Buffet and Restaurant Cars Gallery

A corridor brake composite carriage converted into a rail mobile emergency canteen, 1941

In November 1941 this 56 feet corridor brake composite carriage was converted at Swindon Works into a rail mobile emergency canteen. Its purpose was much the same as the road mobile emergency canteen featured elsewhere in this book, which was to provide catering facilities to company staff at places where feeding arrangements were not available following air raids. The coach was fully fitted out with kitchen equipment and storage facilities. Four tanks in the roof held 230 gallons of clean water, and a gas cooker and a refrigerator meant that hot, fresh food could be provided to staff during an emergency situation. The canteen was equipped with gas lighting, but Tilley lamps were also on board should they be needed, and in order to abide by ARP regulations the windows were dressed with blackout curtains