BR MK1 Crimson & Cream SO

BR MK1 Crimson & Cream SO

v4.5
Type: OPEN SECOND (SO)
Built: 1951 - 1953
Seating: 48, Open plan, 2+1
Length: 64.5 feet
Weight: 32 tons
Era: 1950s
BR Region: Southern

The Open Second, presented here in original condition as No.3503 allocated to the Southern Region, is mounted on BR1 bogies and fitted internally with tungsten lighting, wooden interior panelling and steam heating.

Designed as genuine second class coaches for use on boat trains. While Britain had scrapped 2nd class travel in 1930, triple class accommodation continued to be available on the continent until the Europeanwide abolition of third class fares and accommodation in June 1956. Until then to cater for 2nd class through ticketing, fifteen of these SOs were built to be used on UK leg of the journey on boat trains to and from the south coast. The body shell is the same as a standard TO - Third Open - (later TSO), with the seating arranged in an open plan 2+1 layout, being fixed double facing seats across a table located at each window, on once side of the central isle, and facing single seats on the other. Two toilets are provided, both at the same end of the coach, on opposite sides of the centre isle.


USE

Used on continental boat trains on the Southern Region, operating to and from London to the ports on the south coast of England until 1956. Normally coupled between 1st and 3rd class coaches.


LIVERY

Crimson and Cream, nicknamed 'blood and custard', was a bright departure from the grime and dirt of post war Britain. First applied in 1949, this livery was standard to all regions of British Railways until 1956, eventually to be replaced by Maroon or Southern Green. During this transition period during the late 1950s, it was not uncommon to see rakes formed with Maroon and Crimson and Cream coaches.


THE MARK 1 PROGRAMME

After the Second World War, wartime conditions highlighted the need for better standards in regards to vehicle lengths, profiles and couplings, for stock working between the 'Big Four' companies. A commission of senior officers was duly appointed by the UK 'Railway Companies Association' to create and implement a set of dimensions that would be applied to all future stock from each company. Although completed, the standards were not implemented, as nationalisation was imminent.

On nationalisation in 1948, the commission's findings were used by the new 'British Railways Carriage Standards Committee' as the basis to developed the 'C1 Restriction' profile - a set of standards governing coach length, profile and bogie centres. Thus from this the classic Mark 1 design was born, the prototypes unveiled on 18th September 1950, production coaches entering revenue service in March 1951. The Mk1 became the standard design for all new coaches between 1951 and 1964. Built using standard components - frame, coach ends and bogies - the body sides constructed from panelled sections with standard door and window fittings.

Author: Stephen Dark & Alexander Barnard

BR MK1 Crimson & Cream SO
• config.txt 34.10KB
mk1_crim_so_art
mk1_crim_so_art_512.texture.txt 89 bytes
mk1_crim_so_art_512.tga 1.00MB
mk1_crim_so_art_icon.texture.txt 91 bytes
mk1_crim_so_art_icon.tga 32.02KB
mk1_crim_so_body
env.texture.txt 26 bytes
env.tga 48.53KB
mk1_crim_so.texture.txt 34 bytes
mk1_crim_so.tga 1.50MB
mk1_crim_so_body.im 234.62KB
mk1_crim_so_shadow
black.texture.txt 28 bytes
black.tga 812 bytes
mk1_crim_so_shadow.pm 72.61KB
• tail_lamp.gs 5.92KB

License
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IMPORTANT READ CAREFULLY: This License Agreement (AGREEMENT) is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and Stephen Dark and Alexander Barnard (D&B COACHWORKS) for the installation and use of the content supplied with the software patch identified above, which may include online or electronic documentation, associated media and printed materials (PRODUCT). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the PRODUCT, you agree to be bound by the terms of this