GWR 1146 Full Third
| GWR 1146 Full Third | |
|---|---|
 GWR Full Third 1146 | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon |
| Status | In service |
| Number | 1146 |
| Other numbers | W1146W, 079153, 99232 |
| History | |
| Built | 1938 |
| Designed By | Collett |
| Diagram | C77 |
| Lot | 1593 |
| Type | TK |
| Length | 60ft 11¼in |
| Weight | 31t 9cwt |
| Seats | 64 third |
| 1969 | Entered preservation on SVR |
| 2015 | Re-entered service following overhaul |
GWR Corridor Third (TK) 1146 is one of four such coaches on the SVR, together with 1086, 1087 and 1116. By the time they were built in 1938, CME Charles Collett had introduced more modern designs to succeed the 'bow-ended' stock. These included large picture windows to replace the external door to every compartment, with access to the coach being via vestibules at each end. Following a GWR policy decision in late 1937, the 1938 design was built to a more restricted loading gauge as used by the LNER and LMS, such vehicles being identified by a yellow disc on the body ends. The 1938 design also reintroduced two extra entry doors on the corridor side.[1] These particular coaches have 8 compartments each seating 8 passengers, plus a toilet at each end of the coach.
Contents
Contents
Service
All four coaches were built at Swindon in 1939 as part of lot number 1593 to diagram number C77, with 1146 entering service in August of that year.[2] Under BR, the coach initially became W1146 at nationalisation and W1146W following the introduction of BR Mk 1 coaches in accordance with the normal BR renumbering process.
1146 continued in passenger service in the BR Western region until April 1965, when it withdrawn and transferred into Internal User stock as number 079153. It then formed part of GWR's 9-coach Swindon test train which was used for load testing of diesel locomotives, the full list of coaches being:
| IU Number | BR(W) Number | Coach type | Current status |
| 079151 | W7362W | Brake Corridor Composite, Diagram E159 | Preserved Dean Forest Railway[3] |
| 079152 | W536W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved at Didcot [4] |
| 079153 | W1146W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved SVR |
| 079154 | W1086W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved SVR |
| 079155 | W7313W | Corridor Composite, Diagram E158 | Preserved at Didcot [5] |
| 079156 | W7284W | Corridor Composite, Diagram E162 | Preserved SVR |
| 079157 | W1116W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved SVR |
| 079158 | W1087W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved SVR |
| 079159 | W1111W | Corridor Third, Diagram C77 | Preserved at Didcot[6] |
Preservation
Early in 1969, BR decided to dispose of the Swindon Test Train. GW(SVR)A member David Rouse negotiated the purchase of the complete train for preservation, with four of the coaches being acquired by the GWS at Didcot.[7] Four TKs and Corridor Composite 7284 were bought for the SVR by various groups and individuals including The GWR 813 Preservation Fund who secured 1146. All five SVR coaches arrived on 19 December 1969.[8]
By autumn 1974 7284, 1086 and 1087 had been fully restored and were in passenger service, while 1116 had received a quick repaint. 1146 had spent a period stored until missing fittings became available[9] but work was nearing completion, one of the major jobs being the replacement of four interior doors.[10]
Between 1976 and1978 the SVR provided a rake of GWR carriages for use on main line excursions. By the time of the first tour on 13 November 1976, restoration of all five ex-Swindon test train carriages had been completed and they formed part of the set.
1146 underwent an overhaul at Bewdley which began over the winter of 1981-82. The external doors were all sound and the frames were generally in good condition apart from an issue with splitting of the bottom stringers due to water getting in and rusting the bolts securing the uprights to the bottom stringer. All the old bolts were replaced and the wood made good. All the panels were removed and replaced, and new corridor canvasses fitted. The roof was sound and required little work other than re-bedding the water tanks and the vents. Mid 1982 saw 1146 out of the Paint Shop, still in GWR 'galvanised' livery, while 9369 went in.[11] In the yard, work continued on the interior which had a complete makeover including painting, graining and varnishing, apart from the seats which were still in reasonable condition. The toilets were also returned to working order. 9369 left the paint shop but was replaced in turn volunteer accommodation sleeper 9084 which had sprung a leak. 1146 was eventually completed in late 1983.[12]
In late 1988 1146 returned to the paint shop for a quick repaint, the interior still being in reasonable condition. This was completed in time for Christmas running, before returning to service in the Severn Valley Limited set.[13]
1146 received another repaint at Bewdley in late 2000, also moving to Kidderminster Carriage Works for a lift and bogie overhaul, plus replacement vacuum brake cylinders. However it then spent most of the winter and following spring waiting to return to the jacks after being ousted by the urgent need to fit air braking to 60009 Union of South Africa's support coach.[14] A further repaint at Bewdley followed between July and September 2002 as part of a programme to improve the appearance of the whole GW2 set which had become a source of much negative comment at the time.[15]
In spring 2014 1146 was the first of the GWR coaches to go to Bewdley for overhaul as part a programme to repair a number of them in time for the forthcoming 2015 50th anniversary celebrations.[16] The overhaul, which included repainting in the Bewdley carriage paint shop in GWR 1934-42 livery featuring the 'shirt-button' roundel, was completed in time for a return to service in spring of 2015.
Newly outshopped in 2015
During the early hours of Boxing Day morning 2017, 1146 was one of two coaches vandalised at Kidderminster (the other being GNR Corridor Composite No. 2701). A flash appeal by the SVR Charitable Trust raised more than £13,000 to help pay for the repairs, which involved stripping and repainting both coaches over a 6-week period.[17][18][19]
In September 2023 a paintwork/varnish refresh was completed at Bridgnorth Loco Works paintshop, one of several carriages that received attention there.
See also
References
- ↑ Harris (1966) p. 104.
- ↑ Longworth (2018) p.55.
- ↑ RHR Online, 7362
- ↑ RHR Online, 536
- ↑ RHR Online, 7313
- ↑ RHR Online, 1111
- ↑ SVR News 157
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Third Edition, August 1971
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Fifth Edition, September 1974
- ↑ SVR News 33
- ↑ SVR News 62, 66
- ↑ SVR News 67, 69
- ↑ SVR News 90, 92
- ↑ SVR News 137
- ↑ SVR News 142
- ↑ SVR News 186
- ↑ Shropshire Star
- ↑ SVR News 201
- ↑ SVR Charitable Trust accounts to 30 June 2018, p.5
Links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||