The first Mk1 coaches went into service in 1951 and remained in use for over forty years. This longevity is a remarkable feat when compared with other vehicles in constant use on railways, roads and in the air. It is a complement to this post-war austerity design, which could claim to be the most significant in the history of passenger carrying on Britain's railways.

When production of the standard British Railways coaches started, the existing system of seats being classified as 1st class and 3rd class was continued for a while. Then, in June 1956, 3rd class travel was abolition in Britain. From that time, 3rd class became 2nd class and, a lot later - standard class.

While of a standard design, there was a significant variety of Mk1 types to meet many different needs and Bachmann are unique in tackling so many of these variations in 00 scale ready-to-run models. No fewer than nine of these types are illustrated here as recent releases.

SK - Built to diagram 146, more of these standard 3rd (2nd) class corridor coaches were produced than any other design in the history of Britain's railways and were found throughout the network. The first lot was built in 1952 at Eastleigh and the last in 1963 at the BR coach works at York. The illustrated model is 39-027F in maroon and cream and numbered M24135.

SO - Again, very large quantities of this type of coach were built and were found on all regions, the smallest number being allocated to the Scottish Region. They were open 3rd (2nd) class coaches built between 1953 and 1963, the first ones at Derby and the last batch at York. Our example is 39-050E in blue and grey and numbered M4439.

BSK - These 3rd (2nd) corridor brake ends were built to diagrams 181 and 182 and the running numbers used by Bachmann apply to either of these designs. Over the years 13 lots of them were built, the earliest at Derby in October 1952 and the last lot were constructed at Wolverton in April 1962. Our model is 39-079B in Western Region chocolate and cream livery for use with certain named trains. It is numbered W34885.

RU - Besides the prototype coach (built at Eastleigh to diagram 22 in 1956), two batches of unclassified restaurant cars were built using diagram 23. The first lot were built in 1957 and the second lot the following year. In both cases, Ashford provided the underframe and Swindon built the body. Our example is 39-103B in maroon as W1924.

CK - Eleven lots of corridor composites were built and distributed to all five regions. The first lot was built at Derby in 1952 and the last lot, also at Derby, in 1963. Two models of this type have recently been released, these being 39-129B in Western Region chocolate and cream livery as W15110 and 39-125C in blue and grey as M16153.

FK - The standard BR side corridor first class coaches were built to diagram 116 and in eight lots. The first batch was built in 1952 at Swindon and it was there that the last lot was also built ten years later. The Southern Region received only one of the type and the rest went to the other four regions. Our two recent examples are 39-151D in maroon livery as M13108 and 39-150C in blue and grey as M13085.

BG - These were found all over the British Railways network. The standard Mk1 gangwayed brake was shorter than other Mk1 coaches, being 57ft (17.37m) instead of 63ft (19.20m). This made it more versatile and able to go places where the other Mk1 coaches were banned. Eight lots of them were built to diagram 711, the first batch at Derby in 1953 and the last lot were built in 1961, by Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Ltd. We have two recent releases: 39-177C on crimson and cream as M85065 and 39-175C in blue and grey as M80906.

BCK - The standard brake composites were built to diagrams 171 and 172 in six lots. The earliest batch came from Derby in 1954 and the final lot, also from Derby, in 1963. All regions received them, the fewest going to the Southern. Our model is 39-226C in maroon as M21026.