Carriage Stock
By 1926, Maunsell had developed his designs for
Southern Railway carriage stock to the extent that
many of the features could be termed 'standard'.
These included the bogies, many details of the 58'
underframe including the arrangement of the truss
bars (without cross bracing), vacuum cylinders and
vacuum reservoirs, the use of buckeye couplers,
retractable buffers and Pullman type gangways (with
their integral buffing gear). However, four distinct
patterns of body design were produced during the next ten years
and Phoenix can produce many of the variations. The accompanying
notes are intended to assist modellers by pointing out certain
details which will be helpful in producing accurate
trains of these vehicles. When building the underframe, note
that the dynamo was regularly positioned to the right on the
corridor side, but a number of different types were used.
Many of the
'standard' features were later perpetuated by Bulleid and it
should be remembered that Lionel Lynes was the Chief
Draughtsman responsible to both CME's for Carriages
and Wagons.
Lynes wrote a book 'Railway Carriages and Wagons,
Theories and Practices' (published by the Locomotive
Publishing Co, 1959) and this gives a good insight
into some of the details of SR practice. Further, 'An Illustrated History of Southern Coaches'
by our member Mike King provides a comprehensive range of photographs and drawings. Other useful
references include 'Maunsell's SR Steam Carriage
Stock' by David Gould (revised edition, Oakwood 2000)
and 'Maunsell's Standard SR Steam Hauled Carriages -
A Modeller's View' by John Harvey, published in the
HMRS Journal Vol 12 Nos 7, 8, 9, 11 & 12, 1986
and 1987). Both of these references include numbering
information and useful photographs. Also available in sheet form are drawings made by Mike King,
to whom application including an SAE should be made, at:
16 Barricane, St Johns Hill Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 1RB.
The lists of coaches given below are those which Phoenix
are able to supply as complete kits. It should be noted that
the Restriction 1 kits require the kit builder to adapt the supplied
end castings (which requires a small amount of additional work).
End castings for Restriction 0 coaches are not available, but other
components to make R0 vehicles can be supplied to special order.
Carriage Stock, 1926 on
Thus, in 1925, the SR placed orders for new
carriages for West of England and Central Section
services to London which incorporated these
'standard' features. The body (which was in essence a
'bow-ended' design with a basic length of 59' along
the coach centreline) included passenger compartments
each with an external door and corridors with 'low'
main window lights. The windows were fitted into a
wooden frame arranged such that the glass was
noticeably recessed into the body side. The maximum
width over the body sheeting was 9'-0" (Route
Restriction 4) and there was a marked tumblehome. The
luggage and guard's compartments had vertical sides
(8'-7" wide with a small tumblehome at the base)
and steel duckets.
Pattern 1 Coaches built in 1926 onwards with LOW Corridor windows to Restriction 4:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC26 Corridor Third 1926 2001 £26.00
SC26A Corridor Second 2201 £26.00
SC22 4 Compt Corridor Brake Third 1926 2101 £28.00
SC23 6 Compt Corridor Brake Third 1926 2102 £28.00
SC23A 6 Compt Corridor Brake Second 2251 £28.00
SC27 Corridor Composite 1926 2301 £26.00
SC24 Corridor Brake Composite 1926 2401 £28.00
SC28 Corridor First 1926 2501 £26.00
SC25 Pantry Brake First 1928 2551 £28.00
SC44 Kitchen/Restaurant First
(without end doors as built) 1927 2651 £28.00
SC44A 1927 Kitchen/Restaurant First
(with addition of end doors) 1935-39 2651 £28.00
SC41A Kitchen/Restaurant First,
built new with end doors
and different kitchen windows 1929-30 2651 £28.00
SC41 Kitchen/Restaurant First,
Diags 2650/55/56 built 1932-4 2650 £28.00
with detail differences from 2655 £28.00
SC41A 1932-34 2656 £28.00
SC42 Open Third (Dining) 1927 2652 £28.00
SC21 Open Third 1930/33 2005 £28.00
Most of the corridor thirds and all of the brake compos
(SC26/24) were loose when built. All the brake compos and
most of the thirds went into sets starting after World War II.
