BR Mk 3 stock

Although best known as the trailer vehicles in Intercity 125s, a large number of Mk 3a coaches was built for locomotive-hauled West Coast Main Line operations. Built between 1975 and 1984, Mk 3a deliveries included 60 First Opens (FOS) numbered 11004-063, 165 Tourist Second Opens (TSOS) – 12004-168 and 28 Restaurant First Buffets (RFBS). The latter, numbered 10001-028, were the first restaurant/buffet cars ordered by BR since the early 1960s and were designed to provide more modern catering facilities than the existing Mk 1 fleet. Two vehicles for the Royal Train, 2914/15, were also added to the order, along with no fewer than 208 sleeping cars to replace the outdated BR Mk 1 overnight fleet. As part of Intercity’s drive to improve quality and attract business travellers from northern England, a further 38 improved FOS (11064-101) and three Brake First Opens (17173-175) were built in 1985 and classified as Mk 3b. Most of the fleet plied its trade on the Euston-manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow routes until replaced by Virgin Trains Class 390s from 2002, but TSOS 12004-008/011-031 and FOS 11005-010/022 (later converted to Composite Opens 11905-910/922) were used in Scotland between 1978 and 1990, working Edinburgh-glasgow/aberdeen push-pull services with Class 47/7s and Mk 2f Driving Brake Second Opens (DBSOS). After being dislodged from the WCML, the Mk 3 LHCS fleet has been widely dispersed. Greater Anglia has the majority, working London-norwich expresses with Class 90s, but other operators include Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, DRS and, most recently, Transpennine Express.