Restaurant Miniature Buffet

British Rail Restaurant Miniature Buffet
RMB M1848 on the East Lancashire Railway
In service1957–
ManufacturerYork Works (12)
Wolverton Works (70)
Family nameBritish Railways Mark 1
Constructed1957–1962
Number built82
Fleet numbers1801–1882
Capacity48 or 44 seats
OperatorsBritish Rail
Specifications
Car length64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed90–100 mph (145–161 km/h)
Weight34.5–38 tonnes (34.0–37.4 long tons; 38.0–41.9 short tons)
HVACDual steam and electric – ETH 3, Cooking by bottled gas
BogiesBR1, Commonwealth or B4
Braking system(s)Vacuum, air, or both
Coupling systemDrop-head knuckle coupler on draw-hook (dual)
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The Restaurant Miniature Buffet (or RMB) is a British Railways Mark 1 railway coach. It is a Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coach with two full seating bays next to the centre transverse vestibule removed and replaced with a buffet counter and customers standing space, and one bay on one side (same side as the buffet counter) removed and replaced with a store cupboard on the other side of the centre vestibule. They were built in five lots from 1957 to 1962.

Lot No. Diagram Built Builder Qty Fleet numbers Notes
30485 97 1957–1958 York 12 1801–1812 No store cupboard, 48 seats, BR1 Bogies
30507 98 1960 Wolverton 15 1838–1852 1851 fitted with B5 Bogies for EMU use, the rest fitted with Commonwealth bogies
30520 99 1960 Wolverton 25 1813–1837 Commonwealth bogies
30670 99 1961–1962 Wolverton 12 1853–1864 Commonwealth bogies
30702 99 1962 Wolverton 18 1865–1882 Commonwealth bogies

Quite a few still operate on the national network on Railtours, but not on service trains. A lot have made it into railway preservation and are used by many heritage railways in the UK. Even though the first batch had no store cupboard 1807 on the Watercress has been fitted with one and B4 Bogies.

List of Preserved RMBs

Number Location Livery Status Notes
1802 Midland Railway - Butterley Lined Maroon Operational
1803 Dean Forest Railway Chocolate & Cream Awaiting Overhaul
1804 West Somerset Railway BR maroon Operational

Part of 'Quantock Belle' dining train

1805 Swindon and Cricklade Railway Being repainted to BR Maroon [1] Operational Being repainted as of 18 May 2019.
1807 Watercress Line Malachite Green Operational
1808 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Chocolate & Cream Operational
1809 Colne Valley Railway Crimson & Cream Stored
1811 Great Central Railway (Nottingham) BR maroon Operational

Previously based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, where it was painted in Chocolate & Cream. Moved to Ruddington May 2009, where repainted into current livery.

1812 Ribble Steam Railway Crimson & Cream Operational

Owned by the Furness Railway Trust. Previously based at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Moved to Ribble during November 2009, and entered service there in 2017 after refurbishment.

1813 Riviera Trains Chocolate & Cream Operational - Main Line
1815 Bere Ferrers Chocolate & Cream Static - Restaurant
1816 Battlefield Line Railway Maroon Static - Used as store
1818 Bluebell Railway BR(S) Green Under Overhaul
1823 North Yorkshire Moors Railway Lined Maroon Operational

Main line registered for Esk Valley Line only.

1824 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Crimson & Cream platform side, Plain Maroon other side

Static - Catering Vehicle at Oxenhope Station.

1826 Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1829 East Lancashire Railway Crimson & Cream Operational

Previously based at Dean Forest Railway, where it was used as Staff coach for 'Royal Forester' dining train. Moved to ELR December 2017 where repainted into current livery.

1832 Riviera Trains Chocolate & Cream Operational - Main Line
1833 East Lancashire Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1835 Peak Rail Lined Maroon Operational
1836 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1837 East Lancashire Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1838 Bluebell Railway BR(S) Green Operational
1839 Ribble Steam Railway Lined Maroon Operational

Previously based at Steamport Southport. Moved to Ribble Spring 1999.

1840 West Coast Railways Lined Maroon Operational - Main Line

Previously based at Mid Hants Railway, and used as part of their Main Line set. Moved to Carnforth circa 2006.

1842 Mid Norfolk Railway Crimson & Cream Operational

Previously in Main Line charter set use. Moved to Dereham June 2014 where repainted into current livery.

1845 Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Chocolate & Cream Operational
1848 East Lancashire Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1850 Cambrian Heritage Railways Crimson & Cream Static - Shop & Cafe at Llynclys
1851 Watercress Line Malachite Green Operational
1852 Great Central Railway Malachite Green Under overhaul
1853 Severn Valley Railway Crimson & Cream Operational
1854 Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Crimson & Cream Operational
1855 Severn Valley Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1856 Severn Valley Railway Maroon Operational

Repainted from previous Chocolate & Cream livery during 2021-2022.

1857 Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Plain Maroon Operational
1859 Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Lined Maroon Operational - Main Line
1860 West Coast Railways Lined Maroon Operational - Main Line
1861 West Coast Railways Lined Maroon Operational - Main Line
1862 Midland Railway - Butterley Crimson & Cream Operational
1863 Crewe LNWR Heritage Company Chocolate & Cream Under Overhaul
1864 Spa Valley Railway Chocolate & Cream Operational

Previously based at Llangollen Railway. Moved to Spa Valley May 2021.

1865 Swanage Railway Malachite Green Static Catering Vehicle
1866 Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Crimson & Cream Operational
1869 Kent and East Sussex Railway Forest Green Operational
1871 East Lancashire Railway Blue & Grey Operational

Named 'Howson Bar', after benefactor whose legacy funded restoration.

1872 Nene Valley Railway Blue & Grey Awaiting Restoration
1873 Bodmin and Wenford Railway Crimson & Cream Static - Catering Vehicle at Bodmin General
1874 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Pullman Umber & Cream Platform side, Crimson & Cream other side Static - Catering Vehicle at Wirksworth

Previously based at Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Moved to Wirksworth May 2022 where Platform side repainted into current livery.

1875 East Lancashire Railway Pullman Umber & Cream Static - Catering use at Rawtenstall Station

Previously used as a home at Rawtenstall.

1876 Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Lined Maroon Operational
1878 North Yorkshire Moors Railway Lined Maroon Operational

Main line registered for Esk Valley Line only. Previously based at Churnet Valley Railway. Moved to NYMR late 2016/early 2017, and into service there April 2019 after refurbishment.

1879 Wensleydale Railway Lined Maroon Operational

Previously based at Steamport Southport, Ribble Steam Railway, and Weardale Railway. Moved to Wensleydale February 2010.

1880 North Yorkshire Moors Railway Blue & Grey Under Overhaul

Previously based at East Lancashire Railway. Moved to NYMR April 2019.

1882 West Coast Railways Lined Maroon Operational - Main Line

Now numbered 99311.

References

  1. ^ "BR 1805 Mk 1 Restaurant Miniature Buffet built 1957".