BR MK1 Crimson & Cream TSO

BR MK1 Crimson & Cream TSO

Type: TOURIST OPEN SECOND (TSO)
Built: 1951 - 1963
Seating: 64, Open plan, 2+2
Length: 64.5 feet
Weight: 32.5 tons
Era: 1950s
BR Region: ALL

The Tourist Open Second, presented here in original condition as No.3779 allocated to the Eastern Region, is mounted on BR1 bogies and fitted internally with tungsten lighting, wooden interior panelling and steam heating.

Designed for standard passenger use, originally designated TO - Third Open, becoming SO - Second Open on the abolition of third class fares and accommodation in June 1956. The body shell is the same as the SK, but with the seating arranged in an open plan 2+2 layout, being fixed double facing seats across a table located at each window, either side of a central isle. Two toilets are provided, both at the same end of the coach, on opposite sides of the centre isle.

The term 'Tourist' Third Open, later 'Tourist' Second Open, originated from the Eastern region - used to distinguish TSO coaches fitted with double seats each side of the isle (2+2), from the SO coaches fitted with double seats on one side of the isle and single seats on the other (2+1). This naming convention became the standard practice across all regions in 1956.


USE

This type of coach would be found on mainline express passenger services on all regions of British Railways during 1950s. Here shown with 'The White Rose' train boards, an Eastern Region express, which ran between London Kings Cross and Leeds Central stations. Due to their open plan design, these coaches would sometimes be used as restaurant cars when a RSO or RUO was not available.


LIVERY

Crimson and Cream, nicknamed 'blood and custard', was a bright departure from the grime and dirt of post war Britain. First applied in 1949, this livery was standard to all regions of British Railways until 1956, eventually to be replaced by Maroon or Southern Green as standard. During this transition period during the late 1950s, it was not uncommon to see rakes formed with Maroon and Crimson and Cream coaches.


THE MARK 1 PROGRAMME

After the Second World War, wartime conditions highlighted the need for better standards in regards to vehicle lengths, profiles and couplings, for stock working between the 'Big Four' companies. A commission of senior officers was duly appointed by the UK 'Railway Companies Association' to create and implement a set of dimensions that would be applied to all future stock from each company. Although completed, the standards were not implemented, as nationalisation was imminent.

On nationalisation in 1948, the commission's findings were used by the new 'British Railways Carriage Standards Committee' as the basis to developed the 'C1 Restriction' profile - a set of standards governing coach length, profile and bogie centres. Thus from this the classic Mark 1 design was born, the prototypes unveiled on 18th September 1950, production coaches entering revenue service in March 1951. The Mk1 became the standard design for all new coaches between 1951 and 1964. Built using standard components - frame, coach ends and bogies - the body sides constructed from panelled sections with standard door and window fittings.

Author: Stephen Dark/Alexander Barnard

BR MK1 Crimson & Cream TSO
• config.txt 5.08KB
mk1_crim_tso_art
mk1_crim_tso_art_512.texture.txt 91 bytes
mk1_crim_tso_art_512.tga 1.00MB
mk1_crim_tso_art_icon.texture.txt 93 bytes
mk1_crim_tso_art_icon.tga 32.02KB
mk1_crim_tso_body
env.texture.txt 26 bytes
env.tga 48.53KB
mk1_crim_tso.texture.txt 35 bytes
mk1_crim_tso.tga 1.50MB
mk1_crim_tso_body.pm 405.77KB
mk1_crim_tso_shadow
black.texture.txt 28 bytes
black.tga 812 bytes
mk1_crim_tso_shadow.pm 72.61KB