British Rail Mark 2

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Mk 2A Tourist Standard Open (TSO) 5278 "Melisande" at Cheltenham Spa on 18 September 2004, whilst forming a charter service to Swindon.

Mk 2F TSO 6035 at Carlisle on 27 August 2004, in Arriva Trains Northern livery.

Mk 2C TSO 5541 at Cheriton in BR blue/grey livery in 1994.

British Rail's second design of carriages was designated Mark 2. The Mk 2 has a semi-integral construction, giving it more strength than a Mark 1 in the event of an accident.

The Mark 2 coach was once the mainstay of British Rail's InterCity network, but new rolling stock introduced in the post-privatisation era has virtually ended the use of the stock on main line inter-city routes. First Scotrail Caledonian Sleeper services between London Euston and Scotland continue to use Mk 2 stock for seated accommodation and lounge cars, whilst Arriva Trains Wales has purchased several vehicles for use on services from Cardiff to Rhymney and Fishguard.

[edit] Development

The prototype Mk 2 carriage (First Corridor coach number 13252) was built in 1963, and is now preserved at the National Railway Museum, York. The production runs, of which there were seven sub-classes (Mk 2, and Mk 2A-2F), their build dates and their differences are set out in the table below:

The final Mk 2 carriage was departmental carriage no. 999550, in 1977. It is still in service, with Network Rail as part of the New Measurement Train. The later versions (Mk 2D onwards) look similar to, and are often confused with, the later Mk 3 design. The Mk 3 is three metres longer, has a large skirting between the bogies to conceal the ancillary equipment, and has a "ridged" roof - on the Mk 2 this is smooth. The development of the High Speed Train overlapped with that of the final production run of the Mk 2, and as a result, the Mk 2F "previewed" many Mk 3 features such as a new seat design, plastic interior panelling, and floor sensor-operated automatic gangway doors.

[edit] Sales abroad

A number of vehicles have been sold for further use abroad. In addition, both Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann purchased various types from new.

An Iarnród Éireann Mk 2D at Limerick Colbert Station in 2006

[edit] Republic of Ireland

Iarnród Éireann purchased 15 carriages from a UK scrap dealer in 1989 in exchange for a similar number of scrap diesel locomotives. All had been sold as scrap by British Rail. Older Mk 2A/B/C carriages were scrapped in 2004, as they were heavily corroded.

Iarnród Éireann still runs some mid-day intercity services using Mk 2D stock. These are air-conditioned, but easily distinguishable from IÉ's newer Mk 3 carriages by being shorter and having "slam doors". With the introduction of CAF DVT Mk 4 trainsets, these will shortly be replaced by Mk 3s.

Ex British Rail Mk 2 carriages on an excursion hauled by W^AB 794 in the North Island of New Zealand.

[edit] New Zealand

New Zealand rail operator Tranz Rail bought 69 carriages (1 damaged by fire after arrival) in 1996 (some had already been imported by Mainline Steam). Eight were extensively refurbished for the Wellington – Palmerston North Capital Connection service, classified S (for Scenic), with new Japanese-assembled narrow-gauge bogies. The carriages featured new auto plug doors and interiors. The initial refurbishment proved more costly than expected, and the remaining carriages were laid up until a rebuilding programme began for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority for use on Auckland suburban services. These carriages, classified SA / SD, have two sets of sliding doors each side and are operated by Veolia Auckland in push/pull mode, powered DC class locomotives leased from Toll NZ. The SD carriages include a driver's cab.

In the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2006, Mark 2E and 2F carriages formerly operated by 'one' Anglia that had been replaced by ex-Virgin Mk 3 stock were exported to New Zealand. These have been bought by Greater Wellington Regional Council for operation by Toll Rail's Tranz Metro on the Wairarapa Connection service between Wellington and Masterton. They are being rebuilt at Hillside Workshops in Dunedin, and will be classified SW, SWG and SWS.

[edit] References

• Michael Harris British Rail Mark 2 Coaches - the design that launched InterCity Mallard/Venture ISBN 1-898432-48-1

[edit] External links

• Southern e-group page on Mk2a/b/c

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British Rail Mk2 coaches