Following nationalisation in 1948, the newly-created British Railways initially continued to construct coaching stock based upon the designs of the 'Big Four' railways. However, in 1951, the first of the standardised Mark 1 coaches was manufactured; these coaches in their various forms - including sleepers, buffet and restaurant cars, horse boxes and other non-passenger vans, griddle cars, suburban non-corridor stock, etc - were built until 1963 and formed the mainstay of the passenger railway through the 1960s and 1970s. Although now all withdrawn from regular service, a number remain registered for main-line use through the operation of charter trains whilst significant numbers have also survived into preservation. From the early 1960s development work took place on the replacement standard coaching stock; the result was the Mark 2 that was launched in 1964.

As with the Mark 1 coaches, the Mark 2s are now largely withdrawn, although a handful remain in main-line service and others have entered preservation. Earlier volumes on BR's steam locomotive and diesel multiple-unit fleets have established Hugh Longworth's reputation as a source of highly detailed reference books on various aspects of BR's locomotives and rolling stock. In his fourth book for OPC, he turns his analytical eye to the subject of Mark 1 and Mark 2 coaching stock, both passenger and non-passenger, providing the reader with a comprehensive, number by number, reference to each coach built.

'This is believed to be the first comprehensive number-by-number record of each type of Mark 1 and Mark 2 coach operated by British Railways from 1951 onwards. For the carriage enthusiasts and modellers wanting to be as accurate as possible, this is a tremendous resource.' Traction

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