Body, Exterior & Roof

The body is an integral structure, its strength being formed by both the body and the underframe as a whole. The bodysides are formed by several large "top hat" sections running vertically along the length of the coach, usually one either die of each window. They are welded to the underframe by "feet" at the bottom. Each vertical section is braced by a framework of smaller horizontal sections. Finally, this steel framework is covered by a steel "skin". The underframes are mild steel rolled sections, braced with cross members unevenly spaced to accommodate all the under-floor equipment. Standard BR components were used at the ends, with all our vehicles having a screw link coupling and oleo buffers; however some may have been fitted with spring buffers from new and converted to oleos in the 1970's. So far only the driving end of M50517 has been put back to spring buffers, the rest of the group's vehicles retaining the oleos. Much of the construction methods were revealed during the

2006/2007 re-skin of M59137, pictures of which are above. You can see the box arrangement of the framework, and the steel panels being fitted over the top. The work was required on M59137 as the "feet" described earlier that formed an important part of the bodysides structurally, had completely rotted away in many places.

All driving vehicles were built with three large windows, a destination indicator built into the roof dome, and a two character route indicator beneath the centre window. Marker light arrangement differed from new. The first vehicles (two survive, 53437 & M53494), were built with a single light above the destination indicator (see left). Later vehicles had two, one under the drivers window and one under the second mans window (see right). The early (top light) vehicles later had the two lower lights added with the top one being blanked off. The two character route indicator was also blanked off (see left). The later vehicles never had changes made to the lights, but did have the route indicator removed (see right). Both of the group's restored driving vehicles had two lower lights, so no backdating was required. However the two character route indicators have returned. M50517 has had a fully

working box reinstated, while M50455 has had a mock version added to the flat front. This can be removed, and periodically (once or twice a year) the letter and number inside is changed.