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Although it carries 'Chocolate and Cream' livery and is frequently paired with GWR carriages, '''W3109M3109''' is a '''BR Mark 1 Open First (FO)'''. The Open First's seven central bays provided seating for 42 first class passengers in large armchairs at generously proportioned tables arranged '2+1', with a toilet in each vestibule. Mark 1 first class carriages were produced in both Open and Corridor (compartment) versions; in service the Corridor stock was mainly used on long distance trains while the Open Firsts were often used as dining cars or as part of excursion trains. In 2022 it became an Unclassified Open, with First Class branding removed.
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{{Infobox carriage
|image = BR_3109_20190514BR_3109_20230407.jpg
|caption = BR First Open 3109
|construc = BR Swindon
|status = In use
|carno = W3109M3109|livery = BR Chocolate & CreamMaroon|othernos = M3109W3109, 99123, 123 'Grace'
|designed =
|diagram = 73
|years2 = 1996
|events2 = Arrived on SVR
|years3 = 2022|events3 = Declassified to Unclassified Open
|years4 =
|events4 =
|events6 =
}}[[File:Seating_bay,_3109.jpg|thumb|300px|right|3109 in use as a Restaurant Car in the Severn Valley Limited.]]
==Service and preservation==
In December 2013 3109 suffered damage its draw-gear in a minor derailment, requiring [[LMS 7511 Restaurant First Open|LMS Open 7511]] to take its place in the Severn Valley Limited dining set while repairs were carried out. All six door locks were also replaced with reconditioned units around that time.<ref>SVR News 186</ref> During the winter 2015-16 shutdown the original asbestos-covered steam pipes below the floor were removed by specialist contractors and new steam pipes built and fitted to replace them.<ref>SVR News 193</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">BR_3109_20190514.jpg | 3109 in BR(W) livery, May 2019</gallery> Although it has regularly been used by the SVR as a restaurant vehicle, having formed part of both the Severn Valley Limited and Severn Valley Venturer dining sets, 3109 has now been de-classified and transferred into general passenger service. It still carries Its BR(W) Chocolate & Cream liverywas repainted to BR Maroon in 2022<ref group="note">Curiously, although now in maroon it still carries the non-authentic BR(W) number W3109.</ref> when it became the spare vehicle to [[Carriages#Set_M|set M]]<ref>SVR News 218, Summer 2022, p. 42</ref>.
==See also==
*[[Severn Valley Limited]]
*[[Severn Valley Venturer]]
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
==References==