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Southern Railway - Maunsell 2356 Corridor Third (built in 1931)
Richard Salmon

Type: Corridor Third
Built: 1931 at Eastleigh (E464)
Original No: 2356
Other Nos: S2356S, 081315
Seating: 64 3rd class
Length: 59'
Restriction: 1
Weight: 33 Tons
Withdrawn: 1961
Preserved: 1973
To Bluebell: 13/10/1973

Built to the narrower 8'6" width for the Eastern Section of the SR, as part of an 8-coach set, it was initially used on London to Ramsgate services. The set was later reduced to 7 coaches, but was supplemented by a Pullman coach, and used on the best Kent Coast services throughout the Southern Railway's existence.

In 1950 the set was increased to 9 vehicles, and by 1953 it was maintained only for special traffic. The set was reduced to four coaches on the electrification of some of the Kent lines in 1959, and 2356 became a "loose" vehicle until withdrawal two years later. It then found use as a mobile office at Streatham Common, losing its interior at this time.

On the Bluebell it remained, until 2001, in departmental service as our Carriage & Wagon Department Mess Coach. It appears that this will be the only loco-hauled Southern Railway Corridor Third to survive for posterity, and were it not for this fact, it might not even have survived itself.