By Brian Macdermott

Early on Sunday 4 October 1959, B1 4-6-0 No.61379 Mayflower (in a very clean condition) was noted travelling to King’s Cross at the head of a special train, which included two kitchen cars. The train carried roof-boards saying ‘The Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company of Massachusetts Express’.

Is this the longest UK train name ever?

by Brian Macdermott (with valued input from Nick Stanbury, Robert Carroll and Ian Taylor)

For the purpose of this Special Feature, I am broadly summing up BR steam era loco-hauled carriages as those which conveyed fare-paying passengers – passenger-carrying coaching stock (PCCS) – and stock which typically ran under Class A headlamp code, known to most modellers as expresses.

Gangway

A gangway is the projection on the end of a vehicle which, when connected to its counterpart on an adjoining vehicle, allows staff and/or passengers access from one vehicle to the other. These are often referred to as ‘corridor connections’, but are more accurately described as ‘gangway connections’.

The greater majority of what BR steam era modellers might generically term ‘express’ or ‘corridor trains’ were formed of gangwayed vehicles.

So....where does ‘corridor’ fit exactly?

Corridor

As stated above, access from one vehicle to another is by a gangway.

Many passenger coaches have a corridor along one side (or part of a side) off which there are numerous compartments - for example, Hornby Maunsell coaches.

The capital letter ‘K’ is used in carriage books to denote a vehicle equipped with a corridor leading to gangways. I’m not sure why ‘K’ was used, but I suspect it was because the letter ‘C’ had already been in use for many years to denote ‘Composite’.

By way of example, SR 4-sets often comprised:

BSK - Corridor Brake Second (i.e. part Second Class, part guard/luggage accommodation)

SK - Corridor Second (i.e. all Second Class accommodation)

CK - Corridor Composite (i.e. part Second, part First Class accommodation)

BSK - Corridor Brake Second (i.e. part Second Class, part guard/luggage accommodation)

Passengers could join the train from the platform at any point, then walk right through to find a suitable seat via the corridor in each coach and the gangways between them.

Open, Semi-open and Vestibule

In essence, an open coach has no separate compartments and one can (generally) see all seats in the coach in one go. Some coaches have separate open portions with a partition between them. For example, there is a BR Mk1 version which will be described in Special Feature No.2.

Seats in open coaches can be accessed from a central walkway (aisle) in most Second Class coaches, giving 2+2 seating, and a relatively central one in First Class stock, enabling a 2+1 arrangement. Some Second Class coaches had 2+1, but this was normally for dining use.

Open coaches could be either non-gangwayed or gangwayed. MK1 non-gangwayed open stock had the aisles slightly off centre – enabling 3+2 seating.

Codes included BSO (Open Brake Second) and SO (Open Second).

Footnote: I have seen some books on the subject of the GWR that use the term ‘central corridor’ for open stock, but have not seen the term in official documents.

Semi-open means that only part of the coach is open, the remainder having compartments and a side corridor. An example is Bachmann’s Bulleid Semi-open Brake Second (34-500/34-504A).

Vestibule is the ‘lobby’ area between two opposite entrance doors where this is separated from the seating areas by a partition. Most gangwayed coaches had such a vestibule at each end and some had one or more in the middle also.

Examples are the Bachmann MK1 Corridor Second (SK) and Corridor Composite (CK).

The LMS used the term vestibule to describe open coaches and the LNER used it to describe corridor coaches! Perhaps this has contributed to today’s confused terminology?

General Summary (but modellers should still study photos and timetables for accuracy)

The greater majority of main line express passenger trains ran under Class A headlamp code. The greater majority of these comprised gangwayed stock. They might comprise all corridor or all open stock, or a mixture of both. Some trains might have included semi-opens, too.

Postscript

1.Third Class was abolished in favour of Second Class in May 1956.

2. MK1 Kitchen Cars didn’t actually carry passengers, but worked in passenger trains for their direct service.

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With the excellent news of a complete six car 'Midland Pullman' set from Bachmann and an instant purchase price that modellers can save up for, do you know whether they intend to do a future set with W prefix by the car numbers when they transferred to the Western Region or possibly even the eight car Western set I would imagine that there would be a lot of interest in both types and although it didn't really suit them probably interest in the later grey and blue livery that they finished there days with.

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You would not think we are in a recession and I just hope there are enough people out there who intend to buy, to justified the possibility of three companies going head to head to produced something that will have such a high price.

It really is madness when there are so many other worthwhile steam locomotives and more importantly rolling stock in more deserving need.

Johann Kirsch

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Many congratulations to Bachmann on the announcement of the 'Midland Pullman'. I'm sure it will be a model to be proud of, at a reasonable price. I hope they go on to produce the WR version - it's not really very high on my priority list, but I will still buy one.

I took some cine film of this train from the vantage point of Old Oak Common's coal stage when it was virtually brand new. Looking at the film now, though, I wish I had used as much footage on the other coaches that were in the sidings!

My apologies - I forgot to mention Bachmann's LM coaches in my coaching stock posting. Nice coaches, but old moulds and no NEMs.

