BR Rolling Stock

British Railway Standard, Tourist Second Open, No 4509

The British Railways design panel produced a range of vehicles that incorporated the best practices of the earlier main line companes. Intended to be built in large numbers over many years at a variety of railway workshops and contractors, they were known as BR Standards, or Mark Ones.

The body is all welded steel on a chassis with bogies of largely GWR influence. Gangways and couplings are based on the LNER practice which was also being adopted by the Southern Railway in its newest designs. LMSR interior styling and indeed electrical lighting systems were adopted almost without alteration. The Tourist Second Opens seated 64 passengers at tables with good visibility and luggage racks overhead. They were often used in excursion trains, and are still popular among the preserved railways of the present day.

4509 was purchased from York Yard in 1982, having been made redundant by deliveries of Mark III High Speed Trains. It was owned for many years by SVR volunteer ticket collector Austen White, who bequeathed it to his colleague and neighbour James Barker. Not long after the creation of the Rolling Stock Trust charity, 4509 was donated to it.

Subsequently overhauled by the SVR (Holdings) as part of the restoration of the set of maroon liveried Mark One coaches, 4509 is in regular service and is displayed in the condition and colours of the period 1958-68, often referred to as 'the end of steam'. The Trust has provided new batteries and a slow-speed charging device as an additional improvement.

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