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618 -
the Coffin car |
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The
English Electric Railcoaches were delivered in two batches in 1934 and
1935. The first were generally withdrawn and scrapped as the town routes
closed, yet the second series survived intact until 1984 however
they were hardly recognisable. 10 had been rebuilt as trailer towing
cars in 1960/1 and the other 10 with 3 first series cars as OMO cars
from 1972-1976. In between there were two more individual rebuilds, 611
(as 264) which emerged resembling a towing car but used experimental
plastic panels and 618 which was lengthened and fitted with tapered
ends. Both later became OMO cars and this feature by Paul Turner tells
the story of 618 the coffin car.
618
was new as 271 in July 1935 and had a fairly mundane life, with only two
notable modifications the removal of its sliding roof in 1959 and
the fitting of heaters in 1963 when it became a mainstay of winter
service. During 1967 it suffered accident damage and in March 1968 it
was taken into the works for a drastic rebuild. Much like the current
refurbishments, the car was stripped to a shell, internally and
externally. The underframe was lengthened by 5ft 5in allowing a fifth
window bay to be fitted to each saloon. A new cab was fitted, tapered
with the end sufficiently wide to fit the Auster opening windscreens
used on Coronations and Twin Cars. As was standard at the time, the roof
windows were rubber mounted, but for the first time flush mounted
windows were fitted with four (later increased to 8) hopper openers on
each side. Like 611 small head and tail lights were fitted. Internally
swing over seats were retained, but for 56 rather than 48 passengers.
Panelling was almost entirely white Darvic plastic. Lightweight folding
doors were fitted, similar to those fitted to the Brush cars. 271
emerged with its new number 618 the fleet having been renumbered
during its absence. It entered service in January 1969 in the standard
half green/cream livery and was the first car to carry a green tower,
rather than the orange ones used since 1963. 7 more rebuilds were
considered with 610, 612, 615-7, 620 and long stored 220 (officially
608) earmarked. 611/3/4/9 having had recent overhauls, the latter trio
retaining traditional shape, but with flat roofs and rubber mounted roof
windows. In the end the OMO conversion programme took off and no further
work took place on the Railcoaches. 618 remained unique.
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