Brian Macdermott

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I hope the sceptics are gonna be suitably contrite. Shout loud enough and long enough and, fingers crossed, you will be heard.

Well done Hornby and Bachmann. Two six-car sets for me and hang the expense. Several days overtime coming.

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It would appear that everyone has gone 'Blue Pullman' mad, with Bachmann announcing a Midland set and Hornby evaluating their tooling. The latter may well release a 'Railroad' version which could be pretty good considering the good quality of some of the products in this range. The Bachmann Midland set looks as if it is going to be a top notch blue riband model, which could potentially put them in competition with Hornby if they choose to go down the super detail route. However that said, if Hornby release a Western Region set with the previously unmade cars and Bachmann stick to the Midland version, then there is room for both, but we must not forget Hornby are having their tooling reviewed which is non committal and may remain in mothballs now that Bachmann have confirmed their model.

Of course this does not take into account the Olivia's Blue Pullman which could now be in danger of not getting off the ground. I do feel sorry for them as they got the ball rolling and have been hijacked somewhat. At least they still have the Class 76 electrics.

All I can add is, thank goodness that the ROD BR(WR) 2-8-0 is on its way.

Andrew Carter

I agree with Andrew and feel for Olivia's Trains, whose project must now have been scuppered.

I note some anger at this situation by some earlier contributors and I feel they fail to grasp what has happened. The legal position in the UK prevents manufacturers from discussing their future plans and this is taken very seriously by our manufacturers. It has to be said that fines can be very heavy, if the law is ignored.

Manufacturers have said, in the past, that they feel that a model of the 'Blue Pullman' train would be uneconomical and that there are better subjects for their budgets to be spent on. Due to the constant pressure you have put on them, through contacts and polls, both leading companies have independently concluded that there may be a case to answer.

Hornby have committed themselves only to consider possibilities and have made no commitment beyond that. Bachmann have been looking at the possibility for several months (certainly prior to March) and have now decided to go ahead. Olivia's Trains, not knowing that Bachmann were exploring the possibility of a 'Midland Pullman' set, approached Heljan about a commissioned model. Heljan has a queue of projects awaiting their attention and it seems unlikely that a start will have been made yet on the 'Blue Pullman'. If this is so, it is quite feasible that this project will be withdrawn, in the light of Bachmann's announcement.

This leaves Hornby's plans which, it seems, have not yet been formulated. They could decide to go ahead with a budget model, they could decide to model the WR version to a high quality or they could decide to do nothing regarding a 'Blue Pullman' and devote their time and resources to other models we have requested. Time will tell.

In the meantime, there is only one model likely to be produced as a high quality product and that is the one that Bachmann announced on Sunday - Ed.

I have now been corresponding with both Bachmann and Hornby for several years, about the potential for North Eastern locomotives, and obviously other locomotives have been put forward as more suitable for production runs during this time.

However, as we approach the 50th Anniversary of the North Eastern Railway Association in 2011, I would like to put certain R-T-R manufacturers straight, when they claim that LNER locomotives tended to stick to their pre-grouping domains.

Consequently as the latest Yeadon volume, on North Eastern 0-6-0s, J25 - J27 et al, has just come out I would like to flag up the following North Eastern locomotives, and their wide ranging areas of operation, as indicated in the highlighted sources:

S2/B15 (4-6-0): NER Region, plus Grimsby; Nottingham; Sheffield, and Manchester via Woodhead (Yeadon Vol. 17).

S3/B16 (4-6-0): NER Region, plus Edinburgh, Nottingham, Banbury, Woodford Halse, Grantham, and south of Peterborough (Yeadon Vol. 17).

O/G5 (0-4-4T): NER Region, plus Stratford, Cambridge, Saffron Walden (Audley End/Bartlow service), and Aberdeen, Keith, and Inverurie (Banff Branch) (Yeadon Vol. 38).

C/J21 (0-6-0): NER Region, plus Doncaster, Boston, Langwith Junction, Lincoln, Lowestoft, New England, New Holland, Norwich, Peterborough East, and Retford (Yeadon Vol. 47A).

P/J24 (0-6-0): NER Region, plus Arbroath, Dundee (Carmyllie Light Railway), Parkhead, Haymarket, Dunfermline, and St Margarets (Yeadon Vol. 47A).

P1/J25 (0-6-0): NER Region, plus GWR Wolverhampton and Worcester districts during 1939-46 (Yeadon Vol 47B).

P2/J26 (0-6-0): NER Region, plus South Yorkshire Coalfield (Yeadon Vol. 47B).

P3/J27 (0-6-0): NER Region, plus March, Cambridge, Peterborough East, Langwith Junction, Ardesley, Grantham, and Edinburgh (Yeadon Vol. 47B).

E1/J72 (0-6-0T): NER Region, plus Aberdeen, St Margarets, Keith, Kittybrewster, Eastfields, Bidston, Neasden, Doncaster, Ipswich, and Wrexham (Yeadon Vol. 43A).

T2/Q6 (0-8-0): NER Region, plus Aberdeen, Thornton, Edinburgh, Manchester via Woodhead, Liverpool, Northwich, Doncaster, New England, Immingham, Mexborough, Colwick, Lincoln, March, and Peterborough (Yeadon Vol. 23).

