GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon

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GWRGreat Western Railway 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon
GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon.jpg
GWRGreat Western Railway 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon
Built By GWRGreat Western Railway Swindon
Status Operational
Number 40554
History
Built 1895
Diagram T1
Lot 245
Type 4-wheel well wagon
Capacity 18 tons
Telegraphic code n/a
1973 Preserved on SVRSevern Valley Railway
1985 GWRGreat Western Railway 150 main line appearance
2011-12 Overhaul

Goods Wagons

40554 was built by the GWRGreat Western Railway at Swindon in 1895 (SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book states 1899) to Diagram T1, Lot 245.[1] It is a special type of well wagon, originally used for moving chaired sleepers from the Hayes Creosote Depot in Middlesex. During BRBritish Rail or British Railways service it was adapted for moving concrete products from Taunton, but post-preservation it has been restored to its original configuration.[2] It has a capacity of 18 tons and is lettered “To Carry 160 chaired sleepers”.

The wagon was acquired from Swindon Works in July 1973 where it was awaiting scrapping.[2] It was used by S&TSignals & Telegraph for mole-ploughing (installing underground cables alongside the railway) and by both S&TSignals & Telegraph and P-Way for material movement and storage. Apart from a repaint in August 1983 it received no attention until a lengthy overhaul in 2011-12.[3]

In 1985, 40554 appeared on the main line when it was used in the GW 150 demonstration freight train which ran to Newport behind GWR freight loco 2857.[4]

40554 is owned by The GWR 813 Preservation Fund and is shown in the photograph at Bewdley. The Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey suggests this is the only surviving example of this particular type of well wagon.

See also

List of goods wagons

References

  1. Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013) pp. 32, 353.
  2. 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Ninth Edition
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 71, 175, 191
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 78

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