BLACKPOOL REBUILT RAILCOACH 618 (1968)
Due to increasing costs in the operation of the Coronations, it was decided in 1968 to rebuild one of the older railcoaches, to produce a larger car which would be more economical to operate. Railcoach 271 was chosen, and rebuilt with an extended body seating 56 passengers, and tapered ends - its new appearance earning it the nickname of “The coffin Car”! Whilst 271 had been in the workshops the renumbering of the Blackpool fleet had taken place, so it emerged as No. 618.
If successful, it had been proposed to rebuild the other English Electric railcoaches in the same way, but, in the meantime, the idea of the One Man Operated cars with front entrance and centre exit had taken fruition, so 12 of the English Electric railcoaches were thus converted and 618 remained unique, until it was also rebuilt as one man operated car number 13 in 1976. Surprisingly when the OMO cars reached the end of their lives, 13 was the first to be scrapped, despite having been the last one to be rebuilt.