Hornby announced as part of their new 2021 range their intention to produce new tooling for the Maunsell Dining Saloons to Diagram 2652 as introduced in 1927.
In my Talking Stock#39 post about the complexities of the Southern Catering vehicles I advised that in 1930 the six Diagram 2652 Saloons were reclassified as Open Thirds and renumbered 1363 to 1368.

Hornby have now replicated this in model form by amending their proposed R40030 Number 7864 and R40030A Number 7867 in SR lined olive green to be Open Thirds and now numbered 1363 and 1366 respectively. This gives those modelling the Southern Railway in the 1930s great flexibility in their accurate use.
During the war all except No. 1367 were converted for Ambulance Train use during WWII. Four of six, were converted in July 1947 to Third / Composite Dining Saloons branded as ‘Restaurant Car’ to Diagram 2658 and numbered 7841-4 . These conversions have also been announced by Hornby as R40031 Maunsell Dining Saloon Third / Composite to diagram 2658 Number S7841S and R40031A Number S7843S in BR(s) Green. The other two were now fitted with 48 loose 2 +1 chairs and classified as First Class diners and numbered 7846/7 were were paired with newly converted Diagram 2661 Buffet cars for use on the reinstated ‘Night Ferry” service.
Graham,
Interesting change of heart from Hornby; very sensible. Hopefully they’ll do a pair with one of the 1927 Dining Firsts at some point.
In the post (and I think your earlier post on the complexities), you say “During the war all except No. *1376* were converted for Ambulance Train use during WWII. ” I can’t find any reference in Gould or King’s books as to whether it was 1366 or 1367 which was the one not used in ambulance trains, but 1376 it wasn’t!
Regards, Richard On 29/01/2021 17:06, GrahamMuz: Fisherton Sarum, Canute Road Quay & Westhill Road wrote: > WordPress.com > grahammuz posted: “Hornby announced as part of their new 2021 range > their intention to produce new tooling for the Maunsell Dining Saloons > to Diagram 2652 as introduced in 1927. In my Talking Stock#39 post > about the complexities of the Southern Catering vehicles I advised ” >
Oops that should be 1367, the information came from the World War Two Railway Study Group
Very interesting. … for so long southern modellers were overlooked it seems
Still doesn’t help with the omission of a Kitchen Diner First in LINED Maunsell livery. I already have an R4537 Open Third to diagram 2005 …
I fear I’m more confused now. Does the change by Hornby mean that they are now simply producing additional variants of their existing Third Open or are these new Third Opens physically different in some way? (apart from the numbers)
It’s a good job you keep an eye on things Graham! 🙂
Hi Richard
They are still new models and are physically different from other Open Thirds with different style windows.
Again another missed reply. Belated thanks.
Thanks Graham.
Graham, the picture at the top of the page from which I’m sending this e-mail shows a number of LSWR “Three-X” covered vans. Can you tell me from where you obtained these please as I’d love to get some!
Cheers,
Jeremy English
Hi Jeremy
They are ex LSWR D.1410 covered vans built from Cambrian kits.