Changes

Autocoaches were used by the Great Western Railway (and other railways) for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The autocoach has a driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be on the footplate of the locomotive. This eliminates the need for the engine to run round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey. The combination of locomotive and autocoach(es) is known as an auto-train or, historically, a railmotor train, and they were mainly used on small branch lines including the Severn Valley Branch.

Many autocoaches were rebuilt from [[GWR Steam Railmotor | steam railmotors]], although three . Three batches to Collet's designs entered service as new between 1929 and 1933, including both and further examples on the SVRto a Hawksworth design before and after nationalisation. They can also be used as hauled carriages.

Several attempts by other preservation groups failed, and 178 was eventually purchased in 1968 by D.R.G. Gwynne-Jones<ref name=SVR15>SVR News 15</ref>, arriving at Bewdley from Wolverton on 1 January 1969. [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR#Carriages_scrapped_while_at_the_SVR|Coach 160 ]] of similar design was also purchased from Tyseley to be cannibalised for spares.<ref name=SB4/> SVR news News noted that "It is a source of great regret that the SVR were too late in the day to purchase an auto-fitted GWR loco to accompany the trailer. However, several possibilities are under consideration, including the conversion of [[GWR 813Saddle Tank|GWR 813]] for push and pull duties".

During 1969, the 'Bewdley restoration group' began restoration work on 178 and completed the dismantling and scrapping of 160.<ref name=SVR15/> By Autumn 1970 work had temporarily ceased on 178, with efforts being centred on [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR#Carriages_formerly_at_the_SVR_but_later_moved_elsewhere|Ocean Saloon 9113 ]] and [[GWR 3930 Full Third|Toplight 3930]], although it had resumed by April 1970.<ref>SVR News 18, 19</ref>

In early 1975 an agreement was reached with Dr. Glynne-Jones for 8 of the 10 coaches in his ownership on the SVR to be transferred to the GWS at Didcot. In Autumn 1975 the SVR announced that agreement had further been reached for the remaining two coaches, 178 and [[GWR 6562 Brake Composite]], to be acquired from Dr. Gwynne-Jones by the [[Great Western (SVR) Association]].<ref>SVR News 35, 37</ref> By Autumn 1977 full restoration remained "a long term task",<ref>SVR Stock Book 6th edition</ref> and following "a bit of a clearout as regards coaching stock", 178 left the SVR in 1979, moving to the Dean Forest railway.<ref>SVR News 53</ref>.

178 returned to the SVR in February 2014<ref name=SVR186>SVR News 186</ref> along with Hawksworth-design autocoach [[GWR 238 Autotrailer Third | 238]] and auto-fitted locomotive [[GWR 1450]], all three vehicles being owned by [[Pull Push Limited]].<ref>Felstead, K., 'Track Record', The Railway Magazine, January 2021</ref>. Both autocoaches required attention on arrival, with around six volunteers working for three weeks to repair sticking doors, windows, a broken toplight, damaged tip-up seats and a leaking roof. After crew training had been carried out, the stock was used in that year's [[Spring Steam Gala]].<ref name=SVR186/>

During 2015 178 spent time in the scaffold painting dock on Road 4 of [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] while the Indian Red around its windows was touched up.<ref>SVR News 191</ref> Since arrival 1450 and the The autocoaches have seen use on the SVR, particularly at gala events and footplate experiences,<ref>SVR News 187</ref> and also on hire to other railways, until the locomotive particularly with 1450 but also with other auto-fitted locomotives<ref group="note">Auto-fitted locomotives include GWR-design Class 1400 and Class 6400 locomotives.</ref>. Their use has diminished since 1450 was withdrawn from traffic in December 2020 at the expiry of its boiler certificateand it left the SVR for overhaul, as there is no SVR-based auto-fitted locomotive.