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Southern Railway
Maunsell Nondescript Brake No. 4444

As had long been expected, this carriage was broken up for spares, due to being assessed as being in a dangerous condition, on 12 April 2021.

4444 whilst used as the "Carriage Shop" (Richard Salmon - March 1992)

The Maunsell restriction 1 (8'6" wide) "nondescript" or unclassed coaches were built for use on the South Eastern Section boat trains, and could be allocated for first, second or third class as required by the passenger complement of the ship for which the train was run. Internally they were fine vehicles, divided into three separate saloon areas, quite fit for first-class use. They also found use, as rather plush third-class accommodation, on special trains run for some of the many boarding schools within the SR's area at the start and end of term. Two of these splendid coaches are to be found, in working order, on the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Used in the Southern Region Officers' Train from 1946 to 1956, in 1959 No. 4444 was substantially modified (or butchered as one writer has put it) and renumbered to become an ambulance coach. It was one of four modified with 11 seats and 24 cots for the initial stage of the pilgrimage journey to Lourdes. After withdrawal from this use it was sold to the army, for continued use as an ambulance coach at Bramley, until condemned by a rolling stock inspector who fell through its rotten roof.

On arrival on the Bluebell the old roof was removed and burned, and a new one fitted. Internally it was again modified, to become Sheffield Park's buffet, prior to the building of the current facility. It then served for a time as the Carriage Shop at Horsted Keynes. With its roof leaking again, it appeared that the dry rot had not been eliminated the first time around, and it has subsequently deteriorated considerably. It had been expected eventually to donate its underframe to allow the restoration of the identical No. 4441, which survives at the Bluebell in slightly better condition.

In April 2021 its deteriorating condition resulted in it being declared dangerous, and it was dismantled, with a few parts salvaged for re-use. The underframe as a whole was judged unsuitable for retention/reuse, but the bogies were sold on for use supporting the salvaged body of Pullman Car 'Princess Ena' at Petworth Station.

It should be remembered that 4444 did not come to the Bluebell with the intention that it would ever be restored. With two identical, complete, and restored vehicles operating on the K&ESR (Nos. 4432 & 4443), and since we only had the parts available to restore one nondescript, it was never intended to retain the coach other than as a source of spare parts for 4441.

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Type: Nondescript Brake/Ambulance Car
Built: 1933 at Eastleigh (E708)
Original No: 4444
Other Nos: S4444S, S7921S, MoD: AD 777
Seating: 36 1st, 2nd or 3rd class as required
     (later 35, including 24 invalids)
Length: 59'
Restriction: 1
Weight: 31 tons
Withdrawn: 1968
Preserved: 1980
To Bluebell: 29/8/1980

Right: 4444 in use as the Carriage Shop (Richard Salmon, March 1992)

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