GWR 829 Full Third
| GWR 829 Full Third | |
|---|---|
 GWR 829 Full Third | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon |
| Status | In use |
| Number | 829 |
| Other numbers | W829, W829W |
| History | |
| Built | 1947 |
| Designed By | Hawksworth |
| Diagram | C82 |
| Lot | 1691 |
| Type | TK |
| Length | 64ft 0in |
| Weight | 31t 14cwt |
| Seats | 64 third |
| 1968 | Entered preservation on SVR |
GWR 829 is a Hawksworth Corridor Third. Frederick Hawksworth succeeded CB Collet as the GWR's CME in 1941. As the end of the Second World War approached, the GWR developed plans for new coaching stock with all the Lots being issued in October 1944. Among the changes from Collett's 1938 stock were a sloping ended roof profile and a body length increased by 4ft to 64 ft, allowing for bigger vestibules and larger compartments. Internally they were intended to be fitted with fluorescent lighting.[1]
The Hawksworth Corridor Third, built to Diagram C82, seated 64 in 8 compartments and also provided a single toilet in each vestibule.
Contents
Service
829 was one of 52 corridor thirds built at Swindon[note 1] as Lot 1691 to Diagram C82, entering service in May 1947.[note 2] After Nationalisation and consequential renumbering as W829W, service continued with BR(W) until withdrawal in October 1966[2].
Preservation
During 1967, a number of redundant GWR and LMS carriages were inspected at Didcot. Two GWR carriages (829 and 2119) and five LMS carriages were identified as worthy of preservation on the SVR. A scheme to buy all seven was successfully organised by Chris George, with the new owners including various individuals and groups of members. 829 was acquired by the "Hawksworth Coach Fund" (which eventually became the Great Western (SVR) Association). All seven were delivered to Bridgnorth by 43106 on 23 August 1968.[3] and saw service during that year's August Bank Holiday weekend, although still in unrestored condition.
On opening day, 23 May 1970, 829 was one of the five GWR carriages used in the first train hauled by 3205, along with 1116, 6562, and former residents 5787, 9113, and 7285.[4] 829 was then moved to Bewdley during summer 1971, where it received attention to the roof and a quick repaint to enable it to enter service on a more permanent basis, pending a full restoration.[5]
By mid-1976 only two GWR coaches, 829 and 2119, were still running in unrestored condition.[6] 829's restoration finally began in 1978. The major bodywork overhaul was carried out by a full-time gang funded by the Manpower Services Commission, including replacement of all galvanised steel side and end panels, roof repairs, reglazing, internal varnishing and seat upholstery. After a spell in Bewdley paint shop it emerged in full GWR Hawksworth livery just in time to attend the Rocket 150 cavalcades at Rainhill in 1980.[7] In true Severn Valley tradition final finishing of the compartment interiors was carried out at Bold Colliery, St Helens in the week before the Rainhill parade.
Rainhill 1980: GWR 5051 Drysllwyn Castle leads the SVR's 829 and GWR 6913 Brake Composite
829 returned to Bewdley paint shop in autumn 1986 for what was supposed to be another quick repaint ahead of the Enthusiasts' Weekend. However it transpired that the doors had to be re-skinned and parts of the floor replaced. The opportunity was also taken to re-varnish the interior, refurbish the toilets, and re-upholster the seat bases with material found while moving stores into the newly acquired North Star Carriage Works.[8] 829 returned to service, but needed a door repair in 1999 following a 'shunting incident'. The door post was replaced with one salvaged from a scrapped Hawksworth carriage.[9]
The GWR "GW2" set began an overhaul in Autumn 2001, beginning with 829 which received a new roof edge and gutter re-bedding, together with new water tanks and a repaint, the work being completed by February 2002.[10] It returned to Kidderminster carriage works in April 2003 for a two-month long full mechanical overhaul, briefly interrupted by a return to service on borrowed bogies to provide sufficient stock for the "Thomas" weekends.[11]
829 continued in service until being 'red carded' in spring 2017 after a cracked doorpost was spotted. Further examination revealed that corroded bolts and metal posts were to blame, with all the vertical posts being found to be in poor condition. The repair was carried out in the carriage shed between May and July 2017, with the work being undertaken a few posts at a time, so as not to de-stabilise the body. 829 was then sent to Bridgnorth for repainting in the Loco Works paint shop, its first repaint since 2002.[12]
829 is in service and normally used in set GW. It is finished in GWR 1942-1947 livery, featuring the coat of arms flanked by 'GREAT' and 'WESTERN'. It is owned by the Great Western (SVR) Association.
See also
Notes
- ↑ The original report in SVR News 10 referred to 829 as being built by GRCW rather than Swindon
- ↑ The first members of Lot 1691 entered service in late 1946, and all bar one were complete by July 1947, pre-dating the passing of the Transport Act 1947 which brought about Nationalisation on 1 July 1948. The final member of this lot was not completed until June 1948; the closing of this lot in 1948 has led some sources to state incorrectly that 829 was completed by BR.
References
Links
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