An Irish Railways Question

[Buz]

Hi all

I may have asked this before but could not find anything in the archives.

Does any one know if the Cravens coaches and MKII coaches ever ran in the same rake at any time.

The reason for asking is I can find an Irish MKII buffet but not a Cravens one and the same for a Generator coach

So wondered if they could be mixed in same rake provided the livery matches.

As far as I am aware the Irish Railways don't have specific Passenger Locomotives as such.

regards John

[AndyMac1707817969]

They generally were not mixed but I believe there were a few odd occasions when Cravens ran with BREL built MK2s (the non-air conditioned ones). It’s all a bit complicated, Cravens and I think early MK2s were screw couplings while MK2d and MK3s were drop-head buck-eye couplings. Cravens and BREL built MK2s (a/b/c/d) were vacuum braked and MK3 were air braked. Only one MK2d, the presidential coach 5408 which were dual braked. MK2d EGVs did not run with Cravens, they generated electricity for lights and air conditioning while Cravens were steam heated and thus needed a Steam Generating Van (these were either Dutch or ex BR MK1 coaches). MK2 /a/b/c had a pressure ventilated heating system and I think they used modified Dutch Steam Vans converted to EGVs.

 

There is a ready to run Craven Buffet / snack bar MM1509 (MM1508 a previous version I believe had error, a missing vent). When it comes to steam generating vans there were two types, converted BR Mk1 (both BSK and BCK) and Dutch Vans, these are available from Silver Fox models

[Buz]

Hi Andy_Mac

Thanks for a very informative answer. Murphys actualy did both the missing snack bar and steam generator  coaches but they are now hard to find at reasonable used prices.

The Dutch van is avalable as a kit I may have to get one of those, but I don't have a good history with resin kits.or spray painting 😢

reards John