All the 4 compartment brake thirds and compos (SC22/27)
spent their whole lives in 3-sets 390-399 and 445-448.
The 6 compartment brake thirds were for Central Section
8-sets Nos 469 and 470, with first and thirds (SC28/26).
The rest of the corridor firsts were intended to run with
the two pantry brake firsts (SC25) in Southampton Boat trains
(but not as a numbered set). The kitchen restaurant firsts
(SC41/44) were added to other sets as required by the working,
often coupled to a dining third (SC42) or an open third (SC21 or SC35-pattern 4 of 1936)
which acted as a trailer to the Restaurant Car proper, which,
of course, contained the kitchen. During the 1930s all of
the Dining Thirds (SC42, see 'Conversions of Non-Kitchen Cars', below) were collected together and operated
in a Southampton Boat Train 9-set No 310 but in 1947 four of
these became combined first and third class dining saloons
Nos 7841-4 and were specially branded, while the other two became all first Dining Saloons 7846/7 for the 'Night Ferry'. Open Thirds (SC21)
were initially all loose but a few later ran in sets,
including 2-sets (Nos 104-105 and 107-110 with brake compos
SC31; set 106 with SC24) for the Western Section local services
between 1959 and 1962. Twenty were also formed into the
P&P sets Nos 600-619 in 1959/60 when the lavatory compartments
were closed off and the loco end gangway was removed.
For Eastern Section use, the pattern 1 design was adapted
to provide a maximum body width of 8'-6"
(Restriction 1). Window arrangements were similar to
that found in the Restriction 4 stock, but the
tumblehome was considerably reduced (to about
¾" each side, giving a width at the base of the
body about 8'-4½". Bufferbeam width was
7'-11½") and there was no difference in the
bodyside profile between passenger compartments and
the luggage/guard's compartments. Duckets were not
fitted to R1 stock.
Pattern 1 (LOW Corridor windows) coaches built to Restriction 1:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC26/1 Corridor Third 1928 2003 £26.00
SC22/1 4 Compt Corridor Brake Third 1928 2103 £26.00
SC23/1 6 Compt Corridor Brake Third 1929 2104 £26.00
SC27/1 Corridor Composite 1928 2302 £26.00
SC28/1 Corridor First 1929 2502 £26.00
SC28A/1 Cor Third (Dia 2501 downrated) 1954 2022 £26.00
SC46/1 Unclassed Open Saloon 1928/31 2653 £26.00
SC47/1 Unclassed Open Brake 1933 2654 £26.00#
# Under development, please enquire before ordering
Carriage Stock, 1929 on
The first or 'low' pattern of
Maunsell bodyside, remained in production
until 1933 for certain types of carriage but in 1929,
the second pattern (known as pattern 2) which
featured 'HIGH' corridor window lights emerged
and since this was the only significant change,
there was no need for a change in diagram number.
Pattern 2 coaches built 1929 onwards with HIGH Corridor windows to Restriction 4:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC32 Corridor Third 1929 2001 £26.00
SC29 Corr Brake Third 4 Compt 1929 2101 £28.00
SC30 Corr Brake Third 6 Compt 1929 2102 £28.00
SC30 " (altered internal door) 1933 2110 £28.00
SC33 Corr Composite (4 1st/3 3rd) 1929 2301 £26.00
(3 1st/4 3rd) 1929 2303 £26.00
SC31 Corridor Brake Composite 1929 2401 £28.00
SC34 Corridor First 1929 2501 £26.00
Corridor thirds (SC32) were loose or in long sets. The
4-Compartment brake thirds (SC29) were mainly in long sets
including some for through trains to other regions and
which included the composites with 3 1st class and 4 3rd
class compartments (no external difference from the normal
4 1st/3 3rd type). Some of the brake thirds and brake composites had British
Standard gangways at the brake ends instead of the
SR Pullman type. There were many 3-sets of two 6-Compartment
brake thirds (SC30) and one composite (SC33) and several
2-sets of 6-Compartment brake thirds plus brake composite
for West of England services. Other brake composites were
loose but many were later formed into sets. Some firsts
(SC34) were loose, others formed into long sets.
