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Hornby – DRS Mk1 Restaurant Buffet
The Mark 1 coach, introduced by British Railways in 1951, was the UK’s first standardized railway carriage design. It was widely used on Britain’s railway network until 1963, with continued production in various forms, including multiple units and non-passenger stock. These coaches were manufactured in several locations, such as Derby, Doncaster, Eastleigh, Swindon, Wolverton, and York.
Most Mark 1 coaches had underframes measuring 63ft 5in in length, with bodies extending to 64ft 6in, although some shorter versions were built for use on tight curves. In 1977, their introduction was credited with reducing fatalities on British railways since 1955, thanks to their robust steel construction, strong underframes, and buckeye couplings, making them safer in accidents.
Mark 1 coaches began to be phased out from widespread service in the 1990s. However, in certain regions, particularly in the south, Mark 1-based multiple units continued to operate into the 2000s. Network Rail still employs modified Mark 1 coaches for various departmental duties, and rail tour operators use them for specially organized services.
The Mark 1 RB, or Restaurant Buffet coach, featured a kitchen, buffet counter, and seating for around 23 passengers. Initially, British Railways followed traditional dining patterns with Kitchen Cars preparing multi-course meals for First and Third Class Dining Cars. However, changing social attitudes in the 1950s led to a shift in demand for lighter and more affordable meals and an increase in social drinking unrelated to dining. As a result, Buffet vehicles, equipped with propane gas units for cooking, replaced or complemented full Kitchen Car/Dining Car combinations during the 1957–62 Mark 1 building program, allowing for more versatile catering options and reducing reliance on electric power.
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