3068 was part of a batch of eight First Class Saloons (Nos. 3063-3070, including No. 3064 and No. 3069 which are also on the Bluebell) ordered in May 1954. It was built at Doncaster Works and delivered to the Southern Region of British Railways in August 1955. It was painted in crimson lake and cream livery (also known as "carmine and cream" and "blood and custard"), was fitted with steam heating, vacuum braking and ran on BR1 bogies.
When new they were allocated to Clapham Junction depot in South London. Here they were reserved for boat train and other special traffic duties, principally the Ocean Liner Express services which were operated between Waterloo and Southampton docks to convey passengers to and from the passenger liners which at that time were still the normal method of long distance travel. Most of the shipping companies had a named train run in connection with their sailings - "The Statesman" (United States Lines), "Union-Castle Express"," Holland-American" and the "Springbok" are examples, but perhaps the most prestigious was "The Cunarder". This was an all-First-Class train composed mainly of Pullman cars, but usually with one or two Mk.I Ocean Liner saloons in its formation, which ran in connection with the sailings of the Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth on the Transatlantic service.
Right: One of the seats for 3068 trimmed at the Bluebell Railway in "Festival of Britain" Blazing Sun material (Richard Salmon, 8 March 2025)
These were the days before the widespread availability of comfortable air travel. Piston-engined aircraft such as the Boeing Stratocruiser (operated by BOAC) could make the London to New York journey in 17 hours with refuelling stops. However, any self-respecting transatlantic traveller would choose the United States (built 1952 for the United States Lines and holder of the Blue Riband) or the two pre-war built Cunarders. It was only the emergence of the British-built, jet-engined Comet 4 airliner (BOAC) and Pan American's Boeing 707, with their 6-7 hour eastbound crossing inaugurated in 1958, that began tempting travellers in numbers away from the sea voyage.
It was BR(S) practice to allocate coaches to sets. However, these FO vehicles were generally "loose" (non-allocated), being used as required on Western Section/South Western Division boat train duties.
After withdrawal in 1975 it entered departmental service in May 1977 as RDB975606, Research Department Laboratory No.2, "Electra", painted in their red and blue livery, but was then purchased by the VSOE (Venice-Simplon Orient Express) from BR in 1988 or 89. In 1993, 3068 (along with 3066 and 3069) was refurbished (in SR green livery) for use with a baggage van (BG), a kitchen car and a Mk2 BFK as a reincarnation of the Ocean Liner Expresses of old. This train ran successfully from 1994, but was terminated at the end of the 1997 season, due to a change of policy by Cunard, who had sponsored the venture. During this period it also ran a number of excursions for Hertfordshire Railtours, as it was then called, and managed to get as far West as Meldon Quarry on one occasion.
In 1998 the three FOs were sent to Crewe, where (in a blue & cream livery) they augmented the fledgling "Regency Rail" excursion train for a couple of years until superseded in 2000 by the launch of the "Northern Belle". They returned South for storage at Stewarts Lane until 2001/2 when they were sold to Riviera trains, based first at Old Oak Common, and latterly at Eastleigh. During this period they were painted in crimson lake & cream livery, and branded for Riviera's "Royal Scot" service.
By February 2022 No. 3068 was in storage at the Bluebell Railway for a private owner. Following overhaul work undertaken at Cranmore Train Services in 2025-6, the carriage returned to the Bluebell on 1 October 2026, where the retrim of the sets was already underway, with the plan that it is to release 3064 for overhaul once it enters service.
Type: FO (First Open), Diagram 73 (later AD 103, AO 231)
Built: August 1955, at BR Doncaster Works (Lot 30169)
Original No: S3068
Later Nos/name: RDB975606, Laboratory No.2, 'Electra', 99568 'Beaulieu'
Seating: 42 1st class
Length: 64' 6" over body
Weight: 33 Tons
Withdrawn: December 1975
Owner: Private
To Bluebell: 1 October 2026 (on loan)
