'Test Coach', Derby Works, 1989

[317362]

From the 4/1989 Motive Power Monthly, photo by and (c) Brian Morrison, just struck me even as a 'for testing panint' as being rather an odd, unusual thing. Anyone know any more?

 

[edwin_m]

From the 4/1989 Motive Power Monthly, photo by and (c) Brian Morrison, just struck me even as a 'for testing panint' as being rather an odd, unusual thing. Anyone know any more?

The coach itself doesn't look like any of the usual designs. Does anyone recognise its origins? Perhaps a DVT or one of the BREL International coaches?

It's reasonable that some new sort of paint finish would be tested to see how easy it is to apply in a realistic situation and possibly also exposure to rain, carriage wash detergent etc.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Just wondering if this could possibly have been a vehicle from the former class 210 DEMU?

 

[stuving]

... or was it built just for testing purposes, not for use in a train?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Fair point! and looking at it again as @edwin_m suggests, it really dosen’t look like any of the usual body types except that the vehicle end is somewhat similar to that of the International stock.

 

[317362]

Every time I look I spot something odd about it! Enjoyable. Agree it's not a 'real' thing but if anyone ever met it, details welcome. Rereading 1988/9 MPMs is recommended of course if you still have them

 

[edwin_m]

Just wondering if this could possibly have been a vehicle from the former class 210 DEMU?

The 210 vehicles were pretty much identical to as 317 and 455s, in fact they used a surviving one to replace the 455 coach that was squashed by a cement mixer at Oxshott. The motor coach was probably different structurally but looked similar. So I don't think that's it, although one 210 car lived in the RTC yard for some years as an "all electric vehicle" experiment into whether all pneumatic systems could be electric instead.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The 210 vehicles were pretty much identical to as 317 and 455s, in fact they used a surviving one to replace the 455 coach that was squashed by a cement mixer at Oxshott. The motor coach was probably different structurally but looked similar. So I don't think that's it, although one 210 car lived in the RTC yard for some years as an "all electric vehicle" experiment into whether all pneumatic systems could be electric instead.

Two 210 vehicles were re-used in units 5912 and 5913

 

[Sun Chariot]

The photographed coach's buffer heads and stocks, "works accommodation use" pattern bogies and body profile, make me think it was a purpose built bodyshell and attached to an older carriage frame.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Profile reminds me of a Mk 3 DVT

 

[Sun Chariot]

Profile reminds me of a Mk 3 DVT

Mk3 DVTs were introduced into service in 1989. The "MPM" magazine photo is from 1989. The roof profile looks similar to DVT, albeit no guards door, different sides, very different gangway end shape (Mk3 I recall have a recess and wider).
It's possible this bodyshell was created around the time of the Mk3 DVT order lot.