Changes

|othernos = W9055W, DW150127

|years2 = 1981-198|events2 = Converted to wheelchair-accessible coach

}}'''GWR Nondescript Saloon 9055''' was designed by GJ Churchward and built by the GWR at Swindon in 1912as a 'one-off' replacement for a Dean gas-lit clerestory coach which was destroyed by fire. <ref name=SVR210>SVR News 210</ref> It was an unclassified or 'nondescript' saloon (ie not allocated to any specific class such as first or third), and was normally used for private hire. It featured has 'toplights', small 'lights' or windows above the main windows, which were a feature of many GWR carriages of the period.

From the near end as seen (picture top right), the original layout of 9103 comprises 9055 comprised a toilet, a saloon with exterior doors at each endboth ends, a single compartment with an exterior door, a second saloon matching the first, a luggage compartment with double doors and another toilet. This arrangement results resulted in three closely spaced external doors at the centre of the coach. On the far side as seen, there is only one central external door into the side corridor omits two matching external doors with the central door , serving both the compartment and one end of each of the two saloons. The two saloons each seat seated 18 passengers on bench seats at the ends and along the sides, while with the compartment seats seating a further 8 giving a nominal total capacity of 44. As The compartment, which was normally used by servants of the hiring party, was built each compartment to first class dimensions and had first class lamps but otherwise had third class fittings. Each saloon had a fold-down table down the centre. The luggage compartment was used to carry refreshments.<ref name=SVR180>SVR News 180</ref><ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Harris (1966)]] p. 74.</ref><ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.175. (Longworth gives the capacity as 34 seats, this appears to be an error) </ref>

Although 9055 was a ‘one'one-off’ off' prototype, although it formed the basis of a later Collett design of which [[GWR 9103 Nondescript Saloon | 9103]] and [[GWR 9369 Nondescript Saloon | 9369]] are also at the SVR. Changes made by Collett included placing the two saloons next to each other with an interconnecting door (which had the incidental effect of reducing the capacity from 44 seats to 40), including a brake in the luggage compartment, and adopting the 'Bow end' body style without Churchward's toplightstoplight windows.

9055 later saw service as a departmental vehicle, being allocated coach code BTO served with the GWR and briefly with BR(Brake Third OpenW) by BR . It was withdrawn from passenger use in the early 1950s and carrying departmental number DW 150127transferred into Departmental Stock where it was numbered DW150127.<ref group="note">The GW(SVR)A date withdrawal to 1950. Longworth gives the date of renumbering into Departmental stock as November 1955</ref> It was used as a mobile MPD office at Shrewsbury <ref name=SVR180/> and later at Newport, from where it was purchased by [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc. | The Great Western (SVR) Association]], arriving on 6 September 1972.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> As acquired, the interior consisted of one saloon and the luggage compartment (both stripped) with the rest being a large open space.

After a lengthy restoration it entered service 9055 spent some years serving as the Railway Shop on Bewdley's platform 3, helping to raise funds for the SVR as a party vehicle with one saloon and an open wheelchair areaAssociation. Following withdrawal in 1996 it underwent an overhaul which included a repaint into chocolate and cream livery and the re-instatement of the second The saloon and side compartmentwas also partially restored during that time. A further overhaul from October 2018 to April 2020 at the [[Carriage Repair Works]] saw a bogie and brake overhaul, new roof canvass, door repairs, new battery boxes, new toilet floor, some new lino and a repaint<refname=SVR63>[https:SVR News 63<//forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?tref><ref name=3461 GWRSVA>GW(SVR Forum] (Retrieved 15 April 2020)A website</ref>.

