GWR 178 Autotrailer Third
| GWR 178 Autotrailer Third | |
|---|---|
 Autocoach 178 behind GWR 1450 | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon |
| Status | In service |
| Number | 178 |
| Other numbers | W178, W178W |
| History | |
| Built | 1930 |
| Designed By | Collett |
| Diagram | A28 |
| Lot | 1410 |
| Length | 62ft 8in |
| Weight | 30t (approx) |
| Seats | 72 third |
| 1969 | Preserved on SVR |
| 1979 | Left SVR |
| 2014 | Returned to SVR |
178 is a GWR Autocoach, sometimes called an autotrailer. It was resident on the SVR between 1969 and 1979, although never fully restored, and returned to the railway in 2014.
Contents
Autocoaches
Autocoaches were used by the Great Western (and other railways) for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The autocoach has a driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be on the footplate of the locomotive. This eliminates the need for the engine to run round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey. The combination of locomotive and autocoach(es) is known as an auto-train or, historically, a railmotor train, and they were mainly used on small branch lines including the Severn Valley Branch.
Steam locomotives provided with the equipment to be used as an auto-train are said to be auto-fitted. The driver operates the regulator, brakes and whistle from the autocoach; the fireman remains on the locomotive and in addition to firing, also controls the valve gear settings. The driver, guard and fireman can communicate with each other by an electric bell system.
Driving compartment
Bell push
Guard's area
Many autocoaches were rebuilt from steam railmotors. Three batches to Collet's designs entered service as new between 1929 and 1933, and further examples to a Hawksworth design before and after nationalisation. They can also be used as hauled carriages.
Service
178 was one of ten built at Swindon in 1930 as part of Lot 1410 to Diagram A28.[1] It had a length of 62ft 8 in and the design featured mahogany panelling and hammered-glass ventilators. Re-numbered as W178W by BR, it was eventually withdrawn from the Cardiff district in August 1961 and transferred into Departmental Engineers' use, ending its life at the former LMS Wolverton works where it was condemned in 1964[note 1][2][3].
Preservation
Several attempts by other preservation groups failed, and 178 was eventually purchased in 1968 by D.R.G. Gwynne-Jones[4], arriving at Bewdley from Wolverton on 1 January 1969. Coach 160 of similar design was also purchased from Tyseley to be cannibalised for spares.[2] SVR News noted that "It is a source of great regret that the SVR were too late in the day to purchase an auto-fitted GWR loco to accompany the trailer. However, several possibilities are under consideration, including the conversion of GWR 813 for push and pull duties".
During 1969, the 'Bewdley restoration group' began restoration work on 178 and completed the dismantling and scrapping of 160.[4] By Autumn 1970 work had temporarily ceased on 178, with efforts being centred on Ocean Saloon 9113 and Toplight 3930, although it had resumed by April 1970.[5]
In early 1975 an agreement was reached with Dr. Glynne-Jones for 8 of the 10 coaches in his ownership on the SVR to be transferred to the GWS at Didcot. In Autumn 1975 the SVR announced that agreement had further been reached for the remaining two coaches, 178 and GWR 6562 Brake Composite, to be acquired from Dr. Gwynne-Jones by the Great Western (SVR) Association.[6] By Autumn 1977 full restoration remained "a long term task",[7] and following "a bit of a clearout as regards coaching stock", 178 left the SVR in 1979, moving to the Dean Forest railway.[8]
178 returned to the SVR in February 2014[9] along with Hawksworth-design autocoach 238 and auto-fitted locomotive GWR 1450, all three vehicles being owned by Pull Push Limited.[10] Both autocoaches required attention on arrival, with around six volunteers working for three weeks to repair sticking doors, windows, a broken toplight, damaged tip-up seats and a leaking roof. After crew training had been carried out, the stock was used in that year's Spring Steam Gala.[9]
Crew training, 9 March 2014
During 2015 178 spent time in the scaffold painting dock on Road 4 of Kidderminster Carriage Shed while the Indian Red around its windows was touched up.[11] The autocoaches have seen use on the SVR, particularly at gala events and footplate experiences,[12] and also on hire to other railways, particularly with 1450 but also with other auto-fitted locomotives[note 2]. Their use has diminished since 1450 was withdrawn from traffic in December 2020 at the expiry of its boiler certificate and it left the SVR for overhaul, as there is no SVR-based auto-fitted locomotive.
Interior detail
Interior detail
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Harris (1966) p. 151.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVR Stock Book Fourth Edition
- ↑ Longworth (2018) p.175.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 SVR News 15
- ↑ SVR News 18, 19
- ↑ SVR News 35, 37
- ↑ SVR Stock Book 6th edition
- ↑ SVR News 53
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 SVR News 186
- ↑ Felstead, K., 'Track Record', The Railway Magazine, January 2021
- ↑ SVR News 191
- ↑ SVR News 187
Links
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