Technical information

• Roofing materials and techniques: Canvas, Synthetic and Aluminium
• Contacts for Suppliers
• Document discussing Mansell wooden-centered wheelsets
• Interior of the guard’s compartment of Stove-fitted Van C (BY) No.404

The following documents were at one time provided by the Heritage Railway Association (as PDFs):

• HRA Guidance note “HGR-B9050-Is01 Steam Heating Apparatus“
• Air brake systems
• CEPS 0162 Overhaul of door locks
• CEPS 1019 Overhaul of vacuum cylinders
• CEPS 1054 Overhaul of bodyside swing doors
• CEPS 1066 Overhaul vac equipment MK1 and 2 carriages
• CEPS 1067 Overhaul B4 and B5 bogies
• CEPS 1087 Overhaul of commonwealth bogies
• GMtt0173 Braking system maintenance
• HGR-P0110-Is01 Rolling Stock Hire Agreements
• MT250 Exam and repair privately owned stock on BR
• MT261 Door locks testing
• MT288 Wheelset tread standards and gauging
• TM TP 0053 Repair of mk2 and mk3 outward opening door and striking plate fixings

Further documents available here (as PDFs):

• CMS123 Chapter 4 (Maintenance of brakes and pass-com) Issue 5, March 1988

• The Railway Heritage Register (home to the Carriage Survey and the Wagon Survey) has details of all preserved carriages and wagons
• The LMS Carriage Association hosts the Carriage Exchange – “For Sale” and “Wanted” page for Spare Parts for Carriages. They also provide information on:
  • How to make Luggage Rack Netting by Alan Taylor – also available to download as a pdf
  • LMS Vacuum Brake system (pdf)
  • Wolverton Train Lighting: download the LMS and their own versions
  • Lining and transfer fixing techniques, also available as pdfs: Lining and Varnish-fix transfers
  • Beading techniques, also available as a pdf
  • LMS (1929) document on painting of rolling stock (pdf)
• The LNER Coach Association: Technical pages:
  • Instructions for the fixing of Teak panels on Gresley coaches
  • Exterior varnishing specification
  • Gresley glazing specification
  • DRAFT Roof specification
  • Frame repair specification
  • LNER Moquettes
  • LNER carriage drawings
• The Railcar website has some technical pages on DMUs, and an article by John Joyce on DMU Batteries
• Also a useful list of suppliers of spare parts (much of the information is equally applicable to hauled coaching stock)
• Piers Connor’s page on Vacuum Brake Systems

• The Railway Coach Email Group is an Email List for people interested in Railway coaches of all kinds and ages. Members of this list have for the last few years organised annual Carriage Restorers’ Conventions.

• Peak Rail’s “Carriage Exchange” page for vehicles, and Spare Parts.
• The Traction and Rolling Stock Advertiser – including coaches and parts for sale.
• WNXX – Locomotives, Rolling Stock & Railway Items For Sale
• Ramco – ARMY SURPLUS SALES – sometimes have surplus items from military rail systems

• Railway Carriage Significance – a paper by Richard Gibbon, former Head of Engineering Collections at the NRM.
• Piers Connor’s Railway Technical pages cover modern coaching matters, especially in relation to electrical and braking systems, in considerable detail, and also include many useful links.
• The Railway Terminology Group are compiling a Glossary of Railway Terminology which covers many aspects including carriages.
• On-line documentation from the Health & Safety Executive about Asbestos.
• The BR Mk.I Coach email list
• The GCR Rolling Stock Trust, owners of many of the surviving Great Central Railway carriages.
• Stately Trains is a fine collection of Victorian carriages that have been restored by Stephen Middleton.
• The Great Western (SVR) Association preserves and restores items of rolling stock, particularly carriages, from the Great Western Railway, and is based at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway.

If anyone has suitable web pages or contact details which they would like to have listed on this page, please contact the BRPS website editor, Richard Salmon.

Please note that neither the Bluebell Railway nor the Heritage Railway Association are responsible for any of the advice or other information on these pages.