Rolling stock Night Ferry

introduced on night of 5 october 1936, featured newly constructed sleeping coaches compagnie internationale des wagons-lits built adapted design fit british loading gauge, of so-called type f (for ferry). twelve carriages (3788–3799) built anf @ blanc-misseron (near valenciennes) in france in 1935–36, of 1936-built sleeping car no. 3792 has been preserved in national railway museum in york. further 6 built in 1939 compagnie générale de construction @ st. denis (3800–3805), entered service in 1946. final 7 (3983–3989) came in 1952, built @ st. denis, replace wartime losses. thus, total of 25 f-sleepers built, of same design. in addition sleeping cars, train included 2 sncf fourgon baggage vans. 1 of seems extant, , stored in french rail sidings along unrestored f class sleeper car (see links irps-site below). each overnight train carried 5 (very six) sleeping cars. when loaded onto train ferry train split sections , loaded equally on tracks on port , starboard sides of ship, maintain balance.

the night ferry departed , arrived @ platform 2 @ london victoria station. customs checks carried out @ station.

the (first class) sleeping cars , baggage vans travelled entire journey. british train victoria dover, , french train dunkirk paris, conveyed normal second class coaches of own railway. passengers travelling these walked on , off ship in standard way. in addition british train conveyed 1 of pair of standard mk 1 brake composite carriages, had been modified french-style gangway connection @ 1 end. provided guard s compartment in britain , enabled guard walk through train.

until eurostar service began on 14 november 1994, night ferry had been through passenger train between great britain , continental europe. carriages of daytime golden arrow train did not cross channel.