Brake Standard Open (Micro-Buffet)

A Brake Standard Open (Micro-Buffet), often abbreviated to BSOT or BSO(T), is a type of railway carriage used by British Rail.

British Rail Brake Standard Open (Micro-Buffet)
BR Mk 1 BSOT, no. 9015 at Swanage on 13 April 2006.
This coach is preserved on the Swanage Railway and is painted in Southern Region malachite green.
It was converted from BSO 9229.
In service1952–
ManufacturerMark 1: BR Doncaster & Wolverton,
Mark 2: BR Derby
Number builtMark 1: 18,
Mark 2: 8
Fleet numbersMark 1: 9000-9017,
Mark 2: 9100-9107
CapacityMark 1: 31 seats,
Mark 2: 23 seats
OperatorsBritish Rail
Specifications
Car length64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+12 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed90 or 100 mph (145 or 161 km/h)
Weight34 long tons (35 t; 38 short tons)
HVACSteam, electric, or dual heating, ETH index (Mk1 3, Mk2 4)
BogiesMark 1: BR1 or Commonwealth,
Mark 2: B4
Braking system(s)Vacuum, air, or both
Coupling systemDrop-head knuckle coupler on draw-hook (dual)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Mk 2 BSOT number 9102 at the Northampton & Lamport Railway. Converted for use by a Motorman in push-pull train operation.

These coaches were converted from a Brake Standard Open (BSO), by replacing one passenger seating bay with a counter for serving food, and space for a trolley for light refreshments. The toilet was removed and the space converted to a steward's prep-room and store.

Two batches of coaches were converted, as shown below.

Number range Type
9000-9017 Mark 1
9100-9107 Mark 2

These coaches are no longer in scheduled main-line services, the last being withdrawn in the mid-1990s. However, several coaches from both Mk1 and Mk2 types have been preserved on heritage railways, or are used by charter companies. These are detailed below:

Numbers Built Location Condition
BSOT BSO
9000 9276 1956 Doncaster Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway In service
9001 9275 1956 Doncaster Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway In service
9002 9372 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9003 9377 1963 Wolverton Dean Forest Railway In service
9004 9379 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9005 9373 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9006 9365 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9007 9374 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9008 9367 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9009 9378 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9010 9369 1963 Wolverton Mid Norfolk Railway In service
9011 9370 1963 Wolverton Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway In service
9012 9371 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9013 9368 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9014 9380 1963 Wolverton West Somerset Railway In service
9015 9229 1955 Doncaster Swanage Railway In service
9016 9237 1956 Doncaster Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway In service
9017 9375 1963 Wolverton Scrapped
9100 9405 1966 Derby Royal Deeside Railway Static use as a visitor centre
9101 9398 1966 Derby Vintage Trains Mainline charter service
9102 9383 1966 Derby Northampton & Lamport Railway In service
9103 9389 1966 Derby Nottingham Heritage Centre In service
9104 9401 1966 Derby West Coast Railways Mainline charter service
9105 9404 1966 Derby Peak Rail In service
9106 9406 1966 Derby Telford Steam Railway Under Restoration
9107 9407 1966 Derby Scrapped
edit