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British Rail Mark 2 Coaches: The design that launched InterCity Hardcover – 1 July 1999

by Michael Harris (Author)

13 ratings

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BR's mark 2 coaches are a remarkable link between the steam age railway, the birth of Inter City in 1966 and the successful development of that business - especially through the 1980s - to the emergence since 1984 of the privatised railway. Over 400 have been thoroughly modernised to serve the privatised companies and will take the operation of Mark 2s through into the new century. The history of the Mark 2 is a complex story which follows the policies and motivations of the nationalised British Rail where the whys and wherefores and the might-have beens or should have beens are as relevent as the very nuts and bolts of the vehicles. The existence of the Mark 2s was something of a happy chance. If it hadn't been for the Western Region's engineering management of the 1950s taking the initiative to design an integrally constructed carriage, Inter-City would have been without a basic tool to develop its business and product from the mid-1960s. The Mark 2s have not always enjoyed a good press, but author Michael Harris feels that they deserve a better hearing and some rehabilitation of their image. No other vehicle design at any time on British railways had to be adapted so extensively, to incorporate electric train heating, air-braking and air-conditioning. The author has consulted official BR records not in the public domain, and interviewed engineers and operators who worked with the Mark 2s throughout their lives. Of especial interest is the full story behind the evolution of the prototype Mark 2 built at Swindon Works in the early 1960s. He also reviews the current developments with Mark 2s operated by Anglia Railways and Virgin Trains, as well as Venice Simplon Orient-Express and the heritage railways. The book is profusely illustrated with photographs and drawings showing Mark 2s at all stages of their lives, as well as their construction and interior details which will make the book of particular interest to railway modellers.

Print length

192 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Venture Publications Ltd
Publication date

1 July 1999
ISBN-10

1898432481
ISBN-13

978-1898432487
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Hugh Longworth
27
Hardcover
17 offers from £23.26

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Venture Publications Ltd (1 July 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1898432481
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1898432487

Best Sellers Rank: 1,375,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 346 in Railway Technology & Engineering
- 5,890 in Railway Transport

Customer reviews:
13 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

13 global ratings

5 star		79%
4 star		21%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Tracky

Great addition to my library...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 15 February 2016

Verified Purchase

I've always had an interest in heritage rolling stock and have a collection of books about a variety of types. I was interested in the design principals behind the Mark 2, the thought processes and choices BR made. For me this was a really good read.

Helpful

Airedaler

BR MK 2 Caoching stock

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 4 July 2012

Verified Purchase

This is a very well researched and presented book. It covers the events that lead to the developement of the MK 2 coaches and their subesquent history. There are plenty of diagrams and pictures of the various types of coach which makes the book a must for modellers.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

MAC

An Essential and Welcome History of an Effective Rolling Stock Design

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 March 2022

The BR Mark II coach was my favourite design on British Railways as an active train spotter from 1977 to to about 1987. I particularly liked the early Mark II A to C designs. However, living on the Midland Mainline at the time you either had the trusty Mark 1s or Mark 2 D to F designs on your trains.

I had to travel further a field to get on them - the East Coast Mainline stoppers, Leicester-Birmingham trains and the odd foray into Cambridgeshire via Peterborough, the Trans-Pennine route (Liverpool to Newcastle) and also the WCML stopping trains too.

Although each seemed to have their own vices (the Mark 2 Ds on the East Coast and Midland Main line were notorious for having their air conditioning out of commission at the height of summer) they still provided a very high level of comfort in my view (although the Mark II A-C could feel a little cramped at times).

The Mark 2 never felt old or out of date - having spent much time in Mark 1s in various states over the years, the design was definitely a step up and Harris' book is right to say that it was the design that really helped to create the 'Inter-city' brand for BR. My favourites were the usually declassified corridor first A -to Cs which to me offered a fantastic travelling experience - almost like the golden era of rail travel before car travel took off.

The Mark 2 E to F designs were certainly put to good use by Virgin and were used to create a very nice modern travelling environment indeed for passengers in their later years.

Be honest now! What do you prefer - a Mark II 2 A to F or a Voyager DMU? In the latter, there is not enough room to swing a cat let alone stow your luggage. And the engine thumping into your feet below. Awful.

It is a real shame that the aims and objectives of the Mark 2 journey (to make something truly attractive for passengers to sit in) could not have been repeated in the cigar boxes that pass for trains these days.

Highly recommended.

Helpful

Mr Julian Mander

Good history of our coach.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 May 2016

Verified Purchase

Great book giving detail of a MK 2 that we (our trust) owns.Now know its early movements.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 August 2015

Verified Purchase

Very interesting possibly the best passenger carrying vehicles ever built in the UK

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 8 October 2013

Verified Purchase

Filled in lots of gaps in my knowledge and had lots that was new to me.
A useful addition th my library.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Russ

Very Detailed Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 8 November 2012

Verified Purchase

An excellent book with loads of information, lots of specific detail and some brilliant photos - just the thing for railway modellers.

One person found this helpful

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M Bowery

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 January 2015

Verified Purchase

This is a superb book

Helpful

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British Rail Mark 2 Coaches: The design that launched InterCity Hardcover – 1 July 1999

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