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Southern Railway - Bulleid 2515 Semi-Open Brake Third (built in 1951)
Richard Salmon

This coach, built to a Southern Railway design by the newly formed British Railways, was used throughout its time on BR in three-coach set No.857. It is unusual in its "semi-open" seating arrangement, having 16 seats in two compartments, and 32 in an open saloon. Initially used on London to Dover, Ramsgate and Margate services, in 1955 it was transferred to the South Western lines out of Waterloo.

On withdrawal it was retained for conversion to a gauging vehicle, but this was never done, and it was sold, complete but in need of major repairs, to the Bluebell. It finally entered full service after overhaul in 1977, having run briefly, partially complete, in 1976, as part of the five-coach Bulleid set formed for the return to traffic of Bulleid Pacific "Blackmoor Vale". It received new external sheeting during another overhaul in 1986-7, the seating was re-trimmed (upholstered) in 1994, and the roof re-covered in 1998. It has now run for more years on the Bluebell than it did on BR.