Certain pattern 2 coaches were also built to Restriction 1
for Eastern Section use. A common formation was the 4-set
with two 6-Compartment brake thirds and two composites,
either SC23/1, 27/1, 27/1, 23/1 (low window) or SC30/1, 33/1,
33/1, 30/1 (high window). The thirds and firsts were largely
in longer sets with brake thirds and composites. The
"unclassed". "nondescript" or "general" saloons were
temporarily labelled as the traffic required: typically
first class for race specials, second class for boat trains
and third class for school traffic. Ultimately they were
regarded as second class and many of the saloons were added
to sets in the mid-fifties. It might be noted that four of the Nondescript Brakes
were rebuilt as ambulance cars in 1959 (becoming 7920-23) and
were eventually painted blue & grey, the only Maunsell
Passenger vehicles in capital stock so painted.
Pattern 2 (HIGH Corridor windows) coaches built to R1:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC32/1 Corridor Third 1929 2003 £26.00
SC30/1 Corr Brake Third 6 Compt 1929 2104 £26.00
SC33/1 Corridor Composite 1929 2302 £26.00
In addition to body widths of 9'-0" and 8'-6", Pattern 2
was produced with width of 8'-0¾" (Restriction 0) for Hastings
line services. The body profile had only a very slight tumblehome,
being almost straight down to the ends of the bufferbeam. The
underframe dimensions appear to have been the same whichever body
width was built upon it. Guard's duckets were not fitted to R0 stock.
Certain details of construction are worth noting as being changed
during the period of the second pattern. The
lavatory ventilators (above the opaque window) were
altered from the single to double bonnet type. Also, until
about 1933, Maunsell carriages were equipped
with two 'double' battery boxes, one each side
between the truss bars, but production that year
featured one double battery box on one side only.
Carriage Stock, 1935
The next major change in design occurred in 1935
(pattern 3). Windows were virtually flush with the
window sides (the larger lights having large radius
corners), and the body was marked by numerous screw
heads where the steel sheeting was fixed to the
wooden framing. Droplights were frameless. The gutter
appeared more slender, adding to the 'flush sided'
appearance. The 'double' battery boxes were dispensed
with and two single boxes, each offset to the left of
the coach centreline when viewed on each side were
fitted.
Pattern 3 (frameless windows) coaches built to R4 only:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC38 Corridor Third 1935 2008 £26.00
SC36 6-Compartment Corr Brake Third 1935 2113 £28.00
SC37 Corridor Brake Composite 1929 2403 £28.00
The corridor thirds started life as loose stock,
but many were later in sets. Brake thirds (SC36) were formed in
2-sets with a Brake composite (SC37) whilst others were formed
with older coaches including several 4-sets with corridor third
(SC32) and corridor first (SC 34). Other brake composites were
loose, but in 1959/60 twenty were formed into the last traditional
SR pull & push sets Nos 600-619.
Carriage Stock, 1936
The final pattern (pattern 4) appeared in 1936,
with the fixed window lights (small radius corners)
mounted in a neat frame, giving the appearance of a
moulding on the body side. Droplights were frameless
except on the Open Third design where frames were
again used. The numerous screw heads disappeared,
presenting what was possibly the most attractive of
Maunsell's carriage designs.
