Six wheeled coaches on BR (2024)

matchmaker said:

I recently bought Hugh Longworths book "British Railways pre-nationalisation coaching stock Volume 2 LMS & SR". It contains listings of every LMS & SR coach taken over by BR at nationalisation. I was surprised just how many pre-grouping coaches were included, but the most remarkable fact that I discovered was that quite a number of Caledonian 6 wheeled coaches survived into the early 1950s. Has anyone seen any photos of these in BR days?

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I'd also be interested in any 6 wheel bogied vehicles under BR.

theageofthetra said:

I'd also be interested in any 6 wheel bogied vehicles under BR.

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LMS bogie sleepers survived into BR. I used to use one between Preston and Euston.

theageofthetra said:

I'd also be interested in any 6 wheel bogied vehicles under BR.

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Many survived into nationalisation. The last in BR service were the LMS 12 wheeled first class sleepers which were still in use (in blue and grey) until the 1970s.

matchmaker said:

Many survived into nationalisation. The last in BR service were the LMS 12 wheeled first class sleepers which were still in use (in blue and grey) until the 1970s.

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Pic here of one being delivered to the Bluebell (still there I think)
https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/398.html

AJP62 said:

Some ex LMS 6 wheeled parcels vans were still in use in the late 70s I think. Painted in the same blue as GUVs. Were they Stove Rs? I remember seeing them in West Coast parcels trains at Carlisle.

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There were also 6 wheeled ex LNER parcels vans in the 70’s but by that time all pre nationalisation brake stock had hairs equipment removed

furnessvale said:

LMS bogie sleepers survived into BR. I used to use one between Preston and Euston.

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They were actually built by BR well after its formation, in the early 1950s at Wolverton, probably the last LMS-design passenger carrying vehicles. They were BR crimson/cream at the start, and lasted into the 1970s, electrically hauled on the WCML (so ETH fitted), when they were I think the last 12-wheel vehicles. Were they 70 feet long?

Taunton said:

They were actually built by BR well after its formation, in the early 1950s at Wolverton, probably the last LMS-design passenger carrying vehicles. They were BR crimson/cream at the start, and lasted into the 1970s, electrically hauled on the WCML (so ETH fitted), when they were I think the last 12-wheel vehicles. Were they 70 feet long?

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Nearly. 69 feet. The LMS design but BR built 65 foot second class sleepers lasted into the mid 1970s. I remember seeing a rake in Aberdeen.

matchmaker said:

Nearly. 69 feet. The LMS design but BR built 65 foot second class sleepers lasted into the mid 1970s. I remember seeing a rake in Aberdeen.

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Thanks for this.. I had no idea BR built them, let alone they were in BR Blue. Did any Royal train 12 wheelers outlast even these?

theageofthetra said:

Thanks for this.. I had no idea BR built them, let alone they were in BR Blue. Did any Royal train 12 wheelers outlast even these?

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for the BR built 12 wheeler sleepers see link I posted above
M398M was purchased by a group of BRPS working members to provide overnight accommodation for themselves at Sheffield Park. The car was built at BR Wolverton Works to diagram 2166 and Lot No.1584 in 1952 and was a development of a LMS design which first appeared in 1935.

The 6-wheeled bogies were intended to give a smoother ride to the first class occupants. As built, it had 12 compartments with one bed and a wash basin in each.

theageofthetra said:

Thanks for this.. I had no idea BR built them, let alone they were in BR Blue. Did any Royal train 12 wheelers outlast even these?

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They did. Still in use until 1977. Both Royal Saloons are preserved but the power car has been scrapped.

EveningStar said:

Six wheeled stock in department use at Manchester Piccadilly in 1981. Have no idea of the provenance ... former horse box?

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Pretty much the first post in the thread that actually matches the title...

61653 HTAFC said:

Pretty much the first post in the thread that actually matches the title...

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Not even that, the title mentions coaches, and these are Departmental stock. Do keep up ...

Taunton said:

Not even that, the title mentions coaches, and these are Departmental stock. Do keep up ...

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And definitely not Caley!

Taunton said:

Not even that, the title mentions coaches, and these are Departmental stock. Do keep up ...

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Originally generator van M35098M
Surely that makes it coaching stock?

Not Caledonian, but partly on-topic. Quainton Road has three (I think) ex-GNR 6-wheelers which survived until BR days - mainly in departmental stock. Here's a link to one of them:

https://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/gnr_no1472.htm

This six-wheeled vehicle was built for the East Coast Joint Stock to a standard GNR design. Traces of the original East Coast Joint Stock livery, from an era when it was probably used for services between Kings Cross and Scotland, were found during the original restoration. With the introduction of Gresley bogie vehicles, it was demoted to secondary and branch line duties. Its detailed history is unknown until, like most other old coaches that survive today, No. 1470 was taken into departmental stock when withdrawn from passenger service. It became No. DE940482 and was sent to Boston Motive Power Depot. In 1963 the vehicle was transferred to Hitchin until 1969, when it was purchased by Mr D. Baines who donated it to the Quainton Railway Society. It arrived at Quainton on 13th January 1970. It is 34ft 10½ in long, 8 ft 10¾in wide and 12ft 4¼in high.

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