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GWR Brake Third Open (BTO) No 650 was built at Swindon in April 1940 as lot number 1644 to diagram D130. It was later numbered W650W by BR(W) in accordance with the normal [[Carriage and Wagon numbering|post-nationalisation numbering practice]] and was eventually withdrawn from service in October 1964.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.77.</ref> The following year the body of the coach was grounded at Kerne Bridge in the Wye Valley where it was used as a dormitory for the Gloucester Boys Club.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref>
650 was purchased from Kerne Bridge in 1989 by the [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc.|GW(SVR)AAssociation]] as a long-term restoration project. It was initially moved to the [[Foley Park sidings|British Sugar Corporation's sidings beside the SVR at Foley Park]] in March 1990. While there, some frame repairs and external repanelling were carried out.<ref>SVR News 128, Autumn 1998</ref>
On 31 March 2000, 650 was moved by road from Foley Park to Kidderminster and placed on accommodation bogies in preparation for a move to Bewdley.<ref>SVR News 133</ref> However other GW(SVR)A vehicles still required restoration, in particular [[GWR 9103 Nondescript Saloon]], so 650 was then stored in [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] while parts for the restoration were sourced and a set of bogies was overhauled. A number of new brass fittings were cast, as pictured on the GW(SVR)A web site [http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/650_restoration2.html 650 Brass Fittings] page.