Pattern 4 coaches built to R4 only:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC43 Corridor Third 1936 2011 £26.00
SC35 Open Third 1936 2007 £28.00
SC39 6-Compartment Corr Brake Third 1936 2113 £28.00
SC40 Corridor Composite 1936 2308 £26.00
All the Brake thirds and composites (SC39/40) were formed in
3-sets Nos 952-961. The corridor thirds (SC43) started life as loose stock,
but many were later in sets. Many of the Open thirds (SC35) spent their lives
as loose stock but four were in the 1938 'Bournemouth Limited' 6-sets
Nos 241-2. They were often paired as a trailer to Kitchen Restaurant Cars
(SC41/SC44) to provide for third class passengers.
Post Office vehicles, 1936-9
These were not 'standard': the most obvious differences were the flat ends,
off-centre gangways, non-retractable buffers and handbrake.
SR/BR Maunsell Post Office Vehicles, 58ft long:
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC17 PO Sorting Van (No lavatory) 1936 3191 £26.00
SC18* PO Sorting Van (With lavatory) 1939 3192 £26.00
SC19* PO Stowage van 1939 3196 £26.00
* These kits are also available with 247 Developments
Etched Brass sides (SC18E and SC19E) at £27.00 each
For many years most were allocated to the Waterloo-Dorchester
(Weymouth from 1961) Mail Train, although some regularly worked
London Bridge-Dover. SC17 was withdrawn in 1973, but from 1974 six SC18/19
vehicles were transferred to the Dover service. All lasted long enough to be
painted BR blue & grey. The seventh (SC19) vehicle was transferred to the LMR in 1962.
SR and BR period Conversions of Restaurant Cars to Buffet Cars etc
Please see, for example, Southern Notebook No158 and
Southern Coaches by Mike King for photographs
and further detail of the following:
Conversions of Cars with Kitchens:
SC49 Kitchen Buffet, four vehicles
converted from Diag 2656 1947 2659 £28.00
SC49A Kitchen Buffet, two vehicles
converted from Diag 2655 1947 2661 £28.00
SC49B Kitchen Buffet, as SC49A with
store window plated over 2661 £28.00
SC48 Buffet, 22 vehicles converted
from Diags 2650/51/55/56 1953-54 2666 £28.00
SC48A Buffet, 2 vehicles converted
from Diag 2651 1953 2667 £28.00
Conversions of Non-Kitchen Cars:
SC16 Cafeteria Car, 2 vehicles converted
from D2651, kitchen eliminated 1952 2675 £28.00#
SC42 1927 Dining 3rd, renumbered
as Open 3rd 1930 2652 £28.00
SC42A Composite Restaurant, four
vehicles converted from D2652 1947 2658 £28.00
SC42B Restaurant First, two
vehicles converted from D2652 1947 2662 £28.00
# Under development, please enquire before ordering
Diagrams 2658 and 2662 involved alterations to the interiors, but
the exterior was unchanged.
Diagrams 2658/59 and 2661/2 ran in pairs, providing for passengers
requiring a full meal as well those whose needs were satisfied at the
Buffet counter. The latter pair were initially intended for the 'Night
Ferry', but typically four of the six pairs were allocated to West of
England services until superseded in the late 1950s.
Note that with only six Diagram 2652 cars having been built, the
Kitchen Restaurant First Cars were often paired with a Diagram 2005
(SC21) or a Diagram 2007 (SC35) Open Third to provide third class
dining facilities.
Other BR period Modifications to Carriage Stock
Code Description Built Diag Price
SC45 6-Compartment Corr Brake First 1949 2551A £28.00
(Rebuild of Pantry Brake First SC25)
SC20 Pull & Push Driving Brake Compo 1959 2407 £28.00
SC21A Pull & Push Trailer Open 2nd 1959 2023 £28.00
A conversion of 1935 Brake Compo
(SC37) and 1930-3 Open third (SC21).
SC47A/1 Ambulance Car (4 vehicles)
Conversion of unclassed brakes 1959 2699 £26.00#
# Under development, please enquire before ordering
This page was last updated on 9th August 2008