GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van
| GWRGreat Western Railway 66 Breakdown Tool Van | |
|---|---|
 GWRGreat Western Railway Breakdown Tool Van DW 66 (2021) | |
| Built By | GWRGreat Western Railway Swindon |
| Status | Operational (Static use) |
| Number | 66 |
| Other Numbers | DW 66[1] |
| History | |
| Built | 1921 |
| Lot | 864 |
| Type | 4-w tool van |
| Telegraphic code | n/a |
| By 1974 | Preserved |
| 1976 | Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway |
| 1986 | Restored for P-Way use |
| 2010 | Used as a sales van |
DW 66 in service and preservation
DW 66 was built in 1921 and first allocated to Taunton. It was originally gas lit and when preserved, all the fittings apart from gas mantles and light shades were still intact.[3] It remained in the Taunton breakdown train, and was recorded there after the Second World War with station pilot GWRGreat Western Railway 3300 Class 'Bulldog' No 3361.[4]
The date of DW 66's withdrawal from BRBritish Rail or British Railways service is not recorded, although its early preservation was associated with the Erlestoke Manor Fund. After being acquired by the Fund, 7812 Erlestoke Manor initially moved from BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. to a temporary home at the now-closed Dowty R.P.S. preservation site at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury in 1974. After lengthy negotiations with the SVRSevern Valley Railway, 7812 then moved to the Railway on 23 April 1976, hauled by English Electric Type 3The British Railways classification for diesel locomotives of 1500 bhp to 1999 bhp diesel 37183 and accompanied by Tool Van 66, Riding Van 162 and FRUIT D 92090.[5]
The EMF owned DW 66 until 1985, when it was put up for sale (up to that time, no restoration work had been carried out). At the same time, the SVRSevern Valley Railway's P-Way train did not include a separate tool van, with tools being stored in the Brake Van 17410. After the brake van became so full of tools that it was no longer possible for the guard to reach the handbrake, DW 66 was acquired by the GWR 813 Preservation Fund to overcome this problem.[3]
DW 66 was restored at Bewdley. Damaged and rotten roof and side planks were replaced and the roof was recanvassed. The four roof skylights were repaired and refitted. Work was paused while the rake of wagons was prepared for the demonstration goods train taken on the main line to Newport, hauled by GWR 2857.[3] After work resumed, the gas pipework was refitted and the van finished in chocolate with red ends, branded as LOCO CARRIAGE & WAGON DEPT. TAUNTON. By summer 1986 it had taken its place in Gerry Carter's P.WayPermanent Way train,[6] where it saw almost daily use.[2]
Around 2009, DW 66 was moved to the siding at Hampton Loade where was loaned to the Barry Railway Carriage Trust for use as a sales vehicle. While there, it received some cosmetic restoration, including external re-planking and internal refurbishment.[7] Many of the original features of the van including the metal shelving have been retained and incorporated into the shop.[8]
In 2024 the Trust moved their base and their carriage 163 to the Gwili Railway, after which time GWRGreat Western Railway 66 became used as an additional sales area for the Hampton Loade Station Fund Shop. The Station Fund are responsible for its care, while ownership of the van remains with the GWRGreat Western Railway 813 Fund[8].
See also
References
- ↑ Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Ninth Edition
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 78
- ↑ Venning, Roger, 'Taunton in the 'forties', Great Western Railway Journal Number 31 (Summer 1999), 362-81, via Steam index.com (Retrieved 2 October 2024)
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 40, p. 14., Erlestoke Manor on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, Bob Marrrows.
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 80
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 209, p. 38.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 GWRGreat Western Railway 813 Fund notice in the shop, September 2024
