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}}'''GWR First Sleeper 9085''' was built by BR(W) at Swindon, one of a small batch of four first class sleeping cars (SLF) destined for the London to Milford Haven route.
They were built as Lot No 1702 to Diagram J18 and were a Hawksworth design, with the characteristic sloping roof-ends and flat body-side profile. They had ten berths, each compartment having one bed with a sink, luggage racks, coat hangers, shaver points, and Stone's pressure ventilation (other than two Royal salons and two dining saloons, these were the only carriages of GWR origin with any form of air conditioning).<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Harris (1966)]] p. 120.</ref> Each carriage also had a compartment for an attendant at one end and a lavatory at the other. At more than 45 tons each, they were then among the heaviest coaching stock to run on British lines, and were equipped with six-wheeled bogies to reduce the axle-load<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref><ref name=SVRCT>Charitable Trust website</ref><ref name=Longworth>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.112.</ref>.
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==Service and preservation==
As new , these four cars were finished in BR crimson and cream and originally carried the BR-style numbers W9082W to W9085W. W9085W was the last of the four to be completed, and spent the least time in use, having entered service in February 1951 (the first three entered service in April, June, and December 1950 respectively) and been withdrawn along with W9082W in August 1969 (the other two were withdrawn in May 1970). By the time of withdrawal they had been repainted in BR maroon livery.
All four carriages survived into preservation, with three either currently or formerly resident on the SVR. [[GWR 9084 First Sleeper | 9084]] was the first to be acquired, arriving on the SVR from Old Oak Common in October 1970 having been acquired by a 'group of SVR members'.<ref name=SB3>SVR Stock Book Third and Fourth Editions</ref><ref group="note">Ownership of 9084 was later recorded as by [[Richard Dunn|R.H.Dunn]] (Stock Books Five to Seven) and SVR(H) (Stock Books Eight and Nine). It is now owned by the [[Charitable Trust]].</ref> 9085 and [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR | former resident 9082]] both arrived on the SVR on 5 January 1971 from Didcot, having been acquired by the [[Guarantee Company]].<ref name=SB3/> All three were used for sleeping accommodation at [[Arley]] and [[Bewdley]].<ref>SVR Stock Book Eighth and Ninth Editions </ref>
By 1990, ownership of 9085 has been assumed by [[SVR(H)]].<ref>SVR Stock Book Eighth Edition</ref> In winter 1997-98, it was in use for sleeping accommodation at Arley where the 'early turn gang' supporting the [[Santa's Grotto|Christmas activities]] would begin work, including shovelling snow, gritting, and thawing frozen water pipes after "''spending a chilly night in Hawksworth Sleeper 9085''".<ref>SVR News 125</ref>
By winter 2001-2 9085 was under restoration at Arley. The project, led by Jack Bond with assistance from [[Hugh McQuade]], was originally anticipated to take around three years,<ref>SVR News 138</ref> although it was summer 2010 before 9085 was moved to the [[Carriage Repair Works|Kidderminster paint shop]] for final finishing off. After being repainted in (non-authentic) GWR 1942-47 livery, with the coat of arms insignia flanked by 'GREAT' and 'WESTERN', 9085 returned to Arley on 16 October 2010. The move gave a rare opportunity to see two of the Hawksworth sleepers 9084 and 9085 coupled together while shunting took place, before 9084 moved on to [[Hampton Loade]].<ref>SVR News 170, 171, 173</ref>
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While in use for staff accommodation at [[Arley]] station, 9085 has regularly been positioned at the end of Siding 2 (nearest the river). During spring/summer 2017, it was repainted there by [[Bridgnorth Loco Works' ]] painter Mick Flint.<ref>SVR News 199</ref> When photographed there in July 2017 (main picture top right) painting was complete although the 'coat of arms' had not been reinstated. {{As of|2024}} it has been moved to the siding adjacent to the platform at Arley.
== See also ==
