GWR 80972 Inspection Saloon

GWR 80972 Inspection Saloon
GWR 80972 20191019.jpg
GWR 80972 Inspection Saloon
Built By GWR Swindon
Status In service
Number W80972W
Other numbers 80972
History
Built 1948
Designed By Hawksworth
Diagram Q13
Lot 1701
Type Nondescript, INSP
Length 52ft 0in
Weight 31t (approx)
Seats 23 (as now used)
1973 Preserved
2006 Arrived on SVR

Carriages

GWR Inspection Saloon W80972W is one of seven 52ft inspection saloons (INSP) built at Swindon as lot number 1701 to diagram Q13.[1][2] It was ordered under FW Hawksworth’s tenure as GWR CME, although it has little visual similarity to his other carriage designs. It entered service in 1948 in what had by then become the BR Western Region.

Contents

80972 in service

80972 was allocated to Shrewsbury, where it spent most of its working life as the District Civil Engineer's mobile offices,[3] also referred to as the Area Manager's saloon. It made regular trips on the Severn Valley branch and the Cambrian line, where it was used for inspection duties such as signal-sighting trips by the Salop S&T Department. Traction was normally provided by an Ivatt 2-6-0 'Mickey Mouse' or a GW Mogul,[4] although on one occasion it was photographed at Longville on the Much Wenlock branch behind future SVR resident 5764.[3] When not in use, it was housed in its own shed at Burnt Mill Siding, just on the Severn Valley branch beyond Burnt Mill Junction.[4]

80972 in preservation

80972 entered preservation in 1973 at the Birmingham Railway Museum (now Tyseley Locomotive Works). While there it made several outings behind 7029 Clun Castle, including visits to the SVR. It arrived on the SVR on 13 December 2005, having been bought by Phil and Caroline Swallow, owner of SR 34027 Taw Valley and members of the Great Western (SVR) Association.[3]

In February 2007 it underwent an overhaul. New upholstery and carpets were fitted, the four settees being re-covered within the vehicle as they cannot be extracted without removing windows. Other work included the installation of stainless steel roof tanks for the lavatory and kitchen, and repairs to floor joists and one table to remedy breakages inherited when the vehicle was purchased.[5] Following the 2007 Storm Damage, SVR Patron HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited the SVR on 3 October and 80972 was used to form a 'royal train' hauled by 4566 between Kidderminster and Bewdley, the only section of line in use at the time.

Further internal work was carried out in 2009 on both 80972 and sister coach 80969 to bring them up to the same standard. Items fitted to 80972 to match those in 80969 included two cup holders manufactured in-house, an Iroko tray fitted over the heater covers to prevent cups and wine glasses placed there by guests sliding off when the locomotive brakes, and small mats let into the carpet at the four doorways. The ceiling cladding around the water tank in the kitchen also received attention.[6]

80972 is used as an Observation Car, normally being attached to the end of a rake of carriages for private hire or ‘cream tea’ specials. For the 2017 Christmas services it became known as the "Shrewsbury Saloon". It seats up to 23 people and is furnished with armchairs, settees and tables in the two saloons, which are separated by a corridor off which are found a toilet, small kitchen and guard’s office. It is finished in plain BR(W) chocolate and cream livery with no insignia, and is numbered W80972W (BR practice was to include a prefix showing the area to which the carriage was allocated and a suffix for inherited carriages indicating the company of origin).

It was repainted in Bridgnorth Loco Works paint shop during 2020[7].

Dapol OO gauge model

In 2023 Rails of Sheffield and Dapol Black Label announced a model of 80972 (ref. BL-201-006) planned for 2024 in GWR Chocolate and Cream with 'twin cities' crest[8].

See also

References

  1. Harris (1966) p. 120.
  2. Longworth (2018) p.171.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 SVR News 155 'New Arrivals' (Hugh McQuade)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Letter in SVR News 154
  5. SVR News 158
  6. SVR News 168
  7. SVR News 210
  8. Rails of Sheffield (Retrieved 2 June 2023)

Links

SVR Wiki

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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
Trimpley Reservoir can be seen to the west of the line between Bewdley and Arley. The reservoir, which is managed by Severn Trent Water, was opened in 1968 and covers 29 acres. It is open to the public and is used by the Trimpley Sailing Club, while other activities include angling, wildlife watching and walking. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks.png
Click on the map for a
larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

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Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

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