Brake Gangwayed

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British Rail Brake Gangwayed
A BG pictured at the Midland Railway Centre on 9th June 2006 without lettering
A BG pictured at the Midland Railway Centre on 9th June 2006 without lettering

In service 1951-
Manufacturer BR Wolverton & York
Operator British Rail
Specifications
Car length 56ft 11in
Width 9ft 3in
Height 12ft 9in
Maximum speed 90-100-110mph
Weight 30-32 tons

The Brake Gangwayed or BG coach (also known as a Full Brake) is a type of British Railways Mark 1 coach. It has a guard's compartment in the centre and two large areas either side for storing luggage. They were a very versatile type of coach and could be found all over the British Railways network and some are still in use today - although not in conventional use. Interestingly the British Railways Mark 1 BG was shorter than most other types of Mark 1 coach - the BGs being 57' whereas most other designs were 63'. This was so the BG could go everywhere unlike their other Mark 1 counterparts which were banned from some station platforms because of their length.

A few BGs on preserved railways have been converted - such as into a disabled coach on the Severn Valley Railway and a disco coach and Santa's Grotto at the Midland Railway, Butterley due to the large space either side of the guards comparment and relative 'ease' of conversion.