Brake Standard Open

A Brake Standard Open or BSO, is a type of railway carriage used by British Rail. Both Mark 1 and Mark 2 types were built. Each consists of a standard class open passenger saloon with a centre aisle, a guard's compartment with hand brake and a lockable luggage compartment.

British Rail Brake Standard Open
In service	1955–
Manufacturer	Mark 1: BR Doncaster, Wolverton and Gloucester RCW Mark 2: BR Derby
Family name	British Railways Mark 1, British Rail Mark 2
Constructed	Mark 1: 1955–1963 Mark 2: 1966–1974
Number built	340
Fleet numbers	9200–9539
Capacity	Mark 1: 39 Mark 2/A–D: 31 Mark 2E/F: 32
Operators	British Rail
Specifications
Car length	66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed	90–100 mph (145–161 km/h)
Weight	33 long tons (34 t; 37 short tons)
HVAC	Steam, Electric or both
Bogies	BR1, Commonwealth, or B4
Braking system(s)	Vacuum, Air, or both
Coupling system	Drop-head knuckle coupler on draw-hook
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

A number of Mark 1 and Mark 2 BSOs were converted to Brake Standard Open (Micro-Buffet) (BSOT), and fourteen Mark 2 BSOs were converted to Driving Brake Standard Open (DBSO). A number of BSO and BSOT coaches have been preserved, and some are still in use on main line charters. One significant survivor is No. 9267, the last surviving coach in the final excursion train on the Somerset & Dorset line on 6 March 1966, which is appropriately located at Midsomer Norton.^[1]

Orders

Lot No.	Diagram	Mark	Built	Builder	Qty	Fleet numbers	Notes
30170	183	1	1955–1956	Doncaster	77	9200–9276	BR1 bogies
30244	183	1	1956	Doncaster	45	9277–9321	BR1 bogies
30443	183	1	1959	Gloucester	41	9322–9362	BR1 bogies
30698	184	1	1963	Wolverton	18	9363–9380	Commonwealth bogies, fluorescent lighting
30757	185	2	1966	Derby	36	9381–9416	B4 bogies
30777	180	2A	1967	Derby	9	9417–9425	B4 bogies
30788	180	2A	1968	Derby	13	9426–9438	B4 bogies
30798	186	2C	1970	Derby	10	9439–9448	B4 bogies
30820	186	2C	1970	Derby	30	9449–9478	B4 bogies
30824	187	2D	1971	Derby	17	9479–9495	B4 bogies
30383	188	2E	1972	Derby	14	9496–9509	B4 bogies
30861	189	2F	1974	Derby	30	9510–9539	B4 bogies

See also

• Open coach