GWR 89 Riding/Dormitory Van

GWRGreat Western Railway 89 Riding/Dormitory Van
GWRGreat Western Railway Riding and Dormitory Van 89
Built By	GWRGreat Western Railway Swindon
Status	Operational
Number	89
Other Numbers	DW 89
History
Built	1908
Lot	580
Type	4-w riding/dormitory van
Telegraphic code	n/a
1972	Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway
2021	Acquisition by the Great Western (SVR) Association
Goods Wagons

GWRGreat Western Railway Riding/Dormitory Van DW89 is a 4-wheel vehicle built at Swindon in 1908. In service these ran paired with 6-wheel Tool vans such as DW141, and were stationed at GWRGreat Western Railway loco sheds. The Tool and Riding Van pairs would be required to attend mishaps as fast as possible and were vacuum-braked to allow running at near express speeds.

Preservation

Tool van DW141 and riding van DW89 were paired in service and based at Exeter. DW89 arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway from Worcester on 29 January 1972.

Following the death of long-time owner Pete Simpson, agreement was reached in 2021 with the administrators of his estate for the van to be acquired by the Great Western (SVR) Association. The Association then sorted through the bequeathed material and tool, much of which they could utilise. From 2022 restoration started to provide a mess van for the Association's volunteers as GWR 98 Full Brake has insufficient space both for that purpose and as a workshop vehicle and store. Updates are issued on the website and GW(SVR)A Facebook (private group) pages.

It is situated in Bewdley Down Yard.

See also

• List of goods wagons
• Rolling stock currently under restoration

References

Links

• 89 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line