644 was built at York by the LNER in 1937. It is built (Works order no. 761) to diagram 167 and is one of 5 such vehicles to make it into preservation. The others include 641 (NYMR), 643 (SVR) and 9135E at the National Railway Museum.
The principle dimensions are length 61' 6" and width 9' 3". 644 was the original running number assigned in 1937, then the coach was renumbered 9132 in 1943.
align="justify"After the coach was acquired by the SRPS it was used for Railtours starting in 1977 when 550 miles were logged. In 1978 the coach covered 6764 miles in railtour service. The photo above is of the coach on a railtour at Kyle most likely in the summer of 1978. Note the BR conversion with the removal of most of the windows behind the bar and the halving of the size of the kitchen window.
Restoration was started in 1996 after the coach had been sheeted over for 12 years.
644 at Euston 7-11-81. Photo H Stevenson.
644 on a Falkirk to York (via S&C) Railtour 10-9-83. Photo H Stevenson.
Above left: 644 being prepared for the move from Falkirk to Bo'ness in January 1988.
Above right: 644 after arrival at Bo'ness prior to its move into the RCB in March 1989. Photos H Stevenson.