Difference between revisions of "GWR 9085 First Sleeper"

Revision as of 14:45, 8 December 2015

9085 at Arley

9085 was built by BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) at Swindon in 1951, one of a small batch of four first class sleeping cars (SLF) destined for the London to Milford Haven route. They were built as Lot No 1702 to Diagram J18 and were a HawksworthFrederick Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1941-1948 design, with the characteristic sloping roof-ends and flat body-side profile.

As new these four cars were finished in BRBritish Rail or British Railways crimson and cream, and by withdrawal in the early 1970s had been repainted in BRBritish Rail or British Railways maroon. They had ten berths, each compartment having one bed with a sink, luggage racks, coat hangers, shaver points, and forced-air heating. Each carriage also had a compartment for an attendant at one end and a lavatory at the other.

All four carriages survived into preservation, with 9084 also on the SVRSevern Valley Railway (9082 was a former resident when first preserved, before moving elsewhere).

9085 arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway in January 1971 from Didcot, having been acquired by SVR(H). It is normally parked at the end of Siding 2 at Arley station, where it is used for staff accommodation. It is finished in non-authentic GWRGreat Western Railway 1942-47 livery, with the coat of arms insignia flanked by 'GREAT' and 'WESTERN'.