The British Railways Mk3 represented the third generation of BR’s standard design for main line coaching stock. While its appearance can be seen as an evolution of the later Mk2 series, the Mk3 stands out with its modern features such as disc brakes and secondary air suspension between the body and bogies, as well as an increased length of nearly 10 feet. Introduced in 1972, the first prototype vehicles were part of the Prototype High-Speed Train (HSDT). Production began in 1975, incorporating subtle changes from the prototypes, and continued until 1988, resulting in the construction of 848 vehicles. These coaches were designed for both HSTs (Mk3) and loco-hauled services (Mk3A and Mk3B), with the primary difference being the absence of buffers on HST coaches.

The most common type was the standard open, but there were also numerous first-class coaches and over two hundred sleeping cars built. Loco-hauled services typically used Mk1 or Mk2 vehicles for brake facilities, as very few Mk3 brakes were produced, though catering vehicles were more common with several variants constructed. The Mk3 coach has enjoyed a long and successful career, especially as part of HST formations. However, their numbers are gradually decreasing as HSTs and loco-hauled services are replaced by new trains, making the Mk3s redundant. Fortunately, there is increasing interest in preserving these vehicles, with many already secured for preservation or private operation.

Among the Mk3 coaches still in service today, several are part of the GWR ‘Night Riviera’ sleeping train, operating overnight between London Paddington and Penzance. This coach pack focuses on the ‘Night Riviera’, which can be combined with our other ‘Night Riviera’ coach packs to create an authentic sleeping train experience.

The Graham Farish Mk3 Coaches feature a clear bodyshell with the entire livery printed on it. Using authentic colours, logos, and fonts, this technique accurately scales the smooth, flush profile of the real vehicles to 1:148 scale models. Each coach runs on BT10 bogies equipped with metal wheelsets and standard N scale couplings.