Origins

In mid-1958 the British Transport Commission announced that a new order had been placed with Metro-Cammell for 10 three-car sets for the North Eastern Region, powered by 180hp Rolls-Royce engines and each comprising a motor brake second, a trailer second with a buffet, and a motor composite^[1]. Around this time BR had announced that the Calder Valley line would be dieselised with "Cross Country units with buffets"^[2].

These sets would be to lot numbers 30508 (DMBS), 30509 (DMCL) and 30510 (TSBL), and this extract from a BR document, confirms that ten buffets were originally intended. They had an order date of 3/6/58:^[3]

As can be seen in the third entry, the centre cars were amended on 14/7/59, changing lot 30510 to four TSLs. This was at a time when BR was considering reducing the cross-Pennine routes from four (Hope Valley, Woodhead, Stalybridge and Calder Valley) to two or even one^[2]. On the same date lot 30615 was presumably added to the registry, these also as TSLs, but "with provision for buffet if required":

This was amended again just three weeks later on 7/8/59, they were now trailer open second buffets again.

Description

They were built to Diagram 625, and were similar to the Diagram 623 TSL vehicles with the non-toilet end saloon replaced by the buffet area. Externally, underframe equipment aside, the main visual difference were the two windows apertures behind the buffet counter which had steel sheets rather than the windows with glass, the ventialtor fan cover on the roof, and water filler pipes on the buffet end.

The buffet area was simple, a counter with a display case on one side, and a large hinged cover for when it was not in use. Behind were many display shelves, bottle holders for dispensing spirits, a refrigerator and a boiler for hot drinks.

A view with the buffet counter closed.

A view with the buffet counter open.

Buffet car E59574.

E51550 + buffet car E59573 and presumably E51560 on a test run at Aldridge circa March 1960.

North Eastern Region

All six vehicles were recorded as new to 55H Neville Hill depot at Leeds during the three weeks ending 4 June 1960. During the same period, three vehicles — 59573/7/8 — were transferred to South Gosforth depot at Newcastle, a depot that did not have Class 111 power cars, the buffet cars would work in Class 101 sets. The other three vehicles 59574-6 would soon follow a few weeks later, in the four week period ending on 31/07/60, giving South Gosforth all six vehicles.

From South Gosforth they would be used on services from Newcastle to Carlisle, Middlesbrough and Leeds.

This image in the RCTS photo archive shows a still new looking E59577 in Carlisle Citadel station on 2 July 1960, the underframe equipment picked out in silver, and the vehicle type on the end being "R.M.B."

In the September 1960 (winter) timetable, the miniature buffets were on the 10:30, 12:20, 15:20, and 16:20 Newcastle - Carlisle weekday services, and 13:00, 14:20, 17:25 and 19:00 returns. None were shown in use on Sundays. These times seem to stay consistent for several years, as can be seen in the Travel refreshed... advert from the North Eastern Region September 1963.

A Newcastle - Leeds service near Darlington circa 1963, the third vehicle being a buffet car.

Another Newcastle - Leeds service near Darlington, in 1964, with a buffet car as the second vehicle, with "BUFFET" lettering under the second window from the camera.

The 4.35pm Middlesbrough - Newcastle service departing from Stockton-on-Tees on 27 September 1966 with a buffet car as the third vehicle. Michael Mensing.

E51435 leads 2M72 the 1625 Newcastle to Carlisle at Milton on 22 July 1967, the third vehicle is a buffet car, with "BUFFET" in the centre of the vehicle. Keith Long.

All six remained at South Gosforth until April 1968 when two of the six — 59574 and 59578 — were transferred to 50C Hull Botanic Gardens. Their stay there was relatively short, in October 1968 59574 moved on to 55F Bradford Hammerton Street, 59578 was transferred to 55H (Neville Hill) on 31/08/69, then in May 1971 it moved to Hammerton Street giving Bradford two vehicles.

