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}}[[File:5043_280317.jpg|thumb|300px|right|5043 temporarily leaves its usual space on 28 March 2017 to allow 4150's boiler lift]]GWR 9581 is a Wheelchair accessible Buffet Car, created by rebuilding the bodyshell of GWR Collett Bow-Ended Coach No 5043, a standard 57ft full third coach originally built in June 1928 to diagram C54, lot 1383. The internal layout as built seated 64 passengers in eight compartments, with a side corridor and a toilet cubicle at each end.
As rebuilt the coach has been given a new SVR running number ‘9581’ which reflects its rôle as a catering vehicle. In GWR days these were all numbered in the 95XX or 96XX series. The revised bodyshell is based on a GWR Diagram H33 Collett Composite Diner which originally seated 12 first and 24 third. The number of one of these, the long-scrapped 9581, has been chosen for the rebuild of 5043.<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/news_letters/Newsletter_74-2018.pdf LNER Carriage Group Newsletter 74, December 2018]</ref> The original 9581 was in service between August 1925 and May 1959<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.107.</ref>.
==5043 in service==
In March 2017 the GW(SVR)A and SVR(H) exchanged 5043 for [[GWR 4786 Full Third]]. Conversion and restoration is being carried out by [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] who have experience of this kind of work, and this coach became their next project following restoration of [[GWR 17410 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/kr-by-c-and-w SVRLive 30 March 2017]</ref>
The plan is to have saloon accommodation for disabled passengers and their companions at one end and an accessible buffet counter at the other. Entry will be via central double doors with an adjacent disabled WC. The external appearance will indeed be of a GWR H33 composite Kitchen Diner (see above). It will replicate the later condition of GWR catering vehicles, which were all rebuilt in a programme that lasted from 1937 to 1952. There were many variations, but they all gained flush sided steel panelling with sliding shutters replacing the original 'hopper' type opening toplights, a much more practical arrangement that vastly reduced the window's tendency to leak. <ref>[http://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=50670#50670 SVR Unofficial Form 30 May 2016]</ref> The General Arrangement drawing of the proposal, prepared by Peter Simpson of the GW(SVR)A, can be viewed as a pdf at File:http://www.svrwiki.com/version1241/images/f/f8/5043_elevation_drg_v4c-2a.pdf
Under the title 'PROJECT 9581 - ACCESS FOR ALL' it was the beneficiary of the traditional SVR Raffle in 2019, raising "more than £10,000".<ref>SVR News 205</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/svrofficial/photos/a.216795638398146/2373313162746372/?type=3&theater SVR Facebook, 7 May 2019]</ref>.
===Conversion work===
Initial work involved sourcing fittings, undertaking a condition survey, obtaining costings, cleaning and painting the underframe and ordering a kit of bodyside frame components.<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwr5043.html LNER Carriage Group] (Retrieved 2 January 2018)</ref> Work commenced in earnest following a shunt on 7 November 2017 which moved 5043 into position for restoration to commence.
In November 2018 it was agreed that with the rebuild more than 50% complete, the coach would subsequently be referred to by its new number 9581.<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwr-progress-2019.html LNER Carriage Group]</ref> {{As of|20192020}} work continues on the bodywork, framing and windows, with the LNER Carriage Group supplemented from time-to-time by further volunteers from [[The 2857 Society]] and the [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc.]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/collett-5043 SVRLive news page]</ref>
Updates are on [http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk//gwr-progress-2019.html this webpage].
===Completion date===
The LNER Carriage Group anticipates anticipated a 2023 completion date, but this may be affected by the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]] restrictions.
==See also==
