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. 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, eventually, 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, as ready-to-run models.

Bachmann released the second open carriage (SO) in 1999. These were open-plan third class coaches with the corridor running down the centre. They seated 48 passengers (2+1 abreast) or 64 passengers (2+2 abreast). 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 built between 1953 and 1963, the first ones at Derby and the last batch at York. The review model is in BR crimson and cream and is numbered W3789 (38-052F).

The brake second corridor (BSK) model was released in 1999. Over the years 13 lots of the real coaches were built, the earliest at Derby in October 1952 and the last lot were constructed at Wolverton in April 1962. The coach was divided roughly into two, with four compartments and a lavatory in one end, followed by the guard's compartment and luggage space at the other end. There were doors both sides, at either end of the passenger section, and two sets of double doors each side giving access into the luggage compartment. The guard also had a private door outside from his compartment and another one across the corridor on the opposite side of the coach. Two recently released versions of the model are in BR(SR) green numbered S34642 (39-078E) and BR crimson and cream numbered W34139 (39-077E).

The unclassified restaurant car (RU) model dates from 1999. Besides the prototype coach (built at Eastleigh to diagram 22 in 1956), two batches of RUs were built. The first lot in 1957 and the second the following year. In both cases, Ashford provided the underframes and Swindon built the bodies. There was seating for 33 passengers, in each coach, but later a table and four seats were removed, reducing the capacity to 29. The rest of the space in the coach was taken up with the pantry and kitchen, staff compartment and staff toilet, as well as corridor links for the public. A recent model release was in BR crimson and cream numbered W1900 (39-105A).

The corridor composite (CK) model arrived in 2000. The CKs were less common than single class coaches on the real railways. There were three third class compartments and four in the first class end of the coach. They were separated by a door in the corridor, as well as a central vestibule with outside doors. In addition, there were vestibules with external doors at both ends of the coach. Eleven lots of CKs 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 recent Bachmann CK releases are BR(SR) green S15567 (39-128C) and BR maroon E16244 (39-126F).

The first class corridor FK model was released in 2000. The standard BR batch of side corridor first class coaches 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. In each coach there were seven compartments, each with six seats, and there was a toilet at each end of the coach. Each end also had a vestibule with external doors and there was an additional door in the centre of the corridor side of the coach. The two latest versions of the model to be released are a weathered BR maroon E13333 (39-151E) and BR crimson and cream W13065 (39-152D).

The gangwayed brake (BG) model dates from 2000. The actual vehicle was also known as a 'full brake'. It had a guard's compartment in the centre and two large areas either side of it for storing luggage. There were four pairs of doors in each side, as well as a single door in the centre of each side for the guard. BGs were found all over the British Railways network. The standard Mk1 BG was shorter than other Mk1 coaches, being 57ft (17.37m) in length, 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, the first batch at Derby in 1953 and the last lot were built in 1961, by Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Ltd. There have been two recent releases - BR crimson and cream W80705 (9-177D) and Royal Mail red 92233 (39-184A).

The brake corridor composite (BCK) model arrived in 2001. The earliest batch of the real vehicles came from Derby in 1954 and the final lot, also from Derby, in 1963. All regions received them, the fewest going to the Southern. There were five compartments, each with six seats with adjustable armrests. Three of the compartments were for third class passengers and two were first class. The corridor had a dividing door between them but no central vestibule. There was a lavatory and vestibule, with external doors, at either end of the passenger section of the coach. Only a little over a quarter of the coach was left for the guard's compartment and luggage space. The latter had one double door each side and the guard also had a single door each side. Two recent model releases are BR crimson and cream Sc21017 (39-1227D) and BR green S21264 (39-228C).

.