GWR 2242 Corridor Brake Third
| GWR 2242 Corridor Brake Third | |
|---|---|
 GWR 2242 Corridor Brake Third at Kidderminster on 29 October 2019. Mick Haynes | |
| Built By | Metro Cammell for BR(W) |
| Status | Restoration |
| Number | 2242 |
| Other numbers | W2242W, DW 150391 |
| History | |
| Built | 1950 |
| Designed By | Hawksworth |
| Diagram | D133 |
| Lot | 1744 |
| Type | BTK |
| Length | 64ft 0in |
| Weight | 31t 2cwt |
| Seats | 32 third |
| 1966 | To Departmental service |
| 1982 | Preserved |
| 2019 | Acquired by the GW(SVR)A |
| 2020 | Restoration commenced |
Corridor Brake Third (BTK) 2242 is a GWR Hawksworth design.
Contents
Contents
Service
It was ordered by the GWR before nationalisation but built for BR(W) by Metro Cammell in 1950 as Lot 1744 to Diagram D133. As built it had four third class compartments seating 32, with one toilet.
The coach was initially used on express services from London and the West Midlands to Wales, the South and West of England including named services such as the Cambrian Coast Express and Bristolian. As BR Mk 1 stock proliferated, it was transferred onto cross country services, before being withdrawn from passenger use in January 1966.[1]
In October 1966 it was renumbered DW 150391, having been converted to a Departmental vehicle for use as a mess / tool van, permanently coupled to a Plasser-Theurer ballast cleaning machine. It was withdrawn from service by BR at Cardiff Cathays in 1982[2][3].
Preservation
2242 was acquired by the late Dennis Howells in December 1982 and moved to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in January 1983.[2]
Following Howells' death, it was offered for sale in summer 2019. An offer from the Great Western (SVR) Association was accepted in October 2019 and the coach was moved to the SVR on 29 October. An appeal for funds raised £24,150 net of gift aid.[4]
Confirming the purchase, the GW(SVR)A's January 2020 Newsletter noted that "We already own two Hawksworth Full Thirds (829 and 2119) but lack a matching brake vehicle to enable a set to be formed to this distinctive profile. It will also fulfil a particular need on the Severn Valley Railway being able to form a large brake in Great Western Set 2 releasing Collett Brake 5883 for Great Western Set 1".[1]
The coach required "4 to 6 months' work" to complete its restoration before COVID-19 intervened.[5] In April 2020, following the completion of the restoration of GWR 6045 Bow-end Composite, the GW(SVR)A Committee agreed to bring forward the mechanical works on 2242 to help the SVR to meet some of the costs of two of the full time carriage staff during the pandemic. A consequence was that the Association would need to fund an estimated £15,000 costs.[6] The SVR Charitable Trust granted £12,000 for the work.[7] From 2021 work was paused waiting work on the roof and space in Bewdley Yard for work to continue on the interior.[8][4] As of November 2023[update] that is still the case.[9]
2242 is a sister vehicle to SVR(H)'s 2233, which is used as static accommodation at Bewdley, and to four other examples formerly resident on the SVR.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 GW(SVR)A Newsletter, Winter 2020 edition
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BRC Stockbook retrieved 1 November 2019
- ↑ Longworth (2018) p.170.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 GW(SVR)A accounts and annual return 31 March 2021, via the Charity Commission (Retrieved 24 November 2021)
- ↑ Branch Lines, November 2019
- ↑ GW(SVR)A News page, April 2020
- ↑ GW(SVRA) website, August 2020 news (Retrieved 9 September 2020)
- ↑ GWR(SVRA) October 2022 news update (Retrieved 14 October 2022)
- ↑ GW(SVRA) website, November 2023 news update
Links
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