GWR 9055 Nondescript Saloon
9055 was designed by GJ Churchward and built by the GWR at Swindon in 1912. It was an unclassified or 'nondescript' saloon (ie not allocated to any specific class such as first or third), and was used for private hire. As originally built it seated 44 passengers in two saloons with a side-corridor connection. It also featured 'toplights', small 'lights' or windows above the main windows, which were a feature of many GWR carriages of the period.
9055 was a ‘one-off’ prototype, although it formed the basis of a later Collett design of which 9103 and 9369 are also at the SVR.
9055 later saw service as a departmental vehicle, being allocated coach code BTO (Brake Third Open) by BR and carrying departmental number DW 150127. It was used as a mobile MPD office at Shrewsbury and Newport, from where it was purchased by The Great Western (SVR) Association in 1972.
After a lengthy restoration it entered service on the SVR as a party vehicle with one saloon and an open wheelchair area. Following withdrawal in 1996 it underwent an overhaul which included a repaint into chocolate and cream livery and the re-instatement of the second saloon and side compartment.
As of 2016[update], 9055 is in service, normally appearing in the Toplights set. It is finished in GWR 1922-27 livery featuring the ‘garter crest’ logo.
The GWR Garter Crest
See also
References
SVR Stock Book, Ninth Edition
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey