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Maunsell Coaches

SREmG

photograph by Glen Woods

Maunsell Restriction 1 stock Unclassified Brake N°4443.

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 Maunsell's locomotive hauled stock will be covered in these pages.

Both the Southern Railway and the Southern Region ran the majority of its Maunsell 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 Maunsell coach set formations please follow this link to: SR/BR(S) Coach Sets.)

For more information on Maunsell coaches you are strongly advised to read the master work on this subject - the book "Maunsell's S.R. Steam Passenger Stock 1923-1939" by David Gould published by the Oakwood Press.

A large number of Maunsell, restriction 4, TKs, to diagram 2001, were built between 1927 and 1934 although there were external differences. It should be noted that the 'diagram' related to the internal seating and accommodation layout only and therefore was not concerned with such things as the height of the Large Side Lights (picture windows) used in the corridor.

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  • Set 457

     
    Maunsell set 457, formed in June 1963 and withdrawn in May 1964, consisted of brake 3701 and compo 5612 and was captured on camera at Reigate, looking towards Redhill.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • Set 459

     
    Maunsell 2-car set 459 (half of old set 219) hauled by 80011 at Eridge.
    Photograph by Keith Harwood.
  • BSK 4059/4061

     
    A Maunsell Brake Compartment 2nd (either 4059 or 4061) in set 447, photographed in the condemned siding at Horsted Keynes 12th July 1959.
    Photograph by Ian Fossey.
  • S1165S

     
    SK S1165S being shunted at Clapham Junction by an ex-GWR Pannier Tank. The destination board says 'Broadstone'. This is a 1932 built coach showing the non-corridor side with a single rainstrip on the roof and had the large corridor windows. Originally a loose vehicle for strengthening purposes, it was formed (by now being classified an SK) in strengthened set 201 for the summer 1960 service for Waterloo-Salisbury/Bournemouth-Weymouth and through services to other regions. S1165S was withdrawn in November 1961, from set 201.
    Photograph Mike Morant collection.
  • 1309

     
    Open third 1309, built in 1935, arrived at the Bluebell Railway on 3rd March 1973 and was extensively restored in the early 1980s.
    Photograph by John A Arkell.
  • 1309

     
    A further view of open third (to diagram 2007) 1309 at Sheffield Park on 21st July 2001.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 1309

     
    1309 is now at Horsted Keynes on 21st July 2001. Note the "airstream" ventilators.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 1309

     
    Open third 1309 rests at Kingscote whilst its loco runs round on a very sunny 20th June 2003.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 3554

     
    3554 is a Continental "Matchboard" brake 2nd to a SECR Maunsell design built by the SR in 1924. Owned by the Vintage Carriages Trust it is pictured at Horsted Keynes whilst on loan to the Bluebell following restoration..
    Photograph by John A Arkell.
  • 4443

     
    4443 is a Maunsell Restriction 1 unclassified coach here working on the Kent and East Sussex Railway.
    Photograph by Glen Woods.
  • 4958

     
    4958 is a 1939 built Post Office Storage Van and spent most of its life on western section mail workings but was transferred to the Dover mail train in the late 1960s. It survived until 1977, by then being painted in overall BR blue livery. It has long been a feature at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway where it is used as a store. It is pictured here on 6th April 1991.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 5618

     
    5618 is another Maunsell Restriction 1 unclassified coach, also seen on the Kent and East Sussex Railway.
    Photograph by Glen Woods.
  • 6575

     
    Caption6575 is a 1929 built corridor composite brake to diagram 2401 with an internal layout similar to the younger 6686. It was withdrawn in December 1959 and was bought by the fledgling Bluebell Railway and ran in their first operating season. It is seen here from its compartment side, the corridor side windows are high to allow standing passengers to see out of them.
    Photograph used with grateful acknowledgement from the late Tony Dunkley Collection.
  • 6575

     
    Another view of 6575 illustrating its characteristic wooden droplights. Note the high-mounted destination board.
    Photograph by John A Arkell.
  • 6686

     
    The flat sided guard's and luggage section characteristic of Maunsell stock is apparent in this picture. 6686 was withdrawn in 1966 and has been operating on the Bluebell Railway from 1971 - the year this photograph was taken.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 6686

     
    6686 is a corridor composite brake built in 1935 to diagram 2403 with four 3rd class and two first class compartments. It is seen here at Horsted Keynes in July 1974. Note this coach has a destination board between the second and third compartments.
    Photograph by Michael Taylor.
  • 6686

     
    The side brake end detail on 6686 illustrating the inset sides and Guard's ducket, this arrangement intended to enhance visibility from the ducket along the length of the train.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6686

     
    Brake compo 6686 looks resplendent in Southern Railway olive g reen at Kingscote on the hot summer's day of 20th June 2003.
    Photograph by Colin Duff, .
  • 6686

     
    Detail on the brake end of 6686 with the corridor shield in place.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6686

     
    The corridor side of 6686 at Horsted Keynes on 21st July 2001.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6699

     
    6699 was built as part of the same batch as 6686. It was converted by BR in 1960 to a driving brake composite and paired with Maunsell second open S1331S to form push pull set 619. In this incarnation it worked on central division branch trains and spent its last days on the Hayling Island branch until closure. It then formed part of the Chipman weedkilling train until 1980 when it went to the Mid-Hants Railway. In 1991 it was transferred to the Swanage Railway where it awaits restoration. It is seen here at Swanage on 6th March 1993.
    Photograph used with grateful acknowledgement from the late Tony Dunkley Collection.
  • DS70155

     
    DS70155 at Clapham Junction on 29th June 1965. A former Hastings (Restriction 0, 8' 0¾" wide) CK S5600S was converted into Es Inspection Saloon - 61' 7" x 9' 0", 32T; it was ex-works at Eastleigh on 18th November 1962. Latterly used for Driver Instruction and branded O.D.s TDS 70155 (O.D.s = Operating Department Southern) and used for driver route learning. DS70155 could be hauled or propelled. S5600S, built in l931, was originally a loose vehicle used in set 478 from June 1959 and withdrawn in September 1959.
    Photograph by Ray Soper, text from Glen Woods.
  • ADS 70040

     
    ADS 70040 photographed in a very shabby condition at Haywards Heath during the mid 1980s. This was a conversion from 1924/5 Eastern Section diagram 165 BTK (Thanet Stock) 3579 in 1960 to form an Office and Work Study Vehicle as DS 70040. The coach had been withdrawn from passenger service in May 1959.
    Photograph by Mark Westcott.
  • 6686 roof

     
    The roof detail of 6686. Note the destination board brackets on either side of the roof. The pipes at the ends of each coach roof are for filling the lavatory water tanks. The bottom of these pipes may be seen in a photo on the coach fittings page.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6686
    underframe

     
    Underframe detail on one side of brake composite 6686.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6686
    bogie

     
    An SR 8ft steam bogie under brake compo 6686.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.

This section was last updated 29 October 2003


Interiors

Corridor

photograph by Glen Woods

Caption.

Interior view of 6686 interior corridor looking towards brake, photographed at Sheffield Park on 27th August 2002.

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  • 6686
    compartment

     
    6686's #39;A#39; compartment, one of two first class ones, viewed through the open door at Sheffield Park on 27th August 2002.
    Photograph by Glen Woods.
  • Free/Secure
    handle

     
    One of the Free/Secure handles on one of the corridor door droplights Maunsell BCK 6686. There are two small brass plates 'FREE' on the left and 'SECURE' on the right and behind the handle the notice says:
    'TO OPEN WINDOW
    PUT HANDLE IN FREE POSITION
    AND PULL DOWN WINDOW'

    Photograph by Glen Woods.
  • 6686
    vestibule

     
    The vestibule of 6686 looking towards the gangway into the next carriage.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • 6686
    vestibule

     
    The reverse shot of the previous photograph in the vestibule looking towards the lavatory and corridor.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • First class
    compartment

     
    The interior of a first class compartment in brake composite 6686. The carriage map, print and net luggage rack are very evocative.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Third class
    compartment

     
    The interior, looking outwards, of a third class compartment in brake composite 6686.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Third class
    compartment

     
    The interior of a third class compartment of 6686 looking towards the corridor.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.
  • Guard's brake
    compartment

     
    The interior of the brake van of 6686 looking towards the end. Although the bright colours look as if this has been the result of a "Changing Rooms" type makeover the colours are authentic.
    Guard John Phillips is in charge of the train whilst the gentleman in the orange overalls leaning out of the window is the late Chris Cooper. It is Chris and his team that the Bluebell Railway and its passengers have to thank for the exceptional condition in which the coaches are presented, week after week after week.
    Photograph by Colin Duff.

This section was last updated 29 October 2003


Destination Boards

Destination boards were to be found in two places on Maunsell stock. The main, and most important, were up on the roof and gave the route of the train in which the coach was formed. A smaller one, at the top of the coach side, would sometimes be used to show the destination of the particular coach concerned.

The smaller ones were a creamy beige colour, with the place name in green, and could be used on any service.

The main ones were for important services only and normally consisted of two boards to each side of a coach, mounted on the roof. The first board would have the start and, frequently, the first destination, or the train name if there was one, and the second would have the subsequent destination(s). These boards were green with yellow lettering, shaded with black to the right and base. Some examples are shown below, though note that whereas the Central Section specified London Bridge or Victoria, the Eastern just showed "London", no doubt to save having to have a vast stock of boards!

The destinations were printed on paper which was then stuck to the boards and varnished to give them protection against the weather/soot/smoke etc.

Some examples of destination boards:

 
First Board Second Board
VICTORIA *      EASTBOUNE
VICTORIA *      EASTBOURNE     HASTINGS
VICTORIA *      BOGNOR REGIS
VICTORIA *      CHICHESTER     PORTSMOUTH
VICTORIA *      HOVE     LITTLEHAMPTON
VICTORIA *      HOVE     WORTHING
LONDON     FOLKESTONE      CENTRAL     EXPRESS
LONDON     FOLKESTONE      DOVER     DEAL
LONDON     TUNBRIDGE WELLS      ST LEONARDS     HASTINGS
LONDON     TUNBRIDGE WELLS      SIDLEY     BEXHILL
LONDON     MARGATE      BROADSTAIRS     RAMSGATE
WATERLOO     SALISBURY      EXETER     CENTRAL
WATERLOO     SALISBURY      EXETER     ILFRACOMBE
ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS      WATERLOO     PADSTOW #
WATERLOO     PORTSMOUTH      ISLE OF WIGHT
WATERLOO     SOUTHAMPTON      BOURNEMOUTH     SWANAGE
WATERLOO     SOUTHAMPTON      BOURNEMOUTH     WEYMOUTH
 
* or LONDON BRIDGE
 
# or BUDE or EXETER CENTRAL or ILFRACOMBE or PLYMOUTH or TORRINGTON

This section was created 17 July 2003

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