[[File: {{Infobox carriage|image = 1450_20140309.jpg|thumb|200px|right|caption = Autocoach 238 leads GWR 1450 away from Highley]]|construc =BR(W) Swindon|status = In service|carno = 238|othernos = W238W|designed = Hawksworth|diagram = A43|lot = 1766|cartype = |seats = |built = 1954|years1 = 2014|events1 = Arrived on SVR|years2 = |events2 = |years3 = |events3 = |years4 = |events4 = |years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}The GWR Autocoach, sometimes called an Autotrailer, was used by the Great Western Railway 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.
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.
W238 moved to the SVR in March 2014 along with Mike Little’s other autocoach [[GWR 178 Autotrailer Third | 178]] and auto-fitted locomotive [[GWR 1450]].
==SourcesSee also==[[Carriages| List of carriages]] ==References==
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey<br>
[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=55 W238 on vintagecarriagestrust.org]<br>
==See also==[[Carriages| List of carriages]]<br>: [[GWR 178 Autotrailer Third | Previous ]]<br>: [[GWR 261 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake | Next ]]{{CarriageNavbox}}
