The newly formed 'British Railways' produced the prototype Mark 1 coach in September 1950, with the production examples emerging six months later.
This was not a single type of carriage, but was a range of stock mounted on a standard chassis, and built to standard body profiles with uniform window sizes. Eventually there were some 66 different diagrams of main line stock.
Construction of the standard carriages was all steel, with the body shell welded to the underframe which was 63 5 in length for main line stock. The body profile was curved, similar to that employed by Bulleid for his Southern Railway designs, and allowed slightly greater width at shoulder height.
For main line coaches Buckeye automatic couplers, and Pullman type gangways became standard.
Ready-to-Finish Models
Consisting of an unpainted, but assembled body and underframe, with ends and corridor connectors, and bogies (either BR1 or Commonwealth) with wheels. They are supplied with no interior.
Initially, there will be 21 different body diagrams available, although many of these are externally identical, it being only the interiors that are different.
Construction - One piece aluminum body shell, which is attached to the aluminum floor and underframe with screws. This makes for easy disassembly, and reassembly for finishing.
To finish the coaches, you will need to supply your choice of the following - Roof vents, gutter strips, window vent no drafts, door and grab handles, battery boxes and other underframe detail, buffers, window glazing, paint, transfers and lining.
Price Per Individual Car - Ready-to-Finish - $300 US
Technical Information
For more pictures of BR Mark 1 coaches click here
To download my 'Guide to the BR Mark 1 Coach' in PDF format (340KB) click here
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