Southern Railway Carriage No.5768

Type: CK (Corridor Composite)
Built: May 1947, underframe at Lancing, Body at Eastleigh (E3235)
Original No: 5768
Other Nos: S5768S
Seating: 24 1st, 24 3rd
Length: 64' 6"
Weight: 34 Tons
Withdrawn: 1968
Preserved: 1968
To Bluebell: 30/9/1971

This coach, one of the last built by the Southern Railway, is distinguished from the BR-built Bulleid coaches by the shallower sliding lights (the opening parts of the main windows). It was used as part of three-coach set No.787 on the Weymouth and West of England trains out of Waterloo until withdrawn and sold to the Bulleid Pacific Preservation Society, later renamed The Bulleid Society.

It was initially preserved with Bulleid Pacific, "Blackmoor Vale" at Liss, until both coach and engine moved to the Bluebell in 1971, where it received an overhaul, before entering traffic in May 1976 as part of the five-coach Bulleid set formed for the return to traffic of "Blackmoor Vale". Further work was then found necessary as a build-up of rust in the window-frames caused three of the large curved side-lights (windows) to crack.

It received further repairs to keep it running, until in 1993 its deteriorating condition caused it to be reduced to use on only a handful of peak days. It was repainted again in 1994 to enable it to continue in occasional use, but unfortunately two of the large sidelights cracked again, and the work required to replace them was considered futile considering the poor general state of the body. It requires complete re-sheeting with new window frames, the renewal of much of the structure which is substantially rotten in several places, as well as the probable replacement of the entire floor. With many other coaches an easier proposition for restoration to traffic, it appears that 5768 is consigned to a long wait before it is once again restored to operating condition.