Standard Corridor

The Standard Corridor (previously Third Corridor) type of railway carriage was one of the standard mid-20th century designs, and was coded SK (previously TK) by the LNER and BR, and CF by the LMS. The layout of the coach was a number of compartments, all of which were standard class (known as third class until 1956), linked by a side corridor.

The British Railways produced Mark 1 SK was the most numerous carriage design ever built in the United Kingdom. The original number series carried was 24000–26217. From 1983, those carriages in the 25xxx and 26xxx series were renumbered 18xxx and 19xxx.

There were two variants, those built for the Midland, Scottish, and Eastern / North Eastern regions had six seats per compartment, with fold-up arm-rests which folded into the seat-back, while those built for the Southern and Western regions, with their heavy commuter loadings into London, had eight seats in each compartment, and no arm-rests. Seating was of the interior sprung bench type. Over time, some SKs and BSKs were re-allocated from other regions to the Western, who tended to try to stitch the arm-rests in the up position.

In 1985, a number of Mark 2 First Corridor carriages were declassified to become SKs. They were renumbered from 13xxx to 19xxx, putting them after the end of the Mark 1 range (19452–19560).

No carriages of this type are still in daily use on the main line network, since open saloon carriages are now preferred by operating companies. However, some electric multiple units based on Mark 1 coaches have standard class compartments, such as Class 438. Many SKs still operate on preserved UK railway lines.

Designations for standard corridor carriages are as follows:

Livery

The livery initially for Mk1 coaches for British Railways in 1951 was crimson lake and cream with black and gold lining, all new Mk1 SK coaches were delivered in this livery up until 1956. In 1956 the standard livery changed to maroon with black and gold lining except for the Southern region stock which adopted an unlined dark malachite green. Western Region on the other hand adopted chocolate and cream to sufficient stock to operate its named trains like "Cornish Rivia Ltd" and "Torbay Express" being two examples. In 1965 Manastral Blue & Grey livery was introduced as trailed on XP64 stock the year before and lasted for another 20 years. NSE was introduced for stock in the south east of England

Orders

conversions

• In 1973-74 4 Second Corridor were converted to Class 309 TSK later become TSOL
• In 1976, 9 Second Corridor where converted to Stowage Vans 80431-80439 POT
• In 1977, 15 Second Corridor where converted to Sorting Vans 80381-80395 POS.

Departmental use

Corridor Brake Standard/Second

A standard corridor coach with a guard's brake compartment is designated BSK. The Mark 1 BSKs had 4 compartments, built as two variants with or without arm-rests depending on region, as with the SKs.

See also

• Corridor coach

References

• Keith Parkin Locomotive Hauled Mark 1 Coaching Stock of British Railways The Historical Model Railway Society, ISBN 9780902835061
• British Railways Vehicle Diagram Book 200 for Loco Hauld Coaches http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_200_for_issue.pdf
• Michael Harris British Rail Mark 2 Coaches - the design that launched InterCity Venture Publications ISBN 978-1-898432-48-7
• Ashley Butlin British Rail Coaching Fleet Mk2, Mk3 & Mk4 A British Railways Illustrated Modern Times Series, Irwell Press ISBN 1-871608-87-2
• G.M.Kichenside British Railways Coaches 1958 Ian Allen ABC
• P Mallaband & L J Bowles Coaching Stock of British Railways 1976 Railway Correspondence and Travel Society
• P Mallaband & L J Bowles Coaching Stock of British Railways 1978 Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, ISBN 9780901115447
• P Mallaband & L J Bowles Coaching Stock of British Railways 1982 Railway Correspondence and Travel Society
• Departmental Coaching Stock DB97xxxx series 1983 Edition, Lineside Publications
• Peter Fox Departmental Coaching Stock First Edition 1984 Platform 5 Publications, ISBN 9780906579473
• Roger Butcher & Peter Fox Departmental Coaching Stock Second Edition 1985 Platform 5 Publications, ISBN 9780906579473
• Roger Butcher & Peter Fox Departmental Coaching Stock Third Edition 1987 Platform 5 Publications, ISBN 9780906579701
• Roger Butcher, Peter Fox & Peter Hall Departmental Coaching Stock Fourth Edition 1990 Platform 5 Publications, ISBN 9780906579978
• Roger Butcher Departmental Coaching Stock Fifth Edition 1993 SCT Publications, ISBN 9781872768106