. [under restoration]
1365 TO built 1927: Dining Third 7866, redesignated Open Third 1365, 1930,
Ambulance 6802 in 1944 and Compo Diner 7841 in 1947 www page.
2356 TK Corridor Third (Restriction 1, i.e. 8ft 6in wide) (1931) www page
3687 BTK Corridor Brake Third www page. (Restriction 0, i.e. 8ft wide for Hastings line) (1931) [Under Restoration]
3724 BTK Corridor Brake Third (1930) www page.
4441 UCB Unclassed Brake (could be used for 1st, 2nd or 3rd class as required)
(Restriction 1) (1933) www page.
4444 UCB Unclassed Brake (Restriction 1) (1933) www page.
4922 TPO Travelling Post Office (1939) www page.
5644 CK Corridor Composite (1930) www page.
6575 BCK Corridor Composite Brake (1929) www page.
6686 BCK Corridor Composite Brake (1935) www page. [Operational]
7864 KB Kitchen Buffet (1932, rebuilt 1947) www page.
11201 DMBT 4 Cor electric Driving Motor Brake Third (1938) www page [Southern Electric Group exhibition]
1456 TO Open Third (1947) www page. 1464 TO Open Third (1950) www page. [Operational] 1481 TO Open Third (1950) www page. 1482 TO Open Third (1950) www page. [Operational] 2515 SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third (1951) www page. [Operational] 2526 SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third (1951) www page. [Undergoing overhaul] 4227 SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third with Coupé (i.e. half) compartment (1948) www page. 4279 SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third (1949) www page. [Operational] 5768 CK Corridor Composite (1947) www page
89 Pullman Kitchen 1st "Constance" - see South Eastern Railway Car 33 above.
157 Pullman Brake 3rd "Car No.54" (1923) www page.
175 Pullman Kitchen 1st "Fingall" (1924) www page. [Operational]
219 Pullman 3rd "Christine" (formerly "Car No.64") (1928) www page. [Operational]
229 Pullman 3rd "Lilian" (formerly "Car No.76") (1928) www page. [Operational]
282 Pullman "Brighton Belle" Kitchen 1st "Doris" (1932) www page.
311 Pullman Kitchen 1st "Eagle" (1960) [Operational, on loan from National Railway Museum]
3801 Night Ferry Wagons-Lits (1939) www page (used as volunteer sleeping accommodation)
(These three coaches are used for overnight sleeping accommodation for volunteers)
- see also the LMS BGZ
398 LMS/BR 1st Sleeper (1952) www page. At Sheffield Park
603 LMS/BR 3rd Sleeper (1951) www page. At Horsted Keynes
623 LMS/BR 3rd Sleeper (1952) www page. At Horsted Keynes
1818 RMB Restaurant Miniature Buffet (1960) www page. [Operational] 1838 RMB Restaurant Miniature Buffet (1959) www page. [Operational] 3064 FO Open First (1955) www page [Operational] 4824 SO Open Second (48 seats) (1959) www page [Operational] 4941 SO Open Second (64 seats) (1962) www page. [Operational] 4957 SO Open Second (64 seats) (1962) www page. [Operational] 5034 Saloon (formerly SO, then TCL 99165) (1962) www page. [Operational, Converted to multi-use saloon with wheelchair lifts] 16210 CK Corridor Composite (1961) (7210) www page. [Operational] 16263 CK Corridor Composite (1963) www page. 21271 BCK Brake Composite (1964) (ADB977109) www page 24458 SK Corridor 2nd (1954) www page 25728 SK Corridor 2nd (1961) (18728) www page. [Operational] 25769 SK Corridor 2nd (1961) (18769) www page. [Operational] 35448 BSK Brake Corridor 2nd (1963) www page. [Operational]Former Travelling College Vehicles:
25871 Carriage Shop, (TCL 99161) Ex-SK (1962) www page.
TCL 99166 Staff Dormitory, Ex-SK 25776 (1961) www page.
One former "Queen of Scots" staff sleeping coach is on the Bluebell Railway:
88 "Service Car No.2" Staff Sleeping Coach (SLC M2442) (1961) www page.
