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Bulleid coaches

Set 897

photograph by Keith Harwood.

Set 897 pauses at Upper Warlingham whilst forming the 5:50pm evening service from Victoria to East Grinstead.

Such is the scope of this subject it is not possible to provide definitive coverage so we only aim to give a flavour of this stock. Only Bulleid's locomotive hauled stock will be covered on this pages. Both the Southern Railway and the Southern Region ran the majority of its Bulleid coach stock in fixed sets. The formation of these sets could either be fairly stable throughout their lives or reformed seasonally (or indeed as and when required) to respond to changing traffic demands. (For further details of Bulleid coach set formations please follow this link to our page on Southern set formations.

The two BSKs (4225 and 4226) in set 897 were built by the BRCW Co. in May 1948 being formed with CK 5783 into set 803. They were subsequently reformed into 7-Buffet set 473 with the CK going to 8-set 474, both sets being allocated to London - Ramsgate services. Following the completion of Phase One of the Kent Coast electrification the two BSKs were again reformed but this time into set 897 for London -Tunbridge Wells West - Brighton services. The formation was in June 1959: BSK 4225 (Bulleid), SK 816 (Maunsell), FK 7665 (Maunsell), SK 844 (Maunsell), SK 1160 (Maunsell) and BSK 4226 Bulleid).
For the winter 1959 service the Maunsell SKs were replaced by Bulleid ones, the formation becoming 4225, 41, 7665, 42, 43 and 4226. By June 1960 the Maunsell FK had been replaced by a Bulleid vehicle, 7646. The FK was once again replaced in early 1963 with a Mark 1 FK, 13143. The set was disbanded around October 1963. From looking at photograph all vehicles appear to be Bulleid suggesting a date of circa 1961 (Where the set has been renumbered is still visible on the coach end). Due to the acute angle it is not possible to say which BSK is nearest the camera.

For more information on Bulleid coaches you are strongly advised to read the master work on this subject - the book "Bulleid's S.R. Steam Passenger Stock" by David Gould published by the Oakwood Press - second edition published 1994 ISBN 0 85361 467 9 or the first edition published 1980, no ISBN.

Bulleid always engaged in innovative designs, amongst these were welded construction and his plywood sleeper.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the plywood construction Bulleid coach which was, apparently, built without the full knowledge of the Southern Railway board and once built was kept hidden from view at Stewarts Lane. It was authorised by Head Office Order 3359 of 27th April 1946, which was an instruction to Lancing works for "one saloon for inspection purposes", no mention of a sleeping car! It was officially completed in November 1946, but probably outshopped some months earlier. It had Bulleid's own design of radial bearing bogies, on a standard underframe, branded 67ft 1in overall and was plated as 32tons. The Southern's drawing register lists the coach as being to Diagram 1873. The design has been likened to an inverted ship's hull with the keep plate or ridge rail running along the centre of the roof like the keel of an upsode-down ship. Pre-formed sections 9ft 5ins wide made of 9/16ths in nine-ply birch were bolted to the ridge rail and underframe and resin-bonded to the saloon framework which was of similar ply construction. The bogie design involved two radial bearing pads, one on the front and one on the back of the bogie, 14ft 2in apart. The pads were sprung to accommodate both the swing and the fore and aft pitching of the bogies. The downside to this arrangement was that unless kept very well lubricated the bogies were sluggish in rotating when meeting a curve which resulted in excess wheel wear, rail wear and rough riding.

According to Kidner* it was a sleeping car built for the use of the top management of the Railway, including Bulleid himself. It was numbered 100S and ran with a generator van, ex-SECR LV 1987, 97S, two dining cars, 98S (ex-7940) and 99S (ex-7943,) with a nondescript brake 444S (ex-4444). The coach had a single centre door and six windows all placed high up the sides. Its sleeping capacity was provided by twelve berths - eleven bedrooms with hot and cold water and an attendant's room, a lavatory and a shower. Kidner suggests that it was only out on the road once. However, Bulleid's son** writes that Sir Cyril Hurcomb, first Chairman of British Railways, "made one or two trips in this saloon and remarked to Bulleid that it was the most beautifully riding coach he had ever been in". Additionally he refers to "on one occasion after an overnight stop". It has been suggested, though there is no substantive evidence, that Bulleid designed this as a prototype for a trial of an overnight sleeper to the west country.

Whatever its true purpose, the coach was obviously very little used and was withdrawn by 1955 then cut up and burnt at Lancing carriage works in 1956.

* Service Stock of the Southern Railway, R.W. Kidner, Oakwood Press.
(There is a good photograph of this coach on p73 of this book)
** Bulleid of the Southern, H.A.V. Bulleid, Ian Allan

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.
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  • 100S

     
    This is the only photograph we presently have of coach 100S, taken at Brighton late April 1948 (going by the locomotive also in the photograph, WD 2-8-0 Nš77259).
    Photograph: Mike Morant collection.
  • 5718S

     
    S5718S is a Southern Railway built corridor composite photographed here at Clapham Junction on 15th November 1966.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • S114S

     
    S114S is a Southern Railway built second corridor coach that had been part of Set 830, now disbanded, and was photographed at Clapham Junction on 15th November 1966.
    Photograph by Ray Soper.
  • S5768S

     
    S5768S is another corridor composite, built in 1946. It was allocated to 3 car set 787 on western section services and was withdrawn in October 1968. After a long spell in service on the Bluebell Railway, where it is pictured here in the early 1980s. Following a period out of service it had a thorough overhal, returning to traffic on 27th April 2019.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S5768S

     
    Another view of S5768S, here in BR livery at Horsted Keynes on 18th June 1993. That it is an early design is clear from its shallow window lights.
    Photograph used with grateful acknowledgement from the late Tony Dunkley Collection.
  • S4211S

     
    S4211S is semi open brake third with the lavatory at the end of the coach rather than the centre as on some others. It was allocated to 3 car set 796.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S4211S

     
    S4211S was built by BRCW, but this being an earlier build has detail differences - shallow lights, no ventilators in corridor windows - as can be seen here is this picture taken in the early 1980s - and a coupe compartment which allowed a larger luggage space.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S4211S

     
    In this picture the coupe compartment is clear from the narrower window next to the guard's door. 4211 was one of 37 brakes transferred to the Western Region. It was withdrawn in February 1965 and passed into departmental use as a training coach. It was bought by the Mid Hants Railway in March 1976 and is pictured here at Alresford on 29th May 2000.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S1482S

     
    1950 built Bulleid open third S1482S at Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway, on 21st July 2001.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 2515

     
    2515 is a semi-open brake third built by the Southern Region in 1951, with the underframe built at Lancing and the body at Eastleigh, initially for London to Dover, Ramsgate and Margate services but subsequently on South Western services in 3 car set 857. It arrived at the Bluebell on 2nd March 1973 and following restoration entered service in February 1977.
    Photograph by John A Arkell.
  • 2515

     
    2515 captured whilst leaving Horsted Keynes on 21 July 2001. Although built by BR it is liveried as a SR coach so doesn''t bear the S pre-fix and suffix to its number.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S1464S

     
    S1464S is an open third built in 1947. It arrived at the Bluebell Railway on 12 May 1978 and following restoration returned to traffic during April 1986.
    Photograph by John A Arkell.
  • S1464S

     
    S1464S also leaving Horsted Keynes on 21 July 2001. Built in 1950, 1464 was always a "loose" vehicle used to lengthen trains or form special trains. As such it remained in service until the end of steam-hauled stock in 1968 when it was bought by the Merchant Navy Preservation Society in 1969 or 70. Moved to the Bluebell on 12th May 1978, it received an overhaul before entering traffic there in May 1986.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • S2515S

     
    2515 again. It was allocated to 3 coach set 857 (though is shown here, on the Bluebell, as being in set 820), initially for London to Dover, Ramsgate and Margate services but subsequently on South Western services and was withdrawn by BR in 1966. Bought by the Bluebell in 1973, it returned to traffic in 1977 following a full overhaul. It is seen here in the early 1980s.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 4279

     
    The characteristic door top lights of the Bulleid coach design can be seen here, as can the destination board arrangement. 4279 is another semi open brake third and when photographed on the Bluebell Railway in September 1999 was carrying Southern Railway livery and numbering.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 4279

     
    Bulleid semi-open brake third 4279 at Horsted Keynes on 21st July 2001. Note that the opening lights are much shallower than on 2515.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 4365

     
    4365 is a semi open brake third built in 1948 for use in set 298 - one of the 6 coach dining sets for Waterloo to Bournemouth services which originally had its lower body sides extended to the bottom of the solebar. It was replaced in this set by BR Mk1 BCK S21268 in June 1965 and withdrawn in May 1966. It was sold to the Army, then bought for the Swanage Railway in October 1977. It is pictured here in a rather dilapidated condition at Corfe Castle on 16th September 2000.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • 1469

     
    1469 is an open third built in BR days (1950) for use as "loose" stock - i.e. not permanently allocated to a set and was one of eleven swapped with the Eastern Region for Mk1s needed for conversion into MU stock for the Bournemouth electrification project. It was withdrawn in April 1969 and acquired by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 1970 where is is pictured here in 1971
    Photograph: Michael Taylor.
  • 4279 end

     
    The guard's van end details on 4279.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 4279 roof

     
    Bulleid coaches were built with canvas laid over wooden roofs which has proved to be one of their weak points over the years. The ventilator and periscope details on 4279 are illustrated in this picture.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 4279 saloon
    window

     
    A saloon window of semi open third brake 4279 (diag 2125), note the raised frame and shallow ventilator. Taken on the Bluebell Railway 26th October 2002.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • 4279 brake
    end

     
    The brake end, corridor side, of semi open third brake 4279. Note the wider window compared to that opposite the coupe compartment on 4211. Taken on the Bluebell Railway 26th October 2002.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • Lavatory
    window

     
    The frosted lavatory window of open third 1482. Taken on the Bluebell 26 Railway October 2002.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • Destination
    board

     
    The distinctively high-mounted destination boards used on Bulleid stock, seen here on 1464 at the Bluebell Railway on 3rd July 2003. Compare this with the lower-mounted board on the BR Mkl coaches.
    Photograph: Peter Richards.
  • Roof
    detail

     
    Roof detail of open third 1482, pictured at Sheffield Park on a sunny 20th June 2003.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • Underframe
    detail

     
    The underframe detail of one side of open third 1482.
    Photograph: Colin Duff.
  • Departmental
    service

     
    The coach depicted here was outside the depot at St Leonards when it was photographed sometime during the early 1980s. It is believed it was there in connection with training for the electrification of the Hastings line.
    Photograph: Ian Fossey.
  • Departmental
    service

     
    The same coach in the same place, as photographed in 1986. Nice to see that it was obviously being well cared for.
    Photograph: Ian Fossey.

This section was last updated 3 December 2002


Interiors

SREmG

photograph by Colin Duff

Interior view of Southern Railway built open third 1464 (diag 2017) taken on the Bluebell Railway, 26th October 2002. Note the net luggage hammocks.

Bullied coaches had a light and airy interior, especially the open stock, thanks largely to having good sized windows. Built by both the Southern Railway and British Railways, those built by the latter had shallower sliding lights leading to an even larger main window. Seat coverings were various iterations of moquette, usually a red based cloth for third/second class and blue based for first class. Luggage storage was provided by the usual stringed racks in compartments and by stringed hammocks in open stock. Seats were arranged as four each side in third/second class compartment stock and two by two, facing each other, in open stock. First class had three per side in compartments and in dining cars only, one and two across, again facing (except those for the Tavern Sets which had single seats with their backs to the side of the coach and an individual table in front of each seat.

Compartment had posters displayed above the seats, which could be an advertisement for a place served by the railway, a map of the system or a mirror.

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If there is a larger version, clicking on the 'F' key will display it. Clicking again will close the window.
  • Seats

     
    Caption.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Seats

     
    The facing third/second class seats in open third 1464. Another verion of the seat material is apparent.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Interior
    view

     
    Another seat material! The saloon section of Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third 2515 photographed on 3rd July 2003.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • Compartment
    view

     
    One of the two compartments in Semi-Open Brake Third 2515 showing the distinctive seating material.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • Interior
    view

     
    A general view of the interior of open third 1482 taken during the SREmG outing to the Bluebell Railway on 20th June 2003.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Interior
    view

     
    An individual seating bay of open third 1482 whilst at Sheffield Park on 20th June 2003. 1482 was one of the Bullied coaches which was exchanged for Mk1 stock and transferred to the Scottish Region.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Seat
    material

     
    Close-up of the seat cloth in 2515 inthe previous photograph.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • Seat
    material

     
    Another pattern of seat cloth as used in Open Third 1464.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • Carriage
    map

     
    A carriage map showing the Southern's Electrified System.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.
  • Carriage
    map

     
    A carriage map of the whole BR(S) System.
    Photograph by Peter Richards.

This section was last updated 9 July 2003

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