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40554 was built by the GWR at Swindon in 1895 Permanent way trains mainly required wagons used for moving rails (SVR Stock Book states 1899Diagram J) to , ballast (Diagram T1P), Lot 245.<ref name=Atkins>[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret and sleepers (2013Diagram T)]] pp. 32, 353.</ref> It '''40554''' is a special type of well wagon, originally used intended for moving chaired sleepers from the Hayes Creosote Depot in Middlesex. During BR service it was adapted for moving concrete products from TauntonThe well deck floor and end decks are made of steel plates, but post-preservation it has been restored while tall side stanchions allow the load to its original configurationbe stacked quite high.<ref name=SB9> SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It has This results in a capacity of 18 tons and is lettered “To Carry , equivalent to 160 chaired sleepers”sleepers.

The wagon ==Service==40554 was acquired from built by the GWR at Swindon Works in July 1973 where it was awaiting scrappingbetween 1895 and 1899 to Diagram T1, Lot 245.<ref name=SB9Atkins>[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013)]] pp. 32, 353.</ref> It was originally used by S&T for mole-ploughing (installing underground cables alongside moving chaired sleepers from the railway) and by both S&T and P-Way Hayes Creosote Depot in Middlesex. During BR service it was adapted for material movement and storage. Apart moving concrete products from a repaint in August 1983 Taunton, but post-preservation it received no attention until a lengthy overhaul in 2011-12.has been restored to its original configuration<refname=SB9>SVR News 71, 175, 191Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref>.

In 1985==Preservation==40554 was acquired from Swindon Works in 1973 where it was awaiting scrapping, 40554 appeared arriving on the main line when SVR on 3 July.<ref name=SB9/> After arrival it was used by S&T for mole-ploughing (installing underground cables alongside the railway) and by both S&T and P-Way for material movement and storage, for which it was fitted with a false floor of wooden sleepers.  In August 1983 40554 received a quick (single coat) repaint in GWR engineers black livery and replicas of the original cast plates on the sides were fitted. The ends were also lettered, a modification which was a later addition.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> Two years later, 40554 was one of 28 wagons inspected by BR C&W inspectors from Bescot at the end of August prior to their use in the forthcoming [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line#SVR Wagons used on the main line in preservation| GW 150 demonstration freight train]] . 25 of the wagons including 40554 were passed fit to run subject to pad exams and other items requiring attention such as broken buffer springs and bent axle guards. Over the next 8 days the jobs were completed with many hours of work by a combination of volunteers and permanent staff, and 40554 duly appeared on the main line in the demonstration freight train which ran to Newport behind [[2857|GWR freight loco 2857]]on 10 September 1985.<ref>SVR News 78</ref> Apart from the quick repaint in 1983 and routine running maintenance, 40554 had received no serious attention until an overhaul began in autumn 2011. This was originally conceived as a project for the [[SVR Apprentices|Junior Club]], involving clearing the wagon of the 'junk' stored on it and repainting it black. They achieved this admirably, quickly removing the additional rotten 'floor' of sleepers. However inspection then revealed that its use since arrival had made 40554 ''probably the most abused historic wagon on the SVR''. The mole-ploughing had resulted in stanchion bracket damage, while the false rotten sleeper floor had resulted in significant corrosion to the well floor and ends. The latter, consisting of 1/2" plate, had rotted through in places. The side-chain pockets were also well beyond repair. Structural repairs involved repairs to the well ends, replacing and re-riveting the deck plates at either end and then renewing and re-riveting the steel well deck floor. The latter operation required the wagon to be jacked up to gain enough room to work underneath; using the loco dept. prep pit was not an option as the edge row of rivets would have been directly above the rail where working height would have been insufficient. Other work included the repair of corroded/damaged stanchion brackets, and the fitting of replacement side-chain pockets using new formed sections. After a number of minor snagging issues were attended to, 40554 was finish-painted and released back into use at the end of 2012.<ref>SVR News 175, 180, 191</ref>