By 1981 a number of other railways had begun to offer facilities for parties with wheelchairs to travel in a suitably modified coach, leading to the GW(SVR)A setting up a project to do the same. [[GWR 98 Full Brake|Full Brake 98]] was initially considered for this purpose, before 9055 was eventually selected, being considered better suited due to the double doors at one end and the large number of windows. The intention at the time was for another carriage to take over this duty after 10 years or so with 9055 then being fully restored to original condition.<ref name=SVR63/> The restoration and conversion was carried out at Bewdley entirely without the use of external contractors. The conversion entailed restoring one saloon, with the central compartment, second salon and luggage compartment becoming an open wheelchair area with optional loose seating. Final painting in late 1985 used the GWR's "Lake 1912" livery, an elegant crimson lake livery which was introduced in 1912 and carried until July 1922. 9055 is normally was used for the first time, unadvertised, in June 1986; the "proper red" colour confused a number of visitors to the Railway and also the operating department who coupled it up to the LMS set!<ref>SVR News 81</ref> Financial constraints meant the saloon was furnished using ex-BR upholstery; nevertheless the coach received a "Commended" award in the 1986 ARPS Coach Competition.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">9055_award.jpg|ARPS Award</gallery> 9055 duly operated for ten years before being withdrawn from service in 1996 as planned. Its subsequent overhaul included a number of internal modifications. These included replacing the missing wall to re-create the centre compartment and installing additional seating in the Toplights second saloon. This was felt to make better overall use of the vehicle by providing additional capacity for day to day use in Set GW2 at the cost of reducing somewhat the space available for wheelchairs. It also included a repaint into panelled chocolate and cream livery to match 3930.<ref>SVR News 115, 128</ref>  In mid-2001 the C&W department began a programme to refresh the whole GWR setwhose appearance had been generating some negative comment. Although it was not long since the overhaul was completed, 9055's finish was starting to show signs of cracking, especially around the mouldings, and it was retouched, selectively repainted and varnished between December 2002 and January 2003.<ref>SVR News 142</ref>  On 19 November 2004 the [[Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall]] group organised a photo charter of a "typical 1930s Great Western train" with large Prairie 5164 and a short 'Churchward rake' comprising 9055, 9369 and 3960.<ref>SVR News 156, 157</ref> On 20 October 2012 the GWR(SVR)A ran a special charter train, "The 9055 Centenarian", to mark the 100th anniversary of the construction of 9055. The train consisted of newly restored [[1501|Hawksworth pannier tank 1501]] and five of the Association's GW carriages including9055 and fellow toplight 3930.<ref name=SVR180/> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:9055 interior 1.JPG | Interior view in 2016</gallery> In October 2018 9055 entered the [[Carriage Repair Works]] for a wheelset change, the tyres having worn down to scrapping size, and for any other overhaul work as necessary. Other 'below floor' work on a bogie and brake overhaul was completed relatively quickly, but 9055 then spent many months under a tent while the roof dried out completely so repairs to it could be carried out. <ref>SVR News 204, 206</ref>. It had been intended to carry out the work in the Carriage Shed in January 2020, but condensation and low temperatures brought about a change of plan with 9055 entering the paint shop where the roof was completely re-canvassed. Other work included door repairs, new battery boxes, a new toilet floor, some new lino and a repaint.<ref name=SVR210/><ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3461 SVR Forum] (Retrieved 15 April 2020)</ref>. The seating has also been reupholstered as seen in the internal views below taken in June 2021. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GWR_9055_Saloon_1_20210619.jpg | The 'unconverted' saloon looking towards the centre of the coach.GWR_9055_Saloon_2_20210619.jpg | The 'converted' saloon seen from the wheelchair area. The compartment is beyond the far wall which was reinstated in the 1990s overhaul. GWR_9055_Saloon_3_20210619.jpg | The wheelchair area seen from the 'converted' saloon.</gallery> 9055 is finished in GWR 1922-27 livery featuring the ‘garter crest’ 'garter crest' logo. It is normally used in the [[Carriages#Set Toplights|Toplights set]], although since services resumed in August 2020 following the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]] it has formed part of the GW 'Explorer' set.

*[http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/9055.html 9055 on www.gw-svr-a.org.uk]<br>(including pictures of the 1981-86 restoration)