GWR 9369 Nondescript Saloon
9369 was ordered in 1915 as a successor to the 1912 ChurchwardGeorge Jackson Churchward, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1902-1922 ‘toplight’ prototype 9055, but due to the First World War it was not delivered until 1923, by which time CB CollettCharles Benjamin Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1922-1941 had succeeded GJ ChurchwardGeorge Jackson Churchward, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Great Western Railway 1902-1922 as CMEChief Mechanical Engineer. Unlike the prototype, 9369 did not actually have toplight windows. It included a small brake compartment, although in service this was probably use for storage of hampers rather than as accommodation for a guard.
Like the prototype, 9369 was an unclassified or ‘nondescript’ saloon (ie not allocated to any specific class such as first or third), and was used for private hire.
9369 spent most of its service life at Bristol. After withdrawal it saw departmental use as a Brake Third Open (BTO) numbered DW 150128, at Shrewsbury and Walsall, Norton Junction. It was originally purchased in 1972 by a private owner, Mr John Tarrant, who oversaw a 10-year restoration.
As of July 2015, 9369 is owned by The Great Western (SVR) Association and is in service, normally appearing in the Toplights set. It is finished in GWRGreat Western Railway 1934-42 livery featuring the ‘shirt-button’ roundel.
References
SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book, Ninth Edition
Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey
Links
9369 on www.gw-svr-a.org.uk
9369 on www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
