Changes

[[File:{{Infobox wagon|image = GWR 2303 Fruit Van.jpg|thumbcaption = GWR 2303 Fruit Van|300pxconstruc = GWR Swindon|rightstatus = Operational|GWR wagno = 2303 |othernos = 47883, DW 150063|designed = |diagram = Y2|lot = 230|wagtype = 6 ton ventilated van|telcode = FRUIT|brakes = Vacuum-braked|built = 1898|years1 = 1973|events1 = Entered preservation on the SVR|years2 = 1988|events2 = Restoration completed|years3 = |events3 = |years4 = |events4 = |years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}The brown livery of 6 ton Fruit Van2303 denotes it as "[[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS)|Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock]]", meaning that as it was fitted with vacuum brakes, it was allowed to run as part of an express passenger train.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref>

==Service==The brown livery GWR began the construction of ventilated vans specifically for carrying fruit in 1890, and these were categorised under Diagram Y. 2303 was built at Swindon in 1898 to Diagram Y2 as part of Lot 230 and was originally numbered 47883 in the Goods series. It had a 6 -ton Fruit Van capacity with a 10ft wheelbase. The ventilation on Y2 vans included gaps between the floor planks open to the track, as well as single louvres between the planks and central end vents. The majority of the Y2 vans including 2303 denotes it were built as "vacuum braked only and given the telegraphic code FRUIT, although the last 22 included dual brakes and were coded FRUIT A.<ref>Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey</ref><ref>[[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock Bibliography# Other References|Atkins et al (NPCCS1976)|Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock]]", meaning that as it was fitted with vacuum brakes, it was allowed to run as part of an express passenger trainVol 2 p. 104.</ref>

It was built at Swindon in 1898 and originally numbered 47883 in the Goods series. It was later renumbered 2303 in 'Brown Vehicle' series between from 1916 and until withdrawal in 1958. It was then converted to a Packing Van and numbered DW 150063 in departmental Departmental use. It was withdrawn for scrapping from BR Tyseley in 1973, and .<ref>GWR 813 Preservation Fund</ref> ==Preservation== 2303 was acquired by [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]], being delivered to [[Bewdley Down Yard|Bewdley]] on 24 November 1973. <ref name=SB9/><ref>SVR News 30</ref> It underwent an extensive rebuild spent a period in use as a stores van for the Gresley Coach Fund.<ref name=SVR88>SVR News 88</ref> Some restoration work began in Autumn 1983;<ref>SVR News 69</ref> by spring 1984 all the roof timbers had been replaced and the body was being cleaned down and repainted.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> Further work was then postponed awaiting heavier repairs, which began when the van became the [[Wagon Department]]’s project for Winter 1987.<ref>SVR News 86</ref> The work carried out included overhauling the van’s mechanics and replacing corroded steel T-sections and rotten tongue and groove boards. New doors were built, the roof re-canvassed and the van repainted in GWR ‘Brown’ livery. 2303 returned to service in mid-1988, although a planned appearance in the 1988June Freight Weekend parcels train was ended by a 'hot box' due to a broken spring in the bearing lubricating pad.<ref name=SVR88/> 2303 received a further repaint in 1993.<ref>SVR News 107</ref> {{As of|2017}} it is operational and is still owned by the GWR 813 Preservation Fund.

GWR 813 Preservation Fund<brreferences />Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey<br>SVR Stock Book Eighth Edition