The Mid-Norfolk Railway is pleased to announce the first acquisition for its Mk1 project in the form of Restaurant Miniature Buffet (RMB) 1842, which was recently retired from its mainline career with charter train operator Riviera Trains. Prior to running in charter trains, 1842 along with sisters 1850 and 1871 were the last British Rail design Mark 1 coaches in regular front line service, operating on the Great Eastern Mainline between Norwich and London Liverpool Street with Anglia Railways. 
1842 was built by British Rail at Wolverton in 1960 following the development of the design to provide low-cost refreshment facilities in trains instead of a fully manned kitchen which required a team of chefs and waiters to operate. One steward could operate the RMB and there was an incredible amount of equipment squeezed into an area no more than about 1m wide by 3m long including a microwave, fridge, chiller unit and a hot water boiler as well as other display units and shelves and often worked on journeys of several hundred miles.
1842 is the first of a planned set of Mk1 coach acquisitions enabling us to enhance services throughout the year. This particular vehicle will enable us to increase our catering provision to passengers on the train, our regular ‘cream tea specials’ are always popular and a series of ‘fish and chip’ specials are running throughout the year. The vehicle will enter service at the MNR’s LNER steam gala over this weekend and run alongside a Mk1 SK 25631 which is on loan from the Stratford and Broadway Railway Society, along with under-restoration TSO 4614.
To get this coach in traffic, a major working operation has taken place since its arrival two weeks ago, to refit the coach with Vacuum equipment and make it dual braked, fit a window that was missing, and clean the whole coach from top to bottom. We have been sent two photos of 1842 in service, the vehicle generating considerable interest.
Tim Horn contacted us with this picture of 1842 seen at Ely on a Network South east London Liverpool Street to Kings Lynn service in 1987. During this period, the vehicle was based at Cambridge Coldham Lane depot.
Colin Makcrow sent us this photo of 1842 seen towards the end of its British Rail career with Intercity at Norwich in 1996. 1842 and sister vehicles 1850 and 1871 were finally withdrawn from frontline service in 1999.
You can help us with our Mark 1 Appeal, by clicking here to donate or of course, you could volunteer to help man the buffet car.
