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Hornby R4886A

BR, Bulleid 59' Corridor Composite, S5718S - Era 4

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

When Oliver Bulleid took over as Chief Mechanical Officer of the Southern Railway following Richard Maunsell's retirement, the General Manager and Board were already aware that the SR's mainline coaching stock lagged behind the standards set by the other three Railway companies. In 1938, with the assistance of his Technical Assistant, L. Lynes, Bulleid began design work for new steam-hauled stock for the Bournemouth and Weymouth services, placing the order for fifty four 57' 11" underframes with Lancing Works.

With the onset of the Second World War, the supply of bodies for these was put on hold and it was not until 1944 before the orders for the bodies could be placed, the first of these being finished at Eastleigh Works in November 1945. Featuring a smooth, continuously curved bodyside, with small fixed windows above the door windows, the exterior was distinctly Bulleid in character and was a perfect match for his streamlined Pacifics and Light Pacifics.

However, the interim nature of the design was apparent in the retention of Maunsell's underframe and layout, with side doors providing access to each compartment. Two types of stock were built; a Composite of four First, and three Third Class compartments to Diag. 2316 and a Brake Third of five compartments, with a 22' long brake van to Diag, 2121.

The last coaches were withdrawn in July 1967, at the end of Southern steam. The first withdrawals started in December 1963, leaving just Sets 964/967/968/976 and 980 until 1965, when further withdrawals left just twenty loose coaches.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby British Railways Bulleid 59' Corridor Composite, running number S5718S, is an OO gauge model measuring 243 mm in length. The kit is supplied in a pristine finish with SR Green livery and a BR Green colour scheme. It represents a Southern Railway Bulleid CK (Composite Corridor) coach and carries the manufacturer part number R4886A. The model is intended to depict the British Railways early crest period.

The original coaches were designed by O.V.S. Bulleid after he succeeded R. Maunsell as Chief Mechanical Officer of the Southern Railway. In 1938 Bulleid commissioned fifty‑four 57 ft 11 in underframes from Lancing Works for use on Bournemouth and Weymouth services. Production of the bodies was delayed by the Second World War and did not commence until 1944; the first bodies were completed at Eastleigh Works in November 1945. The coaches featured a smooth, continuously curved bodyside with small fixed windows above the door windows, matching Bulleid’s streamlined Pacific locomotives, but retained Maunsell’s underframe layout and side‑door compartment access. Two variants were built: a composite with four First‑class and three Third‑class compartments and a Brake‑Third with five compartments plus a 22 ft brake van.

The coaches remained in service until the end of Southern steam, with withdrawals beginning in December 1963. The final withdrawals occurred in July 1967, when the last examples were taken from operation.