Maunsell Coaches

Such is the scope of this subject it is not possible to provide definitive coverage so we only aim to give a flavour of this stock. Only Maunsell's locomotive hauled stock will be covered in these pages.

Both the Southern Railway and the Southern Region ran the majority of its Maunsell coach stock in fixed sets. The formation of these sets could either be fairly stable throughout their lives or reformed seasonally (or indeed as and when required) to respond to changing traffic demands. (For further details of Maunsell coach set formations please follow this link to: SR/BR(S) Coach Sets.)

For more information on Maunsell coaches you are strongly advised to read the master work on this subject - the book "Maunsell's S.R. Steam Passenger Stock 1923-1939 by David Gould published by the Oakwood Press first edition published 1978 no ISBN".

2-car set 381 was, strictly speaking, a LSWR Ironclad set, but is included here as it was built under Maunsell in 1925.

photograph by Stephen Hughes, courtesy of Terry Heeley

Set 381 was, as stated above, built in 1925 (along with sets 382-5) and consisted of Third Brake 4052 and Composite Brake 6560 and, when built, was intended for working the London - Lymington route. During 1949 they were all converted for pull 'n' push working, and 381 was transferred to Seaton Junction to work the branch from there to Seaton. The coaches were altered for this new purpose with the Third Brakes losing some luggage space in order to provide an additional compartment and the lavatory altered to provide a six seat coupé, whilst the Composite Brakes just had their lavatory changed to a six seat coupé. Standard driving ends were fitted to the brake end of each coach with a droplight in each ducket and the gangways removed.

Maunsell set 457, formed in June 1963 and withdrawn in May 1964, consisted of brake 3701 & compo 5612 and was captured on camera at Reigate, looking towards Redhill.

photograph by Keith Harwood

Maunsell 2-car set 459 (half of old set 219) hauled by 80011 at Eridge.

photograph by Keith Harwood

Twenty Push Pull sets were converted by BR(SR) from late 1959 to mid 1960 as replacements for earlier Push Pull sets of SR and pre-grouping design. They consisted of two Maunsell vehicles, an ex-diagram 2403 BCK and an ex diagram 2005 SO. The brake end of the BCK was modified by inserting two windows (observation lights in railway terminology) to form a driving compartment, with the corridor connection removed, and droplights replacing the familiar former guard's lookout duckets. Similarly the outer end of the SO had its corridor connection removed but the corridor connection between the two vehicles was retained. After conversion seating capacity remained the same, the BCK seating 12 1st and 32 second with the SO seating 56 second passengers. The lavatories in the SO were sealed up.

In accordance with the recognized system, three air pipes were fitted, to each vehicle, to allow the driver to control the locomotive's regulator from the leading cab and electrical wiring allowed a bell communication between the driver and fireman.

Maunsell two coach Push Pull set Nº602, departing Hever behind H Class Nº31551. Note it has both a headsignal and a tail lamp on the rear!

photograph by Keith Harwood

Set 602 (above)
BCK S6681S
SO S1318S
Allocated to the Central Division from November 1959 until withdrawal in December 1963.
Based at Three Bridges in May 1960, these sets on the East Grinstead services interchanged with those on the Tunbridge Wells to Oxted services.
The outer end of the SO was also branded with the set number in the latter part of its existence, which was quite rare, and it was photographed, in this condition, by G.D. King on 26th July 1963 at Rowfant.

Set 605 (below)
BCK S6677S
SO S1349S
Allocated to the Central Division from November 1959 until withdrawal in December 1963.
Based at Horsham in May 1960. Following the cessation of PP working on the Horsham to Brighton services it was transferred to Eastbourne for the Hailsham service but also appeared on Tunbridge Wells to Oxted services from that time onwards. On 12 June 1961 it was noted as the leading two vehicles on the 1.08 p.m. Victoria to Tunbridge Wells West.

Both sets these were condemned when the last remaining Push Pull services on the Central were discontinued.

Text from Glen Woods.

Maunsell 2-car Push Pull Set Nº605 at Hever looking towards Oxted.

photograph by Keith Harwood

All photographs are copyright

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This page was last updated 23 February 2004