Nir 546

[Glenderg]

I put up a request for any information on this coach, and the thread went dead as soon as it went alive. A kindly soul texted me with a few photos, and I thought it would be handy to post it here, if I got hit by a bus etc.

 

"To stock 1982, Grill/Bar/Dining Car

546 ex 5970 (TSO) and RSS 1800 - Mk 2f TSO: converted 1974 to prototype self-service buffet for APT-P."

 

This is most fantastic bit. They took a stock coach and fecked about with the interior to see how it would work as an APT coach. It didn't work, so they reverted it to RSS.

 

RSS you ask? Restaurant Self Service - a version of motorway services, where you perused and purchased and turned up at the till. Sounds mighty miserable.

 

 

"To Northern Ireland Railways 1983, regauged to 5' 3". When withdrawn, repatriated regauged as No. 1800. 2003 Overhauled at Heysham to become part of Wessex Trains Excalibur set as 1800. 2009 now based at Carnforth, although still operating as part of same set."

 

 

 

[jhb171achill]

Eh? The windows are completely different....

[Glenderg]

G'dman Jb, thanks for keeping up.

 

It went to Heysham, and they adapted it to suit their own ends. I was a TSO to begin with - 8 MK2F type windows either side, and as life went on, they filled them in. If you've any snaps of her in service, by all means!

[jhb171achill]

I don't, Glenderg - time stopped for me after Cravens. BR Mk 1, 2 & 3 stuff to me is.... I'm afraid......

 

.......

 

(sorry, I dozed off there. Where were we?) :-)

 

I have to say, though, in that form in England it looks amazing. None of the NIR liveries, nor even the BR blue and grey, made it look as well. As for the brief insipid light grey and light blue of NIR, probably the drabbest and dullest livery ever!

[Dhu Varren]

A couple of pictures found on the internet of 546 in service. Note 904 behind, still in BR InterCity livery.

 

I am looking for information or pictures of the interior of 546.

 

[jhb171achill]

Just before that train went out of service, I had the delicious steak in it, and it wasn't on the menu even! Also, they only had one left and they didn't charge me!

 

Try that in the DD or a Mk 4......

[Garfield]

Just before that train went out of service, I had the delicious steak in it, and it wasn't on the menu even! Also, they only had one left and they didn't charge me!

 

Try that in the DD or a Mk 4......

 

Are you sure it was a steak?

[DiveController]

time stopped for me after Cravens. BR Mk 1, 2 & 3 stuff to me is....

As for the brief insipid light grey and light blue of NIR, probably the drabbest and dullest livery ever!

The cantrail is orange and the roof is black ..... I don't see the problem...?

Edited January 6, 2017 by DiveController

[Dhu Varren]

As for the brief insipid light grey and light blue of NIR, probably the drabbest and dullest livery ever!

 

I have to agree that the original light grey and light blue livery was not very inspiring, but the addition of the white lines above and below the blue, did a lot to improve it. A bit like the IR tippex lines improved that livery.

[Glenderg]

Dhu V,

 

Many thanks for the photos above, even though I'd always thought that 904 was the special part of that BR photo, I hadn't spotted the oddball behind her.

 

Will make for an easy conversion, and an interesting one for the collection. I have to say though, that livery is quite striking, and perhaps looks better in 4mm than in 12" to the foot.

 

Richie.

[jhb171achill]

Yes. An antelope steak. Someone at portadown assured me.

[Glenderg]

Donno Jb, that sounds pretty ruff ruff...