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}}'''GWR Nondescript Saloon 9369''' was one of a batch of three ordered in 1915 as successors to the 1912 Churchward 'toplight' prototype [[GWR 9055 Nondescript Saloon | 9055]], but due to the First World War they were not delivered until 1923, by which time CB Collett had succeeded GJ Churchward as CME. Like the prototype, 9369 was an unclassified or 'nondescript' saloon (ie i.e. not allocated to any specific class such as first or third) and was used for private hire, although unlike the prototype, it did not actually have toplight windows.
==Layout==
From the near end as seen, the layout of 9369 comprises a toilet, two saloons with exterior doors at each end and an interconnecting door, a single compartment with an exterior door, a brake/luggage compartment with double doors and another toilet. On the far side as seen, the side corridor has a matching external door layout. The two saloons each seat 16 passengers and the compartment seats 8 for a nominal total capacity of 40. The brake compartment allowed the carriage to be attached and detached at any station and to be parked,<ref>[http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/9103-a-short-history.html GW(SVR)A]</ref> although in service this was probably mainly used for storage of hampers rather than as accommodation for a guard.
As built, the saloons bore similarity internally to contemporary London Underground surface stock, being finished in Edwardian -style mahogany woodwork with inward-facing bench type seats along each side. Between the bench seats was a central folding table which made access to the seats somewhat awkward. The upholstery was a dark brown moquette, the standard for first class in the period. Externally the Collett version displays the characteristics of the GWR 'bow-ended' era, without the 'toplight' windows of the prototype.<ref name=Harris>[[Bibliography#Other References|Harris (1966)]] pp. 92,150.</ref> Other changes made by Collett from the prototype included placing the two saloons next to each other with an interconnecting door (which had the incidental effect of reducing the capacity from 44 seats to 40) and the addition of the brake in the luggage compartment. The internal layout is similar to the SVR's third Nondescript Saloonon the SVR, [[GWR 9103 Nondescript Saloon|9103]] of 1929.
==Service and preservation==
9369 spent most of its service life at Bristol. The late Frank Kimberley remembered the coach in its original 1923 livery when, as a boy, his choir chartered the coach for a day trip. Frank would later be part of the team who would restore it in preservation.<ref>SVR News 110, 114</ref>
9369 was withdrawn from passenger service by BR(W) circa January 1958 and transferred into Departmental stock as number DW 150128. After a number of internal structural changes, it was then used as a 'mobile office', initially at [[Shrewsbury ]] and later at Norton Junction, Walsall.
9369 was originally purchased by a private owner, Mr John Tarrant. It was delivered from Walsall to Kidderminster yard in June 1972, moving to [[Bewdley Down Yard|Bewdley]] for its official arrival on the SVR on 6 September 1972.<ref>SVR News 24, 25</ref><ref group="note">In 1972 both Kidderminster and [[Bewdley ]] were still BR stations; the SVR had leased the down yard at Bewdley.</ref> Only one saloon had remained intact although in a damaged state, while the other saloon, the compartment, the brake and the two lavatories were in need of complete rebuilding.
A 10-year restoration at Bewdley by a small team led by John Tarrant began soon after arrival. By 1975 the body framework has been repaired and the panels below the waist replaced, mainly re-using roof panels from [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR#Carriages scrapped while at the SVR|Autotrailer No 160]] which had been broken up for spares shortly after arrival in 1969. Once the re-panelling was complete, work concentrated on rebuilding the interior. In autumn 1980, with internal restoration still not fully complete, 9369 was one of the two carriages used for filming [[The Good Soldier]] having received a coat of chocolate and cream and a couple of numbers.<ref>SVR News 59</ref>
With restoration completed, 9369 entered traffic in 1983 carrying Collett's simplified Chocolate and Cream livery with single waistband lining. In late 1985 it was taken into [[Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department|Bewdley paint shop ]] for an external repaint but then pressed back into service for two weeks' filming of Granada TV's '[[Lost Empires]]'. It returned "in a messy state", meaning both the exterior and interior required repainting. On this occasion it received the elaborate 1923 style livery with full pseudo panel lining and garter crest, the first in preservation to be so treated.<ref>SVR News 79</ref>
9369 underwent a further overhaul in 1993 including a new roof canvas and attention to the window frames on the corridor side. John Tarrant also agreed to a change from the 'as built 1923' fully lined livery to the more plain 1928 livery.<ref>SVR News 110</ref> A bogie overhaul and 'touch up and varnish' was carried out in 2000.<ref>SVR News 133</ref>
Owner John Tarrant sadly died in 2002.<ref>SVR News 141, 142</ref> John was a member of [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc. | The Great Western (SVR) Association]] who now own the coach.
9369 was moved into [[Carriage Repair Works | Kidderminster carriage works]] for a bogie overhaul and other work in September 2016. The Paint Shop paint shop staff, decided to withdraw the coach from service due to the state of the doors and bodywork in the lavatory area.<ref>SVR News 197</ref>. It is normally seen in the [[Carriages#Set_Toplights|Toplights set]], but it is finished in GWR 1934-42 livery featuring the ‘shirt-button’ roundel.
==See also==