Duties for 59574/8 at Hammerton Street street included Bradford - Blackpool North services, working in Class 110 sets, as seen pictured circa 1971.

A notable working for 59578 was in the Branch Line Society Aire & Ouse railtour on 24 October 1970.

For the four vehicles remaining at South Gosforth, 59575 would be withdrawn on 05/07/73 (fortunately to a second life in preservation), and 59573/6 on 22/09/75 (disposal was at Snailwell, 59573 in 1984, 59576 in March 1981) — replaced by 59574/8 which arrived w/e 13/09/75 from Hammerton Street. The Newcastle depot now had three vehicles: 59574, 59577 and 59578.

Scottish Region

They remained at South Gosforth for a further three years when, in three separate 1978 moves, they were reallocated to three different Scottish Region depots: 59578 to DE (Dundee) on 04/06/78; 59574 to IS (Inverness) on 23/07/78; and 59577 to ED (Eastfield) on 16/10/78. 59577 would join 59578 at Dundee in the two week period ending 11/11/78.

En-route to Inverness 59574 visited Glasgow Works and would be painted Blue/Grey to match the Class 120s it would work with, complete with red stripe and Buffet bodyside text. It was noted in the works in its new livery in 14/09/78^[4]. Gangway adapters were required for the transition between its scissors type gangway and the Pullman gangways of the Swindon cars — the text "Gangway Adapter Fitted Uncouple With Care" was added to each bodyside corner. The image shows the 15:50 Aberdeen - Inverness at Insch on 10 March 1979 with SC59574 in set 301. Hamish Stevenson.

It is thought that 59574 would be the only one of the three ScR vehicles to operate as a buffet car, a buffet service was still provided on Aberdeen - Inverness services, and the move would likely have been to cover for 59684 which had been damaged in a derailment near Oyne. None of the DMU services further south had catering, so 59577/8 would just be used as regular centre cars, and it can be seen in photos that they had the water filler pipes removed from the buffet end (used for drinking water).

All three vehicles would congregate at Dundee when 59574 moved there from Inverness in February 1980, the DMUs on the Aberdeen - Inverness line having being replaced by loco-hauled stock.

SC59578 at Buckingham Junction, Dundee, on 7 July 1978. Derek Hoskins.

SC59577 departing from Edinburgh Waverley on 28th August 1979. Basil Hancock..

59574 seen on Dundee depot on April 13th 1980. emdjt42.

Two 101s pass through Princes Street Gardens with a Dundee service on 22 August 1980, a buffet car as the second vehicle.

The reunion at Dundee lasted just a year as 59574 moved on to Haymarket in February 1981; 59578 also departed the same month for Eastfield, leaving just 59577 at DE.

The stay of 59574 at Haymarket was short lived, it moved on to AY (Ayr) just two months later in April 1981.

A second vehicle would receive Blue Grey livery, 59578 on an unknown date. 59577 is believed to have remained in Rail Blue until withdrawal. All three had window bars on the door droplights when arriving in Scotland, only 59574 retained them until withdrawal.

The image shows a buffet car, thought to be Dundee allocated 59577, working between two Class 122 bubble cars passing through Princes Street Gardens circa mid-1981 just before withdrawal.

These design codes from May 1981 show that they were still classed as Class 111s. The buffet area is still shown, although the vehicle title is Trailer Second, and "Catering Equipment" is not acknowledged, being show as "-".

Storage and Withdrawal

Withdrawn SC59578 at Millerhill on 8 November 1981.

1981 was to be their last year, the vehicle remaining at Dundee 59577 being placed in store there on 05/06/81. Two months later, all three were stored servicable at Millerhill: 59574 on 15/08/81 and 59577/8 a week later on 22/08/81.

Storage was short lived, all three were withdrawn the following month on 30/09/81.

Disposal was at Snailwell: 59574/8 in February 1983; and 59577 in March 1983.