Coach 971 is a South Eastern and Chatham designed, Southern Railway built, third class compartment coach. It was solidly built in 1923 to carry commuters to and from London and having ten compartments of ten seats this type is commonly known as a "100 seater". It was built, as was customary, reusing whatever useful parts - in this case brass door handles a nd grab rails from LCDR four and six wheeled coaches - could be salvaged from withdrawn stock. Upon electrification of the London suburban area the coach was modified for push pull working and it ended its British Railways days working on the Steyning line. In 1997 it received a second new roof canvas, new draw-gear, and was repainted into the lined Maunsell olive green that it had carried in the 1930s.

971 has been in almost continuous use on the Bluebell Railway since it arrived on 24 February 1963.

photograph by John A Arkell

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Colin Duff