BR MK2
BSO & TSO
|
Our main running fleet is comprised BR's MK2 Coaches. A general running day will see two MK2's out, with three on a special event. They help keep our railway running all through the year.
INFORMATION
|
No. 5148 in Spring Village Station |
BSO's
|
BR MK2 BSO No. 9406
Mk 2. Later modified with mini buffet as 9106. Became internal user at Preston as 024909. Sold 1994 from BR to Transrail, then to EWS, then DBS.
After many years at Preston moved to Crewe Diesel Depot 1/10, then to Ruddington, Great Central (Northern), by 04/12. Then to Mid Norfolk 03/12. Advertised for sale by 09/12 and by 01/17 moved to Telford Steam Railway. 9406 is in the process of being converted to be our accessible coach. The coach will hopefully be in service in 2026. CURRENT STATUS : UNDER RESTORATION |
No. 9406 prior to restoration |
No. 9394 on arrival at Spring Village |
BR MK2 BSO No. 9394
Arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 2022 from Peak Rail. Currently being used for storage.
The coach will either be restored to running condition or may be used for static use in the short-term. CURRENT STATUS : IN STORAGE |
TSO's
BR MK2 TSO No. 5148Built in 1964 with pressure ventilation and wood panelling. Fitted with vacuum brakes, so they could run with Mark 1 stock and supplied dual heating (steam & electric).
In 2016, 5148 was hired from from the Mid Norfolk Railway and with two other hired in MK2's, formed the carriage set for that years Polar Express TM. Whilst the other two MK2's were returned, 5148 was purchsed by Telford Steam Railway and has remained at the railway ever since. In 2018, 5148 had a major overhaul with new flooring, new internal wooden panelling and new plumbing. One of then toilet areas was removed to allow storage of the technical equipment needed when running the Polar Express TM. It also received a full external repaint into maroon with yellow lining. 5148 is used for our Polar Express TM trains, and service trains when required. CURRENT STATUS : IN SERVICE |
No. 5148 at Spring Village Station |
No. 5193 at Spring Village Station |
BR MK2 TSO No. 5193Our example was built in British Rail workshops in 1964 with pressure ventilation and wood panelling. Fitted with vacuum brakes, so they could run with Mark 1 stock and supplied dual heating (steam & electric).
5193 arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 2017 from Tyseley. That year it was overhauled recieving new interior wood panelling and external repaint into maroon livery. 5193 is used for our Polar Express TM trains, and service trains when required CURRENT STATUS : IN SERVICE |
BR MK2 TSO No. 52195219 originally arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 2016 on hire from the Mid Norfolk Railway to run that years Polar Express TM trains. It returned to the Mid Norfolk Railway in 2017.
In 2019, the coach was withdrawn for restoration which although started was paused due to the Covid 19 outbreak. 5219 was brought by Telford Steam Railway in 2024 and once restored to operational service, will be used for our Polar Express TM trains and service trains when required. CURRENT STATUS : UNDER RESTORATION |
No. 5219 at Spring Village Yard |
|
BR MK2 TSO No. 52205220 arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 2017 from the Kent and East Sussex Railway. That year it was overhauled recieving new interior wood panelling and external repaint into maroon livery.
5220 is used for our Polar Express TM trains, and service trains when required CURRENT STATUS : UNDER RESTORATION |
BR MK2 TSO No. 52215221 arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 2017 from Tyseley.
That year it was overhauled recieving new interior wood panelling and external repaint into maroon livery. 5221 is used for our Polar Express TM trains, and service trains when required CURRENT STATUS : IN SERVICE |
|
TSO's on a service train |
HISTORYTourist Second Open, abbreviated to TSO, is a type of British Railways coach. The designation Tourist was originally as opposed to a normal SO (Second Open) coach. Both types have the same number of seating bays per coach, but the TSO has four seats across, arranged 2+2 either side of a central aisle, while an SO has 3 seats across, arranged 2+1 with an offset aisle. Both offer the same legroom, but there is slightly less width per passenger in a TSO.
The Mark 2 TSO was a direct development of the Mark 1 version and the early Mark 2 TSOs had an almost identical layout, including the pair of toilets either side of the gangway at one end and the two identical four-bay saloons separated by a just-off-mid-coach transverse vestibule, with further transverse vestibules at the outer end of each saloon. Later MK2 design saw the centre vestibule abolished, although the mid-coach divider was retained to still give two saloons of four bays each. In 1987, British Rail changed the title to Tourist Standard Open, when Second Class Standard Class across the network. Mark 2 coaches gradually replaced Mark 1s on crack express services, allowing the older vehicles to cascade down to secondary services and thus enable the steady withdrawal of pre-nationalisation designs. Early Mark 2s were then in turn cascaded as later designs took over top-link workings. |
