Coache Abbreviations

For a complete amateur who knows nothing about coaches can someone please explain all the abbreviations used for coaches, like TSO BSK etc

Thank you

 

All figures quoted for mk1s (And I recommend the HMRS book on mk1s!)

TSO = Tourist second open 2+2 seating in groups of 4 around tables 8 bays totalling 64 seats 2 toilets one end
SO = Second Open 2+1 seating around tables 8 bays totalling 48 seats 2 Toilets 1 end
FO= First Open 2+1 seating around tables 7 bays 42 seats 1 toilet each end


SK= Corridor 2nd 8 compartments each bench seat carrying 4 people total 64 seats (some fitted with armrests that restrict it to 3 per seat
FK= First Corridor 7 Compartments each bench carrying 3 people seats 42
CK= Composite corridor 3 1st class compartments 4 std class toilet each end

BSO= Brake second open 2+2 seating as per TSO in 5 bays 1 set double doors in van area
BSK=Brake second corridor as per SK 4 compartments 2 sets of double doors in van area.
BFK= Brake first corridor as per FK 4 compartments 1 set double doors
BCK= Brake Composite Corridor 3 Standard compartments and 2 1st Compartments

RMB= Restaurant Miniature Buffet (Basic serving hatch and store room) rest of seating as per TSO
RKB= Restaurant Kitchen Buffet (serving area plus full kitchen)


BG= Full brake
SLEP= Sleeper

theres a few more, but that's the basic lot, and can be applied to most carriage designs although individual layouts etc changes

 

Of course these vary with pre-nationalisation stock!

Some other types (excluding those mentioned above):

TO - Open Third, similar to a TSO
TK - Corridor Third, 3rd class compartments connected via corridor

BTK - Brake Corridor Third. A TK with a brake compartment
UCB - Non-descript Brake. A Brake vehicle used to supliment whichever class needed.
SOBT - Semi-Open Brake Third. A Brake with 2 compartments nearest the brake the rest being open

TPO - Travelling Post Office

KB - Kitchen Buffet, Very versitile and could provide at seat meals, or buffet type facilities
CDO (unsure of the actual coding) - Composite Open Dining Saloon, suppliments the KB for more seating.

MPV - Multi Purpose Vehicle, example being the diabled coach at the Bluebell.

BY - 4 Wheeled Guards Brake
BGZ - 6 Wheeled Gangwayed Brake
GBL - Gangwayed Bogie Luggage Van
PMV - Parcels and Miscellaneous Van
PLV - Passenger Luggage Van
CCT - Covered Carriage Truck (end loading doors enabled carriages or sometimes cars to be loaded)

 

GUV - General User Van
CCT - Covered Carridge Truck
MLV - Motor Luggage Van
DVT -Driving Van Trailor

 

RFO-Resturant first open.

 

Yup guys, that somes it all up nicely.

Regards
Chris

 

The following information was published by the BR (Southern Region) Chief Operating Superintendent in September 1958…

STANDARD CODES FOR COACHING ROLLING STOCK

Restaurant Kitchen Cars
First - RF
Composite - RC
Either Class - RU
Second - RS
Triplet - RTS
Pantry Second - RSP
Buffet Car - RB
Kitchen only - RK
Cafeteria Car - CAF
Kitchen/Buffet Car - RKB
Restaurant/Cafeteria Car - RCAF

Restaurant Cars (without Kitchens)
First, Open (loose chairs) - RFO
Composite, Open (loose chairs) - RCO
Second, Open (loose chairs) - RSO

Sleeping Cars
First - SLF
First (twin) – Twin SLF
Composite - SLC
Composite (twin) – Twin SLC
Second - SLS

Saloons
First - SF
Second - SS
Invalid Saloon - SI

Open Stock
First - FO
Composite - CO
Second - SO
Second Brake - BSO
Semi-Open First – Semi FO

Open Tourist Stock (Bucket Seats)
Second Open - TSO
Brake Second Open - TBSO

Corridor Stock
First - FK
First Brake - BFK
Composite - CK
Composite Brake - BCK
Second - SK
Second Brake - BSK

Non-Corridor Stock (Bogies)
First - F
First (Lavatory) - FL
First Brake - BF
First Brake (Lavatory) - BFL
Composite - C
Composite (Lavatory) - CL
Composite Brake - BC
Composite Brake (Lavatory) - BCL
Second - S
Second (Lavatory) - SL
Second Brake - BS
Second Brake (Lavatory) - BSL

Post Office Vehicles
Post Office Sorting Van - POS
Post Office Tender Van - POT

Passenger Van – Brake Vans
4 Wheeled - BY
6 Wheeled (without gangways) - BZ
6 Wheeled (with gangways) - BGZ
Bogie (without gangways) - B
Bogie (with gangways) - BG
Pigeon Van (Braked) - BP
Milk Van (Braked) - BM

Miscellaneous Traffic Vans
Bogie General Utility Vans - CUV
Parcels & Miscellaneous Vans - PMV
Horse Boxes - HB
Special Cattle Vans - SCV
Open Carriage Truck - CTO
Covered Carriage Truck - CCT


NOTES

[*] If any coaching vehicle is fitted with Pullman ‘Adaptors’, then a letter ‘A’ should be added after the code.

[*] Articulated stock is indicated by the word “Twin”, “Triplet”, “Quad”, or “Quint” according to the number of vehicles which form the set, the set number, and the code “ART”.


There are many, many more codes over and above whats been published here thus far.


Jack