BR 1853 Restaurant Miniature Buffet

Revision as of 21:27, 9 September 2020 by Robin (talk | contribs) (maiden voyage in 1999)
BR 1853 Restaurant Miniature Buffet
BR 1853 20150320.jpg
BR 1853 in 2015
Built By BR Wolverton
Status In use
Number E1853
Livery BR Crimson & Cream
Other numbers M1853, SC1853, W1853
History
Built 1961
Diagram 99
Lot 30670
Type RMB
TOPS code AN21
Seats 44 standard
1999 Arrived on SVR

Carriages

BR Mk 1 Restaurant Miniature Buffet (RMB) 1853 was built at Wolverton in 1961 to diagram number 99 of lot number 30670, one of 82 such vehicles built in five lots from 1957 to 1962. One of the later lots, 1853 was built with Commonwealth bogies. The Miniature Buffet coach was designed to provide quick snacks, being staffed by only one attendant in service. The coach seats 44 passengers at tables, and also has bench seats opposite the serving area. Many RMBs have survived in mainline use or with heritage railways.

Contents

Service

1853 entered service in February 1962 in BR's Eastern region, numbered E1853. The carriage later saw service in other regions as:

  • M1853 from March 1964 in the Midland region
  • SC1853 from June 1977 in the Scottish region
  • W1853 from October 1983 in the Western region[1].

Until 1999 it was operated by Rail Charter Services[2].

Preservation

1853 arrived on the SVR in 1999 from Bounds Green Carriage Depot (London) via Holyhead, having been purchased by SVR(H).[3] It made a very unusual maiden voyage on the SVR. A then new EWS Class 66 locomotive, 66074, brought a train of 9 KPA bogie hopper wagons plus a KOA 'Piggyback' lorry transporter wagon onto the SVR on Saturday 17 March. The train ran the full length of the Railway to Bridgnorth. On the return trip which set off at 18:05 it dropped ballast at a number of locations, including south of Hampton Loade where the generators on board the Piggyback wagon were started up to demonstrate floodlight ballast dropping. The purpose of the trip was to demonstrate the system to representatives of Railtrack and GTRM. Newly arrived RMB 1853 was attached to the train to accommodate the press and observers, as it was still fitted with air brakes compatible with the wagons. The total loaded weight of the train including the Buffet Car was estimated at 585 tonnes making it probably the heaviest train to traverse the branch at any time in its history. After the ballast was discharged it weighed about 285 tonnes.[4]

1853 is used in Set C, the BR Crimson & Cream running set.

Models

Hornby (model R4067) and Bachmann produced OO models of the RMB in Maroon, the Hornby version as E1863 and Bachmann models capable of carrying that number.

See also

References

Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey

  1. Longworth (2013) p.24.
  2. 1853 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line (Retrieved 9 September 2020)
  3. SVR News 129
  4. SVR News 131

Links