GWR 1399 Milk Brake
| GWR 1399 Milk Brake | |
|---|---|
 GWR Milk Brake 1399 | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon |
| Status | Static use |
| Number | 1399 |
| Other numbers | 39035, W1399W, 079062 |
| History | |
| Built | 1921 |
| Designed By | Churchward |
| Diagram | O13 |
| Lot | 1299 |
| Type | BY |
| Length | 29ft 4in |
| Weight | 12t 11cwt |
| Seats | None |
| 1967 | Entered preservation |
| 1985 | Major body overhaul |
Contents
Service
The coach entered service as Pharmacy Car 39035,[3] and was renumbered 1399 in December 1918 and converted for use as a milk train brake van.[4][1][note 1] It was later used for general parcels traffic[5] before being renumbered 079062 in October 1959[6] for Departmental use at Worcester.
Preservation
1399 was brought to the SVR from Worcester on 18 September 1967 having been privately acquired by Mr SHP Higgins. It was initially restored to GWR wartime brown livery and saw regular use in works trains.[7] During the winter season, when works trains were run each Sunday, the late Charlie Greenacre developed the idea of cooking a midday stew for the 20 or so members of the Bridgnorth PW gang and a mobile "kitchen" was assembled in 1399 for this purpose.[8]
By 1980 the ownership had been transferred from the late Mr Higgins to the ‘1399 Group’.[9] Ownership would in turn be assumed by the Great Western (SVR) Association. A major overhaul at Bewdley began in early 1984,[10] with the intention of converting the vehicle internally for use as the The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop and also for its possible use in the upcoming ‘Rocket 150’ celebrations at Swindon the following year. As often, the overhaul became ‘a real nightmare job’ requiring repairs to much of the wooden frame and replacement of many steel sheets.[11] The work was completed by summer 1985; the cancellation of the Swindon event meaning it could be moved to its new permanent home in the cattle dock at Bewdley for use as a sales stand to begin.[12]
In 1999 1399 was to be moved into the Bewdley Goods Shed so the GW(SVR)A could re-canvas the roof.[13] Further restoration work was also required which was completed during 2001-2 including repanelling and repainting, fitting of new steel panels to the doors and new gutters.[14]
After serving as the Great Western (SVR) Association shop for many years, 1399 become Bewdley Station Fund Shop in 2016 in a swap of roles which saw the larger 1145 assume the role of GW(SVR)A shop. 1399 is sited in Bewdley Cattle Dock.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Longworth (2018) p.143.
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition
- ↑ Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
- ↑ GW(SVR)A 1399 page
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition
- ↑ Longworth (2018) p.172.
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Sixth Edition.
- ↑ SVR News 99, ‘Charlie Greenacre, an appreciation by Roger Norfolk’
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Seventh Edition
- ↑ SVR News 71, Spring 1984
- ↑ SVR News 173, Autumn 1984
- ↑ SVR News 77
- ↑ SVR News 130, Summer 1999
- ↑ SVR News 142, Winter 2002-3
Notes
- ↑ Both Longworth and the GW(SVR)A refer to December 1918. The SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition and RHRCS both give a date of 1921.
Links
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