NIR Mk2 coaches and 80 Class Intermediate Trailer Conversions

[PaulMac]

Hi, I have been researching the NIR mark 2b/c stock and 80 class DEMU centre cars with a view to modelling them from Lima coaches I have stored away.  With regard to the hauled stock, please could anyone tell me whether any of the Mark 2c coaches NIR had were fitted with the Mk2d, e, f toilet windows or if they all had the Mk2b type toilet windows?  I know the early Mk2c stock had larger roof vents than the later type which had similar Roe Vac roof vents to the Mk2 air conditioned stock.

On the subject of 80 class intermediate trailers, the ones that interest me are the conversions from hauled stock.  I have checked two sources of reference for these and differing information is provided about the interior layouts.  The Harris book documenting Mk2 stock states that 774, 776 and 779 all had 62 seats and 2 toilets, the same book states that 778 and 780 had 76 seats and no toilets.  The contradictory information comes from a Platform 5 handbook from 2008 that says all of these had 74 seats and 1 toilet, I'm not sure which is the case.  Another query I have is related to driving trailer 754 which I know was converted from push-pull BDTS 811, as built, this would have had 31 seats with toilet, the Platform 5 book says 75 seats and a toilet, if this last vehicle did have 75 seats, that would have been almost a complete rebuild from a brake coach into a full saloon, was 754 so heavily rebuilt?

 

[Mol_PMB]

Many were rebuilt over the years, including the BDTS to DTS. 

There was also a mix of vehicles built for NIR, and those purchased secondhand from BR, so more variety of types than you would expect.
Some were re-seated from 2+2 to 2+3, not always at the same time as being converted from loco hauled to railcar trailers.

Some vehicles were badly damaged in collisions, explosions or fires, and received heavy rebuilds not always in the same form as the original; others were replaced instead.
The story is very complex! Jonathan Allen’s book ‘35 years of NIR’ has comprehensive details. 
 

[Mol_PMB]

OK, these are the rebuilds from LHCS to 80 class trailers. I assume you can look up the original vehicles in Harris.

Driving cars:

752 Converted 2/1982 from BR 5516. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 9/2000, became 8752. 75 seats.

753 Converted 5/1984 from BR 5498. Became 8753 in 6/2001. 75 seats.

754 Converted 7/1988 from NIR 811. Became 8753 in 7/1999. 31 seat BDTS. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 3/2001 to 75 seat DTS.

8755 Converted 6/1999 from NIR 932 (former NIR 825) at Railcare Glasgow. 75 seats.

8756 Converted 6/1999 from NIR 933 (former BR 5577) at Railcare Glasgow. 75 seats.

 

Intermediate cars:

774 Converted 2Q/1982 from BR 5521. 62 seats. Became 8774 in 5/1999. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 1/2001. 74 seats.

8775 Converted 4/1999 from NIR 930 (former BR 5573) at Railcare Glasgow. 76 seats.

776 Converted 6/1984 from NIR 824. 62 seats. Became 8776 in 8/1999. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 1/2001. 74 seats.

8777 Converted 4/1999 from NIR 931 (former BR 5531) at Railcare Glasgow. 76 seats.

778 Converted 1/1984 from NIR 826. 62 seats. Destroyed 7/1997.

779 Converted 7/1984 from NIR 827. 62 seats. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 8/2001, became 8779. 74 seats.

780 Converted 4/1984 from NIR 828. 62 seats. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 2/2001, became 8780. 74 seats.

 

Hope that helps?

[PaulMac]

@Mol_PMB

Thank you so much for sharing the information you have about the 80-class trailer rebuilds and rebuilds of rebuilds.   You have answered every question I had regarding these, it's now time to start converting some of the stock I have into some of these trailers.  

[GSWR 90]

752 is preserved at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway. It was bought to replace 80 class driving trailers 741 (withdrawn September 1979 after firebombing at Finaghy) and 747 (withdrawn May 1979 after fire at Crumlin)