farish mk1 coaches

[mk1gtstu]

Bit of a silly question about the new style farish mk1 coaches, in the pack of accessories there are some doors (as shown in photo),there are 2 types, i'm guessing these fit on the end of the rakes of coaches? anybody know?
Thanks in advance, Stu.

[Jerry Howlett]

YES, you are right. Before the advent of stock with built in end doors, the coaches had a sliding door secured with just a square carriage key lock, so blanking plates were attached from the outside to prevent accidental and probably fatal exiting of the train .

The rounded top ones look right for Mk 1 stock however I don't remember the square ones other than being used on the early  Mk 2 s.

[edwin_m]

I don't recall ever seeing these from the 70s onwards when I would have been old enough to remember.  I think they must have stopped using them at some stage (maybe they put a better lock on the sliding door?) but I don't know when. 

[dodger]

I don't recall ever seeing these from the 70s onwards when I would have been old enough to remember.  I think they must have stopped using them at some stage (maybe they put a better lock on the sliding door?) but I don't know when.

The boards stopped being used in the 60's. I can't remember them on the being used on the Reading - Redhill route in steam days or on the western after dieselisation.

Mk1 BG's certainly had a substantial lock on the outside of the sliding door in the early 70's and presumably most other coaches did as any could be the end vehicle.

I thought one use of the board was to prevent water ingress when filling steam locos from troughs.

Dodger

[BernardTPM]

The two patterns reflect different versions. The squarer one is the older wooden panelled type (probably also suitable for LNER, SR & Pullman buck-eye coaches). The round topped version is the later fibreglass versions introduced in the latter part of the 1950s.

[mk1gtstu]

Thanks to everyone for their help, 
cheers, Stu

[kenbury]

b r mk 1 coaches end doors are locked useing a br1 key and have a french pin on the outside

[dodger]

b r mk 1 coaches end doors are locked useing a br1 key and have a french pin on the outside

Were all mark 1's fitted with the french pin from new or was it a later addition coinciding with not using the gangway shields.

Dodger

[edwin_m]

Wot's a french pin anyways?  The mind boggles...

[Jerry Howlett]

Forgot about those like a hasp and staple lock but just a large metal pin rather than a lock.
Yes BR 1 keys for Mk 1s the carriage keys were for the pre nationalisation stock stock.
Reckon I could been one of the last people to remove a blank end from a train on the main line. 1975 we were moving from Urlay Nook to Rail 150 at Shildon when we realised that the GWS train had been marshalled next to the Severn Valleys "clapham" buffet car. It was loaded with beer so we removed the corridor blank in Darlington station for ease of access !