1 LCDR Horse Box (1882) (1002, SECR 184) www page
153 SECR Passenger Luggage Van (PLV) (1922) (1994, DS70031) www page.
270 LBSCR Milk/Fruit Van (1908) (2178, 1525S) www page [under overhaul]
719 SECR Birdcage Brake Van (1905) (616, 1601S) www page.
5498 LSWR Ventilated Luggage Van (1920) (1584, DS1686) www page.
404 Van C (BY) (4-wheel Guard's Brake Van) (1937) www page. [Operational]
419 Van C (BY) (1937) (ADB 975548) www page. [Operational]
442 Van C (BY) (1937) [storage, underframe eventually for victorian coach body]
653 Van C (BY) (1938) www page
1184 PLV (4-wheel Passenger Luggage Van, later "PMV") (1935) www page
1788 PLV (1942) www page
2186 PLV (1934) www page
2276 Van U (4 wheel Covered Carriage Truck, CCT) (1929) www page
2462 GBL (Gangwayed Bogie Luggage van) (body 1931, u/f 1910) www page [Operational]
2531 4-w CCT (1955) www page
4430 6-wheel glass-lined Milk Tank (1933) www page [Operational]
4601 Bogie Scenery Van (modified for carrying circus elephants) (1949) www page
Further SR vans are also on site, and the bodies of some have already been removed.
These are providing underframes for the restoration of 19th century 4-wheeled coaches.
32975 LMS BGZ (6-wheel Gangwayed Guard's Brake, Stove R) (1938) www page [Operational] 87720 BR 12-Ton INSUL-FISH Insulated Fish Van (1960) (083402) www page 6334 BR BG - HST Barrier Vehicle (ex Gangwayed Full Brake 81478/92128) (1957) www page
* indicates coaches which will require major overhaul in next few years. LBSCR: 661, 7598; LCDR: 114; GNR: Directors' Saloon (LNER 43909) Metropolitan Railway: 387, 368, 394, 412; SECR: 1098; LNWR: Observation Car 1503, Royal Saloon (LMS 806); Pullmans: 175 Fingall, 219 Car No.64 (Christine), 229 Car No.76 (Lilian)*, 311 Eagle; LMS: Stove R 32975; SR Maunsell: 1309, 6686, Van'C' 404, Milk Tanker 4430; SR Bulleid: 1464, 1482, 4279* BR: 1818, 1838, 3064, 4824, 4941*, 4957, 5034, 16210, 25728, 25769, 35448Coaches undergoing major overhaul
LBSCR 949, 270; SECR 3363; LSWR 1520; SR Maunsells 3687, 1336; SR Bulleid 2526;Coaches currently undergoing light overhaul
The GNR Directors' Saloon is currently having the remainder of its wiring replaced, and other minor winter maintenance work
LBSCR 7598 and the LNWR Semi-Royal Saloon await work on their wheelsets.
SECR No.971 is receiving an intermediate bodyside overhaul, following 44 years in Bluebell service!
The LMS BGZ is being fitted with temporary catering facilities for use on the Golden Arrow.
The Southern Electric Group's 4 Cor motor coach, in Platform 1 at Horsted Keynes, is open at weekends and contains a display about the Coach and the Southern Electric.
Also at Horsted Keynes in Platform 1, the Carriage Shop sells various items, including a large range of books, to raise funds for carriage restoration.
Much of the carriage restoration done at Horsted Keynes is undertaken by volunteers. As the above lists show, there is a long line of coaches awaiting our attention. Why not come and join us; drop in for a look around the shed and see what we do! There is all sorts of work available, skilled and unskilled. Learn new skills, or brush up on those you've forgotten. There are people around every day. Join the Carriage Restorers and be part of an award winning department! 1309, Pullman 'Bertha' (no longer on the Bluebell) and the completed Metropolitan Set have been overall winners of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) C&W competition, 32975 and 7598 have all won HRA "Coach of the year" awards, and 387, 661 and 7598 have received other prestigious prizes and awards.
Copyright © 7 October 1995.