T3/Q7 (0-8-0): NER Region, plus Grantham, Colwick, Manchester via Woodhead, and Liverpool (Yeadon Vol. 23).

I therefore hope that, with the evidence above, some balanced appraisals can be made in the near future, and would be obliged if certain R-T-R manufacturers do not continue to trot out reasons that are not based on sound research.

Mike Leonard

May I please add comment to the points made in Monday's MREmag.

I am pleased that Brian is producing train formation, but modellers can usually get such information from studying photographs of the area and era they wish to reproduce.

Regarding the price of coaches. There are, of course, two elements. Firstly, how many do you require? For a single track branch line, probably as few as two, or even one. For a main line, then anything up to a dozen per train. Let's say an average of six for those running expresses, taking the price suggested of £25, we are looking at £150 total. This equates to, say, one and a half locos in cost. T'was ever thus, when I worked in a model shop, in the early 1960s, when the Tri-ang Mk1s were new, they equated to about the same. Being an enthusiast for coaches, I have somewhere about 200 of various sorts, as produced over the years.

This brings me on to the comment about the lack of Collett coaches. Sir, we have had them, Bachmann produced three types in the '90s early '00s, following on from Mainline.

Sleeping cars. How many of the original Tri-ang versions were sold? How big is the market now?

Peter Gomm

Forgive me if I have posted something like this before, but I can’t find it in my sent messages. This is how I see the picture:

Bachmann

Pullmans: A nice range. 

Mk1s: Very nice range. Need sleeper (see Dick Flower posting Monday); RB; and non-gangwayed lavatory composite.

Bulleids: Dated moulds; no NEMs. Need 59ft multi-door 3-sets (S&D) and shallow ventilator stock (BCKs etc. for ACE). No catering vehicles.

Thompsons: Dated moulds; no NEMs.

Colletts: Nice coaches but dated moulds; no NEMs. No catering vehicles.

Hornby

Pullmans: A nice range.

Maunsells. A vast range, but no low window, numbered 3-sets (S&D). 'Stove' variations for the 'Van C' (BY) needed. Bogie 'Van B' needed. No catering vehicles.

Stanier: No 'opens' nor CK. LMR catering provided by the old Dapol 12-wheeler (no NEMs).

Gresley: No BSK nor CK. Gangwayed brake would be nice.

Hawksworth: Good range – but neither I nor anyone I know has ever seen a complete train of this stock. Generally mixed with other types, such as Colletts – but neither Bachmann nor Hornby versions have NEMs!

Colletts: Dated moulds; no NEMs. Useful catering vehicle, but dated mould.

Centenary: Dated moulds; no NEMs.

As I said last week, there is no WR, LMR or ER non-gangwayed stock. Hornby seem to be more coaching stock focused as opposed to Bachmann who produce superb wagons.

Brian Macdermott

Charles Boylan is absolutely right about missing detail parts. I have another problem though. I noticed some steps were missing from a passing loco. I scoured the track, found a set, but they were completely different from the missing ones. I have no idea where these came from! I now have an open wagon parked conveniently and any 'found' items are stored there until, and if, they are reunited with their respective owner. I still haven't found the original missing ones!

I suspect the same team of gremlins is at work as gathers up and whisks away the screw you see drop on the floor, but isn't there when you bend down to pick it up.

Bob Fleming

If you want a maroon Bulleid coach, why not spray it yourself?. The Bachmann Bulleids come apart easily; the bogies are held on by a screw, the underframe unclips leaving the interior to drop out, and the glazing is a one piece strip each side that pulls off. That leaves the one piece body moulding.

The Railmatch paint range includes BR maroon in a spray can, and it's an easy job to 'mask off' the roof and ends. Once you've sprayed it, the handrails will need to be retouched in brass, and then transfers for the number and lining applied. There are plenty of these available (HMRS, Fox etc.).

The brake composite is a bit more work, but 247 Developments make etched brass sides for these which can be glued onto a 'donor vehicle'. You'd need to chop the interior unit around too.

Maybe I've over simplified all this.

Peter Welfare

Just a quick correction to Brian's 'What's on TV' guide - Bruce Dickinson, who is presenting the programme on the Bluebell, is not the ex-vocalist of Iron Maiden, he returned several years ago. He is also a pilot (large passengers jets, not just little single seaters, including the Boeing 767 Iron Maiden tour in), an actor and has represented England at fencing ( I believe that includes at the Olympics). He is quite a talented chappie, really.

Simon Jennings

Great news for those, like me, who would love the excuse to run an ROD on a GW layout. Congratulations to Bachmann, for making this possible.

However, not all of us are GW fans and whilst browsing through a rare copy of H.C.Casserley's Locomotive Cavalcade 1921 -1951 (a privately published tome of 1952), I came across the fact that the LSWR had some RODs on loan and this book features a picture of 2071 (ROD number) at Strawberry Hill. It appears to be a standard production type. This loco later went on to become GWR 3083 and was scrapped in 1929.

So, an early based LSWR/Southern layout could have an ROD too.

David Rollason

Brian Macdermott