GWR 1145 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake

GWR 1145 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake
GWR 1145 20150315.jpg
GWR toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake 1145
Built By GWR Swindon
Status Static use
Number 1145
Other numbers 079038
History
Built 1922
Designed By Churchward
Diagram K22
Lot 1301
Type Snake C, BG
Length 60ft 11¼in
Weight 31t 9cwt
Seats None
1973 Entered preservation
2009 Restored as a static shop

Carriages

GWR Churchward toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake (BG) No 1145 was built in 1922. Accommodation consisted of a guard’s compartment situated between two luggage vans, with a corridor along one side to allow passengers to pass through, but this was removed when the coach was transferred into departmental use for delivering DMU parts to Swindon Works.

1145 was purchased by Great Western (SVR) Association member Philip Fryer[1] and arrived on the SVR from Bristol on 11 September 1973. In summer 1974 it was one four carriages requested for the following year's Rail 150 event at Shildon celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway,[2] although the time needed for restoration meant that other carriages eventually attended instead.

1145 has previously seen use as Santa's Grotto, but after the SVR obtained replacement vehicles in 1999, 1145 saw use as a store. In 2007 was moved to Bewdley and briefly used as accommodation, then as the LNER (SVR) Coach Fund shop until its deteriorating condition led to its temporary replacement by LNER Pigeon Van 70759. In order to release 70759 for restoration, the The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund agreed with the GW(SVR)A that, in return for the LNER Fund’s working members carrying out basic conservation and restoration work, it would be used as The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop.

In 2023 the GW(SVR)A carried out a 'bottom half' repaint.[3]

Sister 261 is also resident on the SVR.

See also

References

  1. SVR News 225, p. 68
  2. SVR News 32
  3. GW(SVRA) Facebook post 1 June 2023
  • Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
  • Severn Valley Railway Stock Book Eighth Edition

Links