Half-Brake Carriage F.49
The last carriage to be delivered from the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd. of Saltley Works in Birmingham in 1926, this carriage has been in virtually constant service since it was delivered and is the last of its kind (fitted with Timiken roller bearings from new making it unique. Built to the same design as the other half-brakes beginning with F.33, only one other remains today, F.43 which was withdrawn in 1983 and is currently stored in the carriage shed at Port Erin Station. In 1990 it was rebuilt and emerged in the purple lake scheme with original lettering including "Luggage Compt." on the double doors. A major overhaul then took place 2019-2020 which saw the body lifted to allow a major overhaul of the underframes and bogies, returning to traffic in 2020. It is generally used in a rake with the other large F carriages and based on the Douglas set, useful for the transportation of prams, pushchairs and bicycles at busy times.
Fleet No.:
Year:
Builders.:
Length:
Width:
Status:
F.49
1926
Metropolitan
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In Traffic
Above: F.49 is the last surviving large half-brake in traffic and remains in daily service throughout each season in the post-war red and cream livery; the body was lifted from the underframe for the first time in 2019 and heavily overhauled and the carriage received new flooring.
(Photo: I.o.M.S.R.S.A.)