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{{Infobox wagon
|image = GWR_3429_20150307GWR_3429_20240217.jpg|caption = GWR Fruit Van 3429FRUIT D W3429 (2024)
|construc = BR Swindon
|status = Static use
|wagno = 3429W3429|othernos = W3429W|designed = Collett
|diagram = Y14
|lot = 1723
|years3 =
|events3 =
}}This '''W3429''' (later W3429W) is a long wheelbase ‘Fruit D’ '''FRUIT D''' goods van, one of around 13 survivors of the type of which four are preserved on the SVR, the others being [[GWR 3467 Fruit D Van|W3467]], [[GWR/BR 92080 Fruit D Van|W92080]] and [[GWR/BR 92090 Fruit D Van |W92090]]. The FRUIT D is a GWR design and was dating from 1939, although only 50 were built by BR at Swindon in 1950 to diagram Y14, lot 1723.<ref>Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey</ref> In service it was piped for steam heat, although not heated itself, and was gas-lit. Being capable of running in passenger services, it was allocated a number in the coach series in accordance GWR with GWR practice<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref>most examples being completed by BR who continued their construction as late as 1958.
==PreservationFruit vans==The GWR's first ventilated vans specifically intended to convey fruit dated from 1889. They were given the telegraphic code FRUIT and due to the perishable nature of the goods they carried, they were intended to be used in fast passenger services rather than slow goods trains. As such, they were allocated numbers in the coach series and classed as classed as "[[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS) | Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock]]".<ref name=ABT>[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013)]] pp. 441, 448, 453-454.</ref> The FRUIT D was the largest and last type of ventilated passenger fruit van designed and built by the GWR. It had an 18ft wheelbase with a length of 28ft 6in over the headstocks and a capacity of 10 tons. Access was provided by three sets of double doors on each side. 50 were built by the GWR between 1939 and 1941 to Diagram Y11.<ref name=ABT/> BR continued to build FRUIT Ds to Diagram Y14, with a further 100 including W3429 and W3467 completed between 1950 and 1956.<ref group="note">Most FRUIT Ds were built at Swindon, although one Lot of 20 was built by Cravens.</ref> All 100 were given vacant numbers in the GWR coach numbering series; as built all would have received a W prefix with an additional W suffix from new or subsequently added as part of the [[Carriage and Wagon numbering|numbering changes]] following the introduction of BR's Mark 1 coaching stock. A final 115 including W95080 and W92090 were built between 1957 and 1958 to BR's Diagram 105; these received numbers in the BR coach numbering series from new.<ref name=Longworth2018>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.156</ref> <ref group="note">After the FRUIT Ds were withdrawn in the 1970s, the same range of numbers was re-used for Mark 1 full Brakes (BG) built in 1983, so M92080 and E92090 also existed.</ref> FRUIT Ds were also used for express parcels when not carrying fruit,<ref name=ABT/> and many FRUIT Ds continued in use after main line service as Engineers' Departmental or Internal User vehicles. ==Service and preservation==W3429 was built by BR at Swindon in 1950 to diagram Y14, lot 1723.<ref>Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey</ref> It was gas-lit and piped for steam heat, although not heated itself.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It was withdrawn circa March 1973.<ref name=Longworth2018/> The [[Hinton Manor Fund]] had brought [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor]] to the SVR in January 1973 for restoration. The fund acquiredW3429 in the same year, arriving intending to use it for loco spares storage. It arrived on the SVR from Ipswich on 11 September 1973 , carrying a BR blue livery.<ref>SVR Stock Book Fifth Edition, September 1974</ref> Restoration of 7819 was completed in 1977 although the locomotive entering service using cab fittings borrowed from [[1501]] and a tender borrowed from Ipswich[[3205]]. Restoration of 7819's own cab fittings and tender was completed over the winter of 1979-80. At that time, and is W3429 was still owned by the Hinton Manor Fund, although by 1990 it had been moved to [[Highley]] for station staff use, with ownership assumed by the [[Highley#Highley_Station_Fund|Highley Station Fund]]. Originally intended for loco spares storage<ref>SVR Stock Book Eighth Edition, it is now situated February 1990</ref> W3429 was repainted in 1997<ref>Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey</ref> and again in situ during 2021 as shown below. It can be seen on the flat area of land at Highley adjacent to the [[Highley signal box | Signal Box]]which was formerly the site of a short-lived [[Stone quarry siding opposite Highley Station|stone quarry siding]] in the early 1880s. After its most recent repainting, it has reverted to GWR brown livery, although unlettered, as seen in the main picture above. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GWR_3429_20150307.jpg | FRUIT D W3429 in 2015GWR_3429_20210619.jpg|Repainting in progress in June 2021</gallery>
==See also==
[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]]
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
==References==
==Links==
*[http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=176 3429 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line] [[Category:Featured articles]]