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4509 arrived on the SVR in June 1982 from York in working order.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It was originally owned by SVR volunteer ticket collector Austen 'Pop' White.
In September 1985 the coach was repainted from the 'BR blue and grey' livery in which it had arrived into the late 1960's 1960s version of BR maroon livery, with red ends and gutters, badges applied only if available, and cream end doors. A shortage of badges at the time meant 4509 initially had no badge.<ref>SVR News 78</ref> The following year the tables were removed from sister coach [[BR 4550 Tourist Standard Open|4550 ]] and used to give a full complement to [[BR 4690 Tourist Standard Open|4690]], [[BR 4399 Tourist Standard Open|4399]], 4509 and [[BR 4545 Tourist Standard Open|4545]], the [[Carriages#Set_M|maroon ]] set being regularly used for dining parties at the time.<ref>SVR News 81</ref>
In march 1987 4509 was taken out of service and completely reupholstered with red tartan cloth (disposed of by Ilford Electric Multiple Unit Depot) in time for the [[Diesel galas|Diesel Weekend]].<ref>SVR News 84</ref>
4509 was withdrawn for overhaul at [[Carriage Repair Works#Other_facilities|Bridgnorth Carriage and Wagon]] in 1990. This took around a year and required the windows to be re-bedded. It also involved re-skinning all six doors and rebuilding their wooden frames which collapsed when the old skins were removed. The door jambs were also renewed and cutting and patching was carried out the bodysides alongside the doors and windows. The inside was completely revarnished or painted as necessary.<ref>SVR News 97, 99, 100, 101</ref>
The tartan cloth used in 1987 had proved to be short-lived compared with the traditional moquette,<ref>SVR News 121</ref> and in 1997 4509 was reupholstered in moquette by a professional upholsterer, the materials and labour costing £4,220.<ref>SVR News 124</ref>.
During summer 1998, 'Pop' White passed away. Aged almost 90, he was still working as a volunteer at the time.<ref>SVR News 127</ref> 4509 was bequeathed to his colleague and neighbour James Barker.
In Autumn autumn 2004 4509 was sent to Toton in 2004 for tyre turning, and also received a full bogie overhaul<ref>SVR News 149</ref> In 2006 the coach was sent away to Ramparts at Derby for welding work, particularly around the lavatory areas and gangways. The Ramparts' staff primed and prepared 4509 and returned it in a 'ready to run' condition, although still requiring finishing and interior decoration. After the seats were refitted it ran throughout the busy August and September months unadorned and in a 'shiny maroon half-gloss condition'; the curtailed overhaul meant that the lavatories were not renovated until winter 2006-07.<ref>SVR News 155, 158</ref>
Also during 2006, 4509 was donated to the SVR Rolling Stock Trust charity (which had been formed in 2001 and later became the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd | SVR Charitable Trust]]). The Trust provided new batteries and a slow-speed charging device in that year as an additional improvement.<ref>SVR News 156</ref><ref>[http://svrtrust.org.uk/our-vehicles/br/4509-2.html 'BR Rolling Stock', SVR Charitable Trust]</ref>
During winter 2011-12 4509 was found to be leaking, requiring the roof vents re-bedded and two sections of damaged ceiling panel replaced. The six door locks were showing signs of wear and were replaced.<ref>SVR News 176</ref>
In late 2012 it was arranged that 4509 would be repainted into crimson and cream livery, using 'restricted funds' from the Charitable Trust, in order to balance the seating capacity between sets [[Carriages#Set_C|Set C ]] and Set M more evenly. A 'full service' was carried out ahead of this, but it transpired that 4509 would be needed in Set M for that year's '[[Christmas services|Santa Heralds]]' so the coach was returned to traffic. It re-entered the paint shop in mid-January 2013 for the work to be completed.<ref>SVR News 182, 184</ref>
4509 is still owned by the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd | SVR Charitable Trust]] . It is in regular service and is now normally used in the [[Carriages#Set_C|BR Crimson & Cream running set]].
==See also==
