The “F” Series : Saloons (Or “Corridors”)
The saloons (or referred to as “corridors”, including on the specifications) were supplied in two batches (accounting for the discrepancy in fleet numbering whereby half-brakes F.33 and F.34 were delivered in the interim) by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd., of Saltley Works in Birmingham.
This is partially owing to their infrequent use as owing to their design with no opening windows they were found to be stuffy and unpopular despite the fact they were designed to give passengers a better view; sketches survive which show that some consideration was given to building them with a large luggage compartment.
They were the first of the railway’s carriages to be constructed with wooden bodies on steel underframes, arriving in 1905 around the time No.10 G.H. Wood was also delivered. They are 37’ 0” long and 10’ 3” from rail to roof (the final two being longer to accommodate the first class areas) and have all survived today.
