The Travelling College

With the launch of the GCSE examinations requiring a considerable amount of learning to take place outside of the classroom it was hoped that the Travelling College would provide means for the classroom and associated accommodation to be taken to suitable locations, essentially creating a mobile field study centre. The service was launched by the Princess of Wales on 2 May 1989, with a brass plaque being unveiled in saloon TCL991868. In the event, however, government legislation on course organisation and funding of external activities meant that the college was not available for the majority of state schools.

Twelve British Railways Mark1 coaches were converted for use on the train. Six were converted to serve as dormitory coaches, two staff coaches, three classrooms and one meeting coach. An additional standard restaurant car was provided. The dedicated vehicles were stripped internally, fitted with improved fireproofing and Commonwealth bogies, raising their weight from 34 tonnes to 42 tonnes. The meeting coach was fitted with an onboard banking facility by Midland Bank.

• TCL99160 (18856) – preserved at The Transport Museum, Wythall, but now scrapped^[3]
• TCL99161 (18871) – now converted as shop, Bluebell Railway,^[4][5]
• TCL99162 (18795) – preserved at The Transport Museum, Wythall, but now scrapped^[6]
• TCL99163 (19994) – now staff dormitory, using TCL bunks, Mid-Norfolk Railway.^[7]
• TCL99164 (25853) – now converted as visitor information centre at West Grinstead station site^[8]
• TCL99165 (5034) – now converted to Wheelchair accessible saloon on Bluebell Railway,^[9][10]
• TCL99166 (25776) – used as volunteer dormitory at Bluebell Railway.^[11][12]
• TCL99167 (21238) – used as volunteer dormitory at Kent and East Sussex Railway.^[13]

• TCL99169 (4941) – running at Bluebell Railway, converted as Wheelchair accessible saloon.^[14][15]
• TCL99170 (4957) – running at Bluebell Railway as passenger carriage,^[16][17]
• TCL99171 (4921) – now at North Yorkshire Moors Railway as passenger carriage,^[18][19]

• TCL99168 (18778) – now in use as bed & breakfast accommodation at Coalport railway station^[20]

• 1815 – painted in TCL livery, but withdrawn in 1990. Now static use at Bere Ferrers railway station^[21]

• "Through the College Window", Chris Leigh, Motive Power Monthly, May 1990, pages 16 to 18