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BR mark 1 Suburban Stock
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The BR mk1 suburban coaches have made it back into the Hornsey workshops recently, receiving
end detail. They are made from shortened Bachmann 2-EPB bodies, with new blank ends fitted and
represent the S version made up of 9 compartments on the 57ft chassis. In the foreground is a
pile of MJT roof vents ready for fitting.
After much deliberation it has been decided to fit bar couplings to the suburban coaches,
as they will be in a fixed rake of 6 vehicles. The elaborate shape allows one end to be easily
attached to the carrying vehicle (restrained by a fixed crossbar) and linked onto the adjacent
coach up in to the first compartment footwell. The bogie on the left is shown moved back
slightly, whilst the right hand bogie has a section of crossbar removed to make coupling and
uncoupling easier. The bar coupling has a low set to clear under the bufferbeam whilst allowing
the bogies to pivot without any undue forces. Bachmann 57ft mk1 underframes have been chosen to
go under the bodies, with the small indent used to provide the pivot point at 42mm centres,
allowing enough clearance between the buffers to negotiate 3ft radius and reverse curves on the layout.
Still with some final detail work and numbering required, the rake of 6 coaches have been
extensively trialed through all of the trackwork and various routes with success. The S variants
retain the Bachmann flush glazing, whilst the BS is fitted with Laserglaze.
The last vehicle in the rake will be a dedicated tail end coach, fitted with a vacuum and steam
pipe as well as a screw coupling and tail lamp.
A drivers eye view approaching the Down junction bracket signal, sees an inner-suburban
service leaving the station and heading along the Up Slow towards Kings Cross behind a Brush
type 2. With this rake almost complete, the next suburban set will include the CL and SLO
versions for a 7 car outer-suburban working.
