Early Toplight coaches are wooden panelled, similar to the last Dean coaches, with elliptical roofs. Their distinguishing feature which also gives them their name is the small glass lights or windows above the main windows. | |
The identifying feature of Bars 2 design that there is no eaves panel
above the window level panels; instead these panels continue up to the gutter. As coaches aged and panels started to be repaired with steel over-panels it can be difficult to distinguish
between the two designs.
Bars 2 coaches were built between 1912 and 1913. They were all built with electric lights from new. |
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It gets even more complicated as many Toplights were sold to the War Department for ambulance trains in the Great War. After the war they were purchased back and put into service; some required
little work whilst others required almost completely new bodies. These returned coaches are listed separately on the WD Rebuilds page.
Below are just a few of the Bars 2 Toplights diagrams. |
Dimensions | |||
Width over cornices | 8' 11¼ | ||
Width over body at waist | 9' | ||
Width over handles | 9' 5 | ||
Height to gutters | 10' 7¼ | ||
Height to top of roof | 12' 6¼ | ||
Height over ventillators |
Diagram | Dimensions Length x Width Wheelbase | Numbers | Conversions | ||
8 compartment third | 57' x 9' 9' bogies 50' wheelbase |
50 built in 1910 to 1913 6 built in 1912 |
2456 to 2464, 2492 to 2532 2533 to 2538 |
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Condemned 1953 to 1956 |
4 compartment brake third | 57' x 9' 9' bogies 50' wheelbase |
20 built in 1912 There were also some built to Bars 1 and ex WD Rebuilds |
2367 to 2369, 2374 to 2381, 3551 to 3559 |
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3551 to 3556 & 3559 sold to War Department in 1916. All were condemned between 1954 & 1962. |
4 compartment brake third | 70' x 9' 62'6 wheelbase |
10 built in 1911 8 built in 1912 |
3575 to 3584 3585 to 3592 |
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3576 & 3578 fitted with moderised body in 1943 with 2 doors on corridor side, both had 'Gangways and Adapters for Buckeye couplers and Pullman Vestibules' fitted in 1953 Condemned 1955 to 1959 |
7 compartment composite 4x 1st class and | 57' x 9' 9' Fishbelly bogies 50' wheelbase |
24 built in 1912 in 2 lots There were also some built to Bars 1 |
7554 to 7573 & 7745 to 7751 | 7555, 7559, 7561, 7564, 7566 & 7567, 7748, 7749 & 7751 received 8' American bogies between 1916 and 1918
7561 received Collett 9' light pressed steel bogies in 1939 All condemned between 1954 and 1957 |
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6 compartment brake composite | 57' x 9' 9' Fishbelly bogies 50' wheelbase |
17 built in 1913 | 6945 to 6961 |
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All condemned between 1956 and 1959 |
First Saloon | 57' x 9' 50' wheelbase |
1 built in 1911 | 9055 |
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Condemned 1955, now preserved on th eSevern Valley Railway |
4 compartment brake first with buffet | 70' x 9' 9' bogies 63'6 wheelbase |
1 built in 1911 | 8303 |
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4 gas cylinders for cooking Bogies changed from 9' American to 9' Collett Heavy Plate in 1922 'Gangways and Adapters for Buckeye couplers and Pullman Vestibules' fitted in 1953 Condemned 1955 |