Published on Thursday 8 May 2025 by PECO TV

Camping coaches were first introduced by the London and North Eastern Railway in 1933, placing ten repurposed carriages in scenic locations across their network. The idea caught on quickly. By 1934, both the London, Midland and Scottish Railway — calling theirs "caravans" — and the Great Western Railway, with their "camp coaches", launched similar offerings. The Southern Railway followed in 1935.

That year, 215 coaches were in use across 162 sites throughout Great Britain. Their popularity grew rapidly: by 1939, 439 coaches were in operation, over half of which were run by the LMS.

With the outbreak of World War II, most camping coaches were withdrawn from public use and repurposed as emergency accommodation. Post-war, only the Southern Railway undertook significant refurbishment.

After nationalisation, British Railways reintroduced camping coaches in 1952. These second-generation models were roomier and better equipped, with upgraded versions — including converted Pullman cars — peaking at 223 in 1962.

The Beeching cuts of the 1960s led to widespread closures of rural lines, where most coaches were based, and the service declined. The final camping coaches were withdrawn from public use after the 1971 season.

While some original coaches were adapted from decommissioned rail vehicles and remained static — sometimes "grounded" or placed on disused tracks — they retained the ability to be relocated. Today, however, most rail-based accommodation has been modified for permanent use with modern utilities like mains water and electricity, making them no longer compliant for movement on the railway network.

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