---

British Railways - Standard Steam Stock (Mk.1)
3116 - FO (Open First) (1961)
Richard Salmon

The BR Open First class coaches have been long-lived, due to their use on special and charter services.

After withdrawal by BR, this coach saw further use as part of the SLOA (later FSS) set BN 91, for use on BR lines behind steam locomotives. With increasing age, they were withdrawn from this use, and six coaches were hired to the Bluebell for a year. At the end of this period, FSS decided they should sell most of them, and the Bluebell took the opportunity to buy No.3116.

A coach twice withdrawn from main-line use, it was hardly in its prime, but it was not beyond a few more years' service. Over the last few years it has required increasing maintenance time to keep it running, and eventually the coach was withdrawn from Bluebell service.

In April 2005 the coach left for a new home at the Mid Norfolk Railway.