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

The most common type was the standard open coach, but there were also hundreds of first-class coaches and more than two hundred sleeping cars built. For loco-hauled services, brake facilities were typically provided by Mk1 or Mk2 vehicles, as very few Mk3 brake coaches were produced. Catering vehicles were somewhat 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 growing interest in preserving these vehicles, with many already secured for preservation or private operation.

Several Mk3 coaches are still in service today, including those used in the GWR ‘Night Riviera’ sleeping train, which operates overnight between London Paddington and Penzance. This coach pack focuses on the ‘Night Riviera’ and can be used with our other ‘Night Riviera’ coach packs to create a realistic sleeping train.

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 fitted with metal wheelsets and standard N scale couplings.