Restaurant Miniature Buffet

The Restaurant Miniature Buffet (or RMB) is a British Railways Mark 1 railway coach. It is a Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coach with two full seating bays next to the centre transverse vestibule removed and replaced with a buffet counter and customers standing space, and one bay on one side (same side as the buffet counter) removed and replaced with a store cupboard on the other side of the centre vestibule. They were built in five lots from 1957 to 1962.

British Rail Restaurant Miniature Buffet
RMB M1848 on the East Lancashire Railway
In service1957–
ManufacturerYork Works (12)
Wolverton Works (70)
Family nameBritish Railways Mark 1
Constructed1957–1962
Number built82
Fleet numbers1801–1882
Capacity48 or 44 seats
OperatorsBritish Rail
Specifications
Car length64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+12 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed90–100 mph (145–161 km/h)
Weight34.5–38 tonnes (34.0–37.4 long tons; 38.0–41.9 short tons)
HVACDual steam and electric – ETH 3, Cooking by bottled gas
BogiesBR1, Commonwealth or B4
Braking system(s)Vacuum, air, or both
Coupling systemDrop-head knuckle coupler on draw-hook (dual)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Lot No.DiagramBuiltBuilderQtyFleet numbersNotes
30485971957–1958York121801–1812No store cupboard, 48 seats, BR1 Bogies
30507981960Wolverton151838–18521851 fitted with B5 Bogies for EMU use, the rest fitted with Commonwealth bogies
30520991960Wolverton251813–1837Commonwealth bogies
30670991961–1962Wolverton121853–1864Commonwealth bogies
30702991962Wolverton181865–1882Commonwealth bogies

Quite a few still operate on the national network on Railtours, but not on service trains. A lot have made it into railway preservation and are used by many heritage railways in the UK. Even though the first batch had no store cupboard 1807 on the Watercress has been fitted with one and B4 Bogies.

List of Preserved RMBs

NumberLocationLiveryStatusNotes
1802Midland Railway - ButterleyLined MaroonOperational
1803Dean Forest RailwayChocolate & CreamAwaiting Overhaul
1804West Somerset RailwayBR maroonOperational

Part of 'Quantock Belle' dining train

1805Swindon and Cricklade RailwayBeing repainted to BR Maroon [1]OperationalBeing repainted as of 18 May 2019.
1807Watercress LineMalachite GreenOperational
1808Gloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayChocolate & CreamOperational
1809Colne Valley RailwayCrimson & CreamStored
1811Great Central Railway (Nottingham)BR maroonOperational

Previously based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, where it was painted in Chocolate & Cream. Moved to Ruddington May 2009, where repainted into current livery.

1812Ribble Steam RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational

Owned by the Furness Railway Trust. Previously based at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Moved to Ribble during November 2009, and entered service there in 2017 after refurbishment.

1813Riviera TrainsChocolate & CreamOperational - Main Line
1815Bere FerrersChocolate & CreamStatic - Restaurant
1816Battlefield Line RailwayMaroonStatic - Used as store
1818Bluebell RailwayBR(S) GreenUnder Overhaul
1823North Yorkshire Moors RailwayLined MaroonOperational

Main line registered for Esk Valley Line only.

1824Keighley and Worth Valley RailwayCrimson & Cream platform side, Plain Maroon other side

Static - Catering Vehicle at Oxenhope Station.

1826Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1829East Lancashire RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational

Previously based at Dean Forest Railway, where it was used as Staff coach for 'Royal Forester' dining train. Moved to ELR December 2017 where repainted into current livery.

1832Riviera TrainsChocolate & CreamOperational - Main Line
1833East Lancashire RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1835Peak RailLined MaroonOperational
1836Keighley and Worth Valley RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1837East Lancashire RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1838Bluebell RailwayBR(S) GreenOperational
1839Ribble Steam RailwayLined MaroonOperational

Previously based at Steamport Southport. Moved to Ribble Spring 1999.

1840West Coast RailwaysLined MaroonOperational - Main Line

Previously based at Mid Hants Railway, and used as part of their Main Line set. Moved to Carnforth circa 2006.

1842Mid Norfolk RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational

Previously in Main Line charter set use. Moved to Dereham June 2014 where repainted into current livery.

1845Chinnor and Princes Risborough RailwayChocolate & CreamOperational
1848East Lancashire RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1850Cambrian Heritage RailwaysCrimson & CreamStatic - Shop & Cafe at Llynclys
1851Watercress LineMalachite GreenOperational
1852Great Central RailwayMalachite GreenUnder overhaul
1853Severn Valley RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational
1854Pontypool and Blaenavon RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational
1855Severn Valley RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1856Severn Valley RailwayMaroonOperational

Repainted from previous Chocolate & Cream livery during 2021-2022.

1857Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam RailwayPlain MaroonOperational
1859Bo'ness and Kinneil RailwayLined MaroonOperational - Main Line
1860West Coast RailwaysLined MaroonOperational - Main Line
1861West Coast RailwaysLined MaroonOperational - Main Line
1862Midland Railway - ButterleyCrimson & CreamOperational
1863Crewe LNWR Heritage CompanyChocolate & CreamUnder Overhaul
1864Spa Valley RailwayChocolate & CreamOperational

Previously based at Llangollen Railway. Moved to Spa Valley May 2021.

1865Swanage RailwayMalachite GreenStatic Catering Vehicle
1866Bo'ness and Kinneil RailwayCrimson & CreamOperational
1869Kent and East Sussex RailwayForest GreenOperational
1871East Lancashire RailwayBlue & GreyOperational

Named 'Howson Bar', after benefactor whose legacy funded restoration.

1872Nene Valley RailwayBlue & GreyAwaiting Restoration
1873Bodmin and Wenford RailwayCrimson & CreamStatic - Catering Vehicle at Bodmin General
1874Ecclesbourne Valley RailwayPullman Umber & Cream Platform side, Crimson & Cream other sideStatic - Catering Vehicle at Wirksworth

Previously based at Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Moved to Wirksworth May 2022 where Platform side repainted into current livery.

1875East Lancashire RailwayPullman Umber & CreamStatic - Catering use at Rawtenstall Station

Previously used as a home at Rawtenstall.

1876Gloucestershire and Warwickshire RailwayLined MaroonOperational
1878North Yorkshire Moors RailwayLined MaroonOperational

Main line registered for Esk Valley Line only. Previously based at Churnet Valley Railway. Moved to NYMR late 2016/early 2017, and into service there April 2019 after refurbishment.

1879Wensleydale RailwayLined MaroonOperational

Previously based at Steamport Southport, Ribble Steam Railway, and Weardale Railway. Moved to Wensleydale February 2010.

1880North Yorkshire Moors RailwayBlue & GreyUnder Overhaul

Previously based at East Lancashire Railway. Moved to NYMR April 2019.

1882West Coast RailwaysLined MaroonOperational - Main Line

Now numbered 99311.

References