SOUTHERN RAILWAY

These Maunsell designed vehicles are examples of the Southern’s main line stock from the early post-grouping period. All are 59 ft. long with Pullman-type gangways, steel underframes and buckeye couplings. Nos. 53 - 56 were acquired in 1965 and delivered from Paddock Wood via Robertsbridge (then still the main line junction for the K&ESR) during that November. They became the Railway’s first trains of the preservation era, both BNO’s and one CK working in steam trains on the day the Railway reopened, 3 February 1974.

Abbreviations used are as follows:

BNO - Brake ‘Nondescript’ Open. These vehicles were specifically designed for trains connecting  cross channel ferries with london and finished to a high standard so they could be labelled first, second or third class according to demand.

CK - Corridor composite
'Restriction 1' is he Southern Railway term that refers to the coaches ability to run on certain routes . Coaches classified thus could run on all main lines except the Tunbridge Wells to Hastings Line which had tighter limitation ('Restriction 0') to which our Pullmans were built.

Nº. 53; SR Nº. 4432; BNO; Restriction 1

Built June 1933.. This coach was built for Continental boat services and is believed to have been used on Waterloo to Southampton  Withdrawn from express service in the 1950s  it was last used by British Railways on the Tonbridge to Reading and Oxted Line routes. After acquisition by the KESR it was painted in chocolate and cream but was repainted in Maunsell era SR livery towards the end of the 1980s and regularly ran in the Wealden Pullman. It was taken out of traffic in the mid-1990s for overhaul .Restoration commenced in January 1999 and was completed in 2003 entering service fully restored, with guards compartment working in normal service trains.

Nº. 54; SR Nº. 4443; BNO; Restriction 1

Built in June 1933 and almost identical to Nº. 53.. Since acquisition by the KESR it has been used in a similar way in Pullmans and service trains. Restored to Maunsell era livery around 1990. BNO 54 is currently in service with the Pullman set.

Nº. 55; SR Nº. 5153; CK; Restriction 1

Built October 1928.. Nº. 55 was originally built for the Eastbourne and Kent Coast services. The vehicle worked between Tonbridge and Reading during its last BR years. This vehicle is presently stored awaiting full overhaul. The vehicle is the only surviving example of its type with ‘lowlight’ corridor side windows.

Nº. 56; SR Nº. 5618 CK; Restriction 1

Built April 1931.Its 'highlight' corridor side windows bracketed by a 'lowlight' window at either end distinguish it from Nº. 55. This vehicle has a similar history to that coach but is in now in use on service trains on the Railway following an extensive overhaul, over a ten-year period. It re-entered traffic in 1997 and won first prize in its class in the Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Club competition.