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{{Infobox wagon
|image = GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery TruckGWR_42272_20160806.jpg
|caption = GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery Truck
|construc = GWR Swindon
|events3 =
}}
'''GWR 42272''' is a '''Loriot LORIOT L' machine truck 42272 was built at Swindon in 1934 to Diagram G13'''. The GWR telegraphic code LORIOT<ref group="note">Loriot is an alternative name of French origin for the golden oriole, Lot 1142a type of bird. It is not clear why the GWR chose it to describe a type of wagon.</ref> was one first introduced in the nineteenth century. Some of only seven built between 1926 the earliest LORIOTs appeared flat in profile with ramps hidden behind the side walls, but by the time the Wagon index was drawn up around 1905 the term was used to denote a wagon with a pronounced well and 1934sloping ramps on the ends to assist with loading and unloading the vehicle. The type 'L'wagons, which has typically with a 15 10-ton to 20-ton capacity, has outside frames were normally described using terms such as 'machine trucks', intended for transporting large road vehicles such as traction engines, or 'agricultural implement wagons' intended for moving other large vehicles such as agricultural machinery and a deep well, useful features which resulted in their surviving well into the BR erasimilar.<ref Name name= "SVR9"ABT>SVR Stock Book 9th edition[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013)]] pp. 18-19, 148-160.</ref>
==Service==A total of seven LORIOT Ls were built at Swindon between 1926 and 1934 to Diagram G13, with 42272 being one of four in Lot 1142 of 1934. The G13 design was rated at the same 15-ton capacity as the earlier Diagram G18 of 1907-09<ref group="note">Some low numbers in the G index were reused after grouping, hence Diagram G13 (LORIOT L of 1934) came after G18 (LORIOT D of 1907-9)</ref> and had the same 15ft well length. However the overall length had increased by 9ft to 35ft 3in over the headstocks, while the ramp side-frames now blended into the well in a continuous curve.<ref name=ABT/> ==Preservation==The type LORIOT L's useful features such as its outside frames and deep well resulted in their surviving well into the BR era.<ref Name = "SVR9">SVR Stock Book 9th edition</ref> 42272 ended its working life in Departmental use at Reading. It was acquired for preservation in 1981<ref>gwr813.org</ref> and was delivered by rail in February 1982, being finish painted on arrival at the [[Stourport Triangle|Stourport line siding]] before being completing the move to [[Bewdley]],<ref>SVR News 66</ref> then the SVR's southern terminus. In 1985, 42272 appeared on the main line when it was one of the 25 SVR wagons used in the [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line#SVR Wagons used on the main line in preservation| GW 150 demonstration freight train]] which ran to Newport behind [[2857|GWR freight loco 2857]].<ref>SVR News 78</ref> After several years in use as one of the SVR's 'engineering vehicles', 42272 was moved to Bewdley in 1988 for the wagons' floor to be replaced.<ref>SVR News 88</ref> The job was planned to be completed in a single week at Whitsun, but the strip down revealed major rust damage to the steel plates supporting the floor at each end and also to some of the structural steelwork within the well. The frames had welded patches inserted where necessary, while the steel plates at each end were replaced. New Keruing floor planks were then fitted, with the new floor being raisedslightly within the well so that the P.Way Dept. would not need to line the well with old rotten sleepers, which in turn reduced the life expectancy of the floor. Completion of the work coincided with a period of bad weather during December which threated to delay the final painting and lettering and consequently the return of the wagon to the P.Way department in time for the winter relaying. Fortunately Gary Walker agreed to make the [[Carriage Repair Works|Kidderminster Goods Shed]] available for the repainting and also had it raised on jacks there to speed the process.<ref>SVR News 90, 92</ref> With the overhaul completed, 42272 returned to P.Way duty. In November 2005 the opportunity finally arose to get 42272 over a pit and resolve a long-standing problem which had existed ever since the wagon's arrival. The LORIOT L has 'Dean-Churchward' ratchet type handbrakes which work independently on each axle, being recognisable by the short brake handle with a looped end and a circular disc behind it. In theory the handbrake can be fully applied by hand without the use of a brake stick.<ref group="note">The general appendix makes specific reference to brake sticks and the like not being used with these brakes.</ref> However the Kidderminster end brake would frequently run off the bottom of the ratchet, possibly due to the use of excessive force, resulting in no brakes. Adjustment of the brakes on a LORIOT is difficult without access to a pit and the condition had persisted despite the best attempts of the [[[Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department | Carriage and Wagon department]]|Wagon Group]] to fix them. Following repair, the Wagon Department noted that 42272 "... ''now has a good brake effective a third of the way down the ratchet, and if the fault occurs again, it can only be due to extreme force being applied at the handle. Shunters and P-Way men beware, we will be watching you!''"<ref>SVR News 152</ref> 42272 is operational and is owned by [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]]. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:GWR 42272 'Loriot L' Machinery Truck.jpg|42272 at Kidderminster (Gareth Price)</gallery>
==See also==
[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]]
==Notes==
<references group="note"/>
==References==
*[http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7462 42272 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line]
[[Category: Rolling stock owned by The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]] [[Category:Featured articles]]
