BCPL - Bogie 1st/2nd/Guards Van


For comparison trial of the new railcars in 1928 a standard 'PL' car was converted to a railmotor trailer. In 1940, the car was recoded from 25 _MT_ to BCPL 1. It remained the only BCPL car until 1966.

Between 1966 and 1973 another thirty 'PL' type cars were modified with van compartments and recoded to BCPL. Cars 2 - 14 were converted from APL_ class cars 1966/1967. Cars 15 - 32 were converted from BPL_class cars 1968 to 1973. Indeed many of these BPL cars were converted from APL cars anyway.

The idea of the cars was to reduce the tonnage of short haul interurban trains by incorporating a guards van into a carriage rather than towing a dedicated guards van.

The class numbers were 1 to 32.

In the late 1970's BCPL 11 was converted to 'Dance Car' for special train trips. The seats were removed allowing the car to become one large dance floor.

From 1978 to 1988 the cars were withdrawn from service and scrapped.

Vehicle history list