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[[File: GW_55_20150517{{Infobox wagon|image = GW_55_20180714.jpg |caption = GWR 55 at Kidderminster (2018)|thumbconstruc = GWR Swindon|300pxstatus = Operational|rightwagno = 55| GWR Riding and Dormitory Van othernos = DW 55 at Bewdley]]|designed = |diagram = n/a|lot = 571|wagtype = 4-w riding/dormitory van|telcode = n/a|brakes = |built = 1908|years1 = 1973|events1 = Arrived on SVR|years2 = |events2 = |years3 = |events3 = |years4 = |events4 = |years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}'''GWR 55 ''' is a GWR '''4-wheel Riding and Dormitory Van. As built these were gas-lit and included stoves for heating and cookingvan''', also referred to by the GWR as a 'mess van' or 'tender van'. In service they these vans were paired with 6-wheel Tool tool vans (also referred to as 'breakdown vans' or 'pilot vans ') such as [[GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van | GWR 66]], and . End doors were stationed provided at GWR loco sheds. The Tool and Riding Van pairs would be required to attend mishaps as fast as possible and were vacuum-braked the inner ends of the pair to allow running at near express speedsfor communication between the two vehicles.<ref>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref>

==55 in service==55 was built The tool and riding van pairs were stationed at Swindon in 1908 as part of Lot 571GWR loco sheds. Initially it was allocated From there, they would be required to Trowbridge attend mishaps as fast as possible and later were vacuum-braked to Westburyallow running at near express speeds.<ref>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> They were painted in the [[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS)|NPCCS 'brown vehicle']] livery normally used on goods wagons equipped for running in express passenger trains, both although they were never used in Wiltshirethat manner. Possibly the livery was chosen because breakdown trains travelling to emergencies and carrying a breakdown crew were rated as fast passenger trains.<refname=ABT>GWR813[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013)]] pp. 490-494.org</ref>

==55 The tool vans and mess vans were built as wagon Lots, although they did not receive a Diagram number in preservation== either the wagon or coach Diagram book. 55 arrived They were built on old 4-wheeled or 6-wheeled coach under frames, as a result of which the chassis dimensions and details varied (of the SVR from Tyseley in November 1973's four Mess vans, [[GWR 118 Tool/Riding Van|GWR 118]] has a shorter wheelbase than GWR 55, having been acquired by the [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund 89 Riding/Dormitory Van|GWR 89]] and [[GWR 162 Riding/Dormitory Van| GWR 813 Preservation Fund162]]). The mess vans were fitted with full length bunks for use as sleeping accommodation when required. The GWR Diagram describes the 3-window end as the 'Mens compartment' and the two-window end as the 'Officials compartment', separated by the central 'Goods compartment'. As built the vans were gas-lit and included stoves for heating and cooking. The interconnecting door was at the 'Mens compartment' end, while the heating stove was at the far end of the 'Officials compartment'<ref name=ABT/>.

==GWR 55 in service==55 was built at Swindon in 1908 as part of Lot 571. Initially it was allocated to Trowbridge and later to Westbury, both in Wiltshire.<ref>GWR813.org</ref> During the BR era it carried the Departmental number DW55<ref>Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey</ref>.  ==GWR 55 in preservation== 55 arrived on the SVR from Tyseley on 24 November 1973, having been acquired by the [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund | GWR 813 Preservation Fund]]. Since that time the majority of its time had been spent at [[Bewdley Down Yard]] in various static roles. After [[GWR Pannier 7714]] arrived on the SVR in March 1983, its restoration was carried out at Bewdley. 55 was used as a workshop during the restoration, and was repainted by the '[[SVR Pannier Tank Fund|7714 team]]' in spring 1984.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GW_55_20150517.jpg|GWR 55 at Bewdley, May 2015</gallery> In summer 2016, 55 was moved from Bewdley to [[Hampton Loade]] in summer 2016 for temporary use as volunteer accommodation, taking the place of [[GWR 2426 Toplight Full Third]]. In November 2016, it was moved to [[Kidderminster ]] for use as a mess room during the [[Christmas services|Santa services]]. {{As of|By July 2017|07}} it had returned to Bewdley. The main picture (top right) shows 55 during another visit to Kidderminster in summer 2018. The 'Mens compartment' is still to the right and the interconnecting door is just visible in the end of the vehicle. After returning to Bewdley, 55 was again located in the yard, although the picture below shows it having been moved to the bay platform during a rearrangement of stock. This view shows the 'Officials compartment' end of the vehicle. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GW_55_20200906.jpg|GWR 55 at KidderminsterBewdley, September 2020</gallery> In October 2021 the 813 Fund announced that 55 was to move back to the bay platform to become the new [[List of shops|GWR 813 Fund sales van]].

*[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]]*[[List_of_shops | List of shops and sales coaches on the SVR]]*[[GWR 813 Sales Stand]]

*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7485 GWR 55 on vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]<br>*[http://www.gwr813.org/pagew5.html GWR 55 on GWR813.org]