Bachmann Branchline Mark 2A coaches enter service
Date: 10 April 2006
Source: Bachmann
Bachmann Branchline has released the first Mark 2A coaches today in BR blue / grey and Network SouthEast liveries.
A development of the earlier Mark 2 (later Mark 2Z) coaches, the Mark 2A coaches incorporated a number of features from trials that followed with the XP64 train which had been assembled for assessment in 1964 and to launch the new British Rail blue / grey corporate livery.
The Mark 2A vehicles introduced air-braking as standard for all future locomotive hauled coaches following the decision by the British Railways Board in 1965 not to build any more vacuum braked stock. Interiors benefited from wider doors, fluorescent lighting, improved seating, new toilet fittings, better insulation to reduce noise levels inside the vehicle and a new design of gangway doors on the ends of each coach.
A total of 289 vehicles was constructed at Derby and entered service on the Eastern and Western Regions between December 1967 and November 1968. They comprised 42 FK, 48 BFK, 177 TSO and 22 BSO vehicles.
They were used initially on express trains to and from London Kings Cross (Eastern Region) and London Paddington (Western Region). However, before they could be introduced into service, Class 47 and Class 55 (Deltic) locomotives had to be converted to air braking, together with the accompanying Mark 1 catering and brake vehicles. With the delivery of new air-conditioned Mark 2D stock to the Eastern Region from 1971, 110 Mark 2A coaches were transferred to the Western Region for services to and from Cornwall.
The building of further air conditioned Mark 2D/E/F stock resulted in the Mark 2A and earlier Mark 2 stock being re-deployed on Inter-City cross country services during 1975 and 1976. The arrival of High Speed Train units on Western Region express services from 1977 saw many vehicles pass to the Scottish Region for use on Glasgow – Aberdeen services. When HST’s took over on the Eastern Region, further coaches were cascaded to routes such as Newcastle – York – Liverpool.
By the mid 1980’s most remaining Mark 2A coaches were in service with Network SouthEast and Provincial sectors, although some BFK’s did carry InterCity livery. Rail privatisation and the introduction of new diesel multiple units reduced the fleet still further but a small number remain in service, mainly with charter operators. Some have also been acquired for use on heritage railways.
Bachmann have released 3 versions of the TSO. Catalogue No. 39-360 is in blue / grey livery (running number 5353), 39-361 in blue / grey (running number E5361) which also carries the early Inter-City branding and 39-362 in Network SouthEast livery (running number 5410). Each coach retails at £22.45.
BE 2006-15
