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British Railways - Standard Steam Stock (Mk.1)
25728 - Corridor Second (SK) (1961)
Richard Salmon

This carriage was restored to maroon livery as seen here in 1994. In 2003 it was given a full repaint into BR(S) green, as seen below.

Type: SK (Second Corridor), Diagram 146
Built: 1961, at BR Litchurch Lane Carriage Works, Derby (Lot 30685)
Original No: M25728
Other Nos: M18728, NSE: 18728
Seating: 64 2nd class (originally 48)
Body Length: 64' 6"
Weight: 37 Tons
Withdrawn: 1990
Preserved: 1991
To Bluebell: 16/7/1991

Coaches such as this, from the early sixties, are the core of most steam railways' carriage fleets. We are lucky on the Bluebell to have rather more pre-nationalisation vintage stock running than most others. However, a carefully restored and well-maintained Mk.1 coach has an important role to play in the recreation of the last years of the steam era. Built for London Midland Region, seating only 48 in a three-a-side arrangement, this was subsequently altered to its current 4-a-side, higher capacity form.

During 1994 this coach had considerable attention paid to its steel structure. The gangways at both ends have been removed, exposing severely corroded collision pillars. These have been repaired by welding in new sections of pillar, and similar attention was given to two of the 6 doors. The interior of the coach has been "de-furbished", with the lighting converted from florescent tubes back to the original bulbs, although the seats must, perforce, retain their modern moquette until such time as it wears out. The windows and gutters have been removed and re-bedded to keep the coach watertight. It is only by giving Mk.1 coaches such thorough overhauls that their long-term future can be secured.

Go to the page showing the work done on the end of the coach in 1994 or the page for the re-paint to green in 2003.