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{{Infobox carriage|image = GWR 6045 Bow-end Composite on its official launch into traffic 17 October 2021. Rob Massey.jpg|caption = 6045 on its official launch into traffic 17 October 2021|construc = GWR Swindon|status = In service|carno = 6045|othernos = DW150293|designed = Collett|diagram = E132|lot = 1382|cartype = [[:Category:Carriage Type CK|CK]]|length = 57ft 4½in|weight = 31t 3cwt|built = 1928|seats = 24 first, 24 third|years1 = 1961|events1 = To departmental service|years2 = 1973|events2 = Preserved on SVR|years3 = 2014|events3 = Restoration commenced|years4 = 2020|events4 = Restoration completed|years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}'''GWR 6045 ''' is a 57' Corridor Composite (CK) carriage, having four first class compartments to seat 24 passengers and three third class compartments also to seat 24 passengers. It was built in 1928 to Diagram E132, an early Collett design having flush sides and bow ends. It also has toilets at each end and external doors to each compartment on the non-corridor side. It is the only surviving example of a GWR 'bow-ended' composite.

==Collett bow-ended stock==When CB Collett succeeded GW Churchward as CME of the GWR after the first World War, he introduced a new range of standard 57' carriages starting in 1923. These were a development of Churchward's later 'toplight' carriages, having a cleaner exterior with flush steel panels over oak framing and a higher waistline. From late 1925 'bow-ends' were added to reduce the length of the gangway connections (following complaints of swaying from nervous passengers), giving the stock its distinctive 'bow-ended' profile. Internally they had a simpler finish; the corridor stock had first class compartments the trimmed in walnut and the third class in mahogany.<ref name=bloct21>[https://www.svrlive.com/bloct21 Branch Lines, October 2021]</ref>  A total of 781 carriages were built between 1923 and 1929, of which 104 were composites.<ref group="note"> After that time GWR introduced the more modern stock without the bow-ends.</ref> The carriage later batches continued in general service until around 1961, after which the preliminary stages of the Beeching plan saw the elimination of almost all remaining pre-1935 stock during 1962<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Harris (1966)]] p.84.</ref>.  ==6045 in service==6045 was built in 1928 to Lot 1382, Diagram E132. It was based in Devon and Cornwall for most of its mainline service.<ref name=SVRNews216>SVR News 216, Winter 2021, pp. 41-44</ref> The type were used initially on expresses and later on semi-fast cross-country services, including the Birmingham to Cardiff trains which passed through Kidderminster.<ref name=bloct21/> Following nationalisation, it was [[Carriage and Wagon numbering|renumbered]] W6045W by BR(W). It was withdrawn from passenger use in September 1961<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.91.</ref> and transferred into Departmental stock as no. DW150293, where it was converted for use as No DW 150293an R&M Sleeping and Mess Coach.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.170.</ref> It was condemned in 1971 at Bristol and offered for sale as scrap<ref name=SVRNews216/>.  ==6045 in preservation==6045 was acquired by Robert Smallman in 1972 for the cost of £200 plus £24 for delivery by rail to Kidderminster.<ref name=SVRNews216/> It arrived at Kidderminster (then still BR property) on the SVR in 6 January 1973 from Bristolwith five other coaches (LMS 26668, LMS [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880|LMS 26880]], [[GWR 9615 Kitchen Diner First|GWR 9615]], having been bought by the GWR 7972 and [[Great Western (Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|GWR Collett bow-ended Corridor Third 4886]]) Assoc. The day also saw the arrival of a convoy from [[Barry Scrapyard|Barry]] with [[GWR 4141|4141]], [[GWR Large Prairie 5164| 5164]], [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor|7819 Hinton Manor]] and [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall|4930 Hagley Hall]].<ref name=SVR27>SVR News 27</ref> BR Sulzer Type 2 No 7655 tripped 6045 and the other rolling stock from Kidderminster to the SVR's rented area in [[Bewdley Down Yard]].<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljan23 Branch Lines, January 2023]</ref> 6045 became part of the [[Great Western (SVR) Association]]'s collection and was subsequently purchased by the Association in 1976. While at Bewdley some work began on the restoration, including waterproofing the roof<ref>SVR News 28</ref> and reinstating the missing third class compartment structure with parts from 4886,<ref name="SVRNews216"/> which had been acquired to be scrapped for parts mainly for 6046.<ref name=SVR27/> However work on other carriages took priority and 6045 was moved to [[Highley]] where it would spend 25 years in storage before a further move to Kidderminster in the late 1990s. Since <ref>SVR News 128</ref>  By 2007, 6045 and [[GWR 2426 Toplight Full Third|2426]] (then it has been stored still in use as accommodation at Hampton Loade) were the only two unrestored carriages in various locations on the GW(SVR)A's collection.<ref>SVR News 157</ref> After further fundraising by the Association, but 6045 finally moved to [[Bewdley Down Yard]] in 2014 for its restoration to beginbe resumed. Work began in earnest in 2015 with the carriage being stripped back to its frames. Changes made to the underframe in Departmental use, including the addition of a handbrake, were removed to return it to its original condition. A new floor of modern buffalo board was laid. Key structural framework components were built using best quality sapele to replace the original oak. The old asbestos steam heat pipe lagging was safely removed and new steam heat pipework and radiators fitted.<ref>SVR News 192</ref> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">6045_Rob_Massey.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Partially restored first class compartment 6045_Exterior_Dec2016.jpg|thumb|300px|right|6045 Shewing new body panels on refurbished framework in December 2016 </gallery> Work on rebuilding the interior continued through 2016 and in May 2017 6045 entered Bewdley Paint Shop for attention to the roof edges, fitting of new roof hoop covers, toilet tanks, ventilators and gutters. <ref>SVR News 199</ref> Progress on In October 2018 the coach moved to Kidderminster, initially into storage in the Carriage shed while awaiting entry to the [[Carriage Repair Works|Carriage Repair Works]] for bogie work.<ref>SVR News 204</ref> The bogie overhaul was carried out for the GW(SVR)A as a contract job by the SVR.<ref>SVR News 207</ref> The coach was finish-painted in Kidderminster Carriage shed during 2019 in the livery it carried in 1930<ref>SVR News 208</ref> and the restoration is shown on finally completed in April 2020, with the work costing around £150,000.<ref name=bloct21/>  On 17 October 2021 a special train ran with [[1501]] and [[Carriages|the Great Western set]] to officially launch 6045, with special guest passengers involved in its return to traffic.<ref name=bloct21/> Originally planned for May 2020, it was delayed by the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]]<ref>GW(SVR) Association websiteA Newsletter, Winter 2020 edition</ref><ref>[http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/news.html GW(SVR)A News page, April 2020]</ref>.

*[[Carriages| List of carriages]]<br>: [[GWR 5883 Brake Third | Previous ]]==Notes==<brreferences group="note"/>: [[GWR 6562 Brake Composite | Next ]]

Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey<brreferences/>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition<br>Great Western (SVR) Association

*[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=220 6045 on vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]<br>*[http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/6045.html 6045 on gw-svr-a.org.uk]<br>*[http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/6045-restoration.html Restoration progress on gw-svr-a.org.uk]<br> {{CarriageNavbox}}