British Rail Mark 2

A key driver of the changed construction method was to overcome the serious corrosion problem point in the Mark 1 at the base of the body, where it was attached to the underframe.The Mark 2 coach was one of the mainstays of the InterCity network, but new rolling stock introduced in the post-privatisation era has resulted in most being withdrawn.Since their withdrawal from most main line duties, Mark 2 coaches have played an increasing role on private rail tours, charter trains, and on heritage railways.These luxuriously appointed first class carriages had several unusual features, such as inward opening doors and some interior walnut panelling.They were reintroduced in September 2006 to provide extra capacity on the Portadown to Belfast (Central) service, making one trip every morning, hauled by a Class 111 locomotive.The RPSI bought the eight withdrawn Gatwick Express Mark 2 coaches and generator van from NIR, which are currently (2017) in store at Dundalk and Whitehead.The DBSO entered preservation at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway on 27 September 2014, having never carried a passenger in NIR service or having left York Road depot by rail.With air conditioning as a principal feature they became known as "AC Stock" and ran on type B4 bogies, with vacuum brakes.The generator van contained two engine/generator sets, each supplying 220/380 V 50 Hz AC to two separate electrical buses in the train.Air conditioning output power would then be halved, but all other loads including cooking, lighting and battery charging would continue to be supplied.Most of them (104) operated in Auckland, classified SA (81) and SD (23), in push-pull commuter trains, with three to five SA carriages, an SD driving carriage (similar to the original Mark 2 DBSOs), and a DC class (four- and five-car) or DFT class (six-car) diesel-electric locomotive.Auckland has since replaced its entire suburban fleet with the purpose-built New Zealand AM class electric multiple unit.There are also six SE class carriages, which were used with electric locomotives on Wellington commuter services between 2008 and 2011 as a temporary measure until new EMUs were delivered.Mainline Steam also own four refurbished carriages, classified ML, which are based in Plimmerton (north of Wellington) and are used for its steam-hauled excursions.Following a decision to electrify Taiwan's busy West Coast Main Line, thirteen 5-car electric multiple units based on the Mark 2 design were built by BREL in York for the Taiwan Railway Administration in 1976, but following problems with the electrical equipment and excessive weight could not enter service until 1979 following the completion of remedial works.2Bs covering both the BR and NIR variants was announced by Irish Railway Models and its British-outline arm Accurascale in late 2021.
Mark 2Bs hauled by a NIR Class 111 at Adelaide in 1988.
An Iarnród Éireann Mark 2D at Limerick Colbert Station in 2006
Refurbished Mark 2 carriages used on a Metlink Wairarapa Connection service in Wellington , 2014
A British Rail Mark 2 carriage (New Zealand SD class) converted to a driving carriage for push-pull commuter trains in Auckland.
Virgin Trains West CoastBritish Rail Engineering LimitedSwindon WorksDerby Litchurch Lane WorksDB Cargo UKDirect Rail ServicesNetwork RailRiviera TrainsWest Coast RailwaysAir ConditioningBogiesBraking system(s)VacuumTrack gaugestandard gauge1,600 mm1,067 mmmetre gaugeBritish RailMark 1Mid-Norfolk RailwayTourist Open Second (TSO)Open Second (SO)Open Brake Second (BSO)Corridor First (FK)Open First (FO)Mark 3High Speed Trainmultiple unitelectric multiple unitsBritish RailwaysClass AM10London EustonWest MidlandsClass 312London King's CrossLondon Liverpool StreetNorthern Ireland Railways80 ClassTaiwanTaiwan Railway EMU100 seriesInterCitypost-privatisation eraheritage railwaysManchester PullmanLiverpool PullmanAnglia RailwaysVirgin TrainsNIR Class 111AdelaideEnterprise train serviceHunsletBo-BosNIR 101 ClassRailway Preservation Society of IrelandDe Dietrich Ferroviaireelectric multiple unitGatwick ExpressLondon VictoriaGatwick AirportClass 111WhiteheadDownpatrick and County Down RailwayIarnród ÉireannCoaching stock of IrelandNew Zealand British Rail Mark 2 carriageMetlinkWairarapa ConnectionWellingtonloading gaugeregaugedTranz RailMainline SteamCapital ConnectionPalmerston NorthDC classDFT classNew Zealand AM class electric multiple unitMastertonPlimmertonEMU100 seriesWest Coast Main LineTaiwan Railway AdministrationTze-Chiang Limited ExpressKenya Railways CorporationHornby RailwaysRoyal TrainAirfixMainlineBachmann BranchlineGraham FarishRail MagazineThe Railway MagazineClass 80 (NIR)Class 310EMU 100 (Taiwan)LocomotiveMark 4InterCity 225Mark 5 (I)InterCity 250Mark 5 (II)Mark 5ABritish Rail coach type codesBritish carriage and wagon numbering and classification