GWR 17410 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van

GWRGreat Western Railway ToadGWR telegraphic code signifying a goods brake van, which became the standard design's nickname Brake Van 17410

20 ton 'ToadGWR telegraphic code signifying a goods brake van, which became the standard design's nickname' Brake Van 17410 was built at Swindon in 1940, one of a batch of 100 financed by the War Department but taken straight into GWRGreat Western Railway stock. The diagram number was AA.21, lot number 1370. It was vacuum fitted with screw couplings. When last in SVRSevern Valley Railway service it was lettered in late GWRGreat Western Railway style grey livery and allocated to "Bristol RU".

It arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway in November 1970 and was restored the following year, after which it saw regular use by the PWPermanent Way Department. Following withdrawal as surplus to PWPermanent Way requirements and in very poor condition it languished in Bewdley yard, but in December 2015 its restoration, by the LNER Carriage Group, started.

A new pair of veranda side doors have been made, and replacement opening window frames are under construction. The layers of paint were removed from the interior, when it was found that its first, "as built" internal finish was scumble grained in imitation beech and cedar with a light oak ceiling. The number 17410 was stenciled opposite the guard's seat in pink lettering, with the word "CARDIFF" (presumably its first allocation) below. Its later (presumed BRBritish Rail or British Railways) interior finish was off white (ivory) and bauxite with a white ceiling.

The sanding gear is currently missing, and the GWRGreat Western Railway drawing has been located. It appears that several other groups are short of sanding gear for their Toads, and its hoped to join with them in a scheme to construct a batch.

It is intended to restore it to as near original condition as reasonably possible, and in GWRGreat Western Railway livery, but BRBritish Rail or British Railways bauxite has not been ruled out as a possibility for the future.

Much progress has recently been made on stripping the vehicle prior to restoration, the rate of which will depend on fundraising for materials. Much of the steelwork, the wooden floor and much of the side/end/roof planking needs replacing, whilst tyres, vacuum cylinder, brakegear pins and bushes must be refurbished. A new stove and roof canvass will be essential.

As of July 2016, the rotten steel veranda sides and underfloor platework which supported the sandboxes, vac cylinder and handbrake pedestal had been consigned to the scrapheap, plywood templates made, and prices were being sought for their replacement. Meanwhile the exposed section of underframe was being cleaned prior to weld repairs to the top flanges.

17410 was preserved in 1970 by a group of working members known as the "17410 Fund", but in early 2016 they transferred ownership to the SVR Charitable Trust. The van is known on the SVRSevern Valley Railway as "Don Wilcox's toad".

See Also

List of goods wagons

References

Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey
SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Eighth Edition

Links

17410 on www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
GWR Toad 17410 Restoration page