GWR 9627 Restaurant Third
| GWR 9627 Restaurant Third | |
|---|---|
 GWR 9627 Restaurant Third | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon |
| Status | In service |
| Number | 9627 |
| Other numbers | W9627W, 079112, 99237 |
| History | |
| Built | 1932 |
| Designed By | Collett |
| Diagram | H40 |
| Lot | 1469 |
| Type | RTO |
| Length | 61ft 4½in |
| Weight | 33t 3cwt |
| Seats | 63 third |
| 1972 | Preserved on SVR |
Contents
Contents
Service
While in service with the GWR and BR, 9627 was regularly paired with Kitchen Diner First 9615. They were renovated by BR in 1948 and 1951 respectively, receiving flush panelling, sliding ventilators and improved decor, and were used on services such as the "Cornish Riviera Express" until being replaced by newer Mk 1 stock in the early 1960s.[3]
After withdrawal from passenger service in March 1962, 9627 was transferred into Internal User stock as number 079112.[4] It was used as an office in the Engineers’ yard at Roath Dock, Cardiff[2].
Preservation
9627 and 9615 were both acquired for preservation in 1972 by the Great Western (SVR) Association's Mike Wilkinson. 9627 was generally in better condition and after a visit by an SVR working party to Roath Docks in June to lift one end of the carriage and attend to a bogie, it was delivered to the SVR on 6 September 1972, with 9615 following a short time later.[5]
Restoration of kitchen diner 9615 began in 1973 and was completed in spring 1976, with attention then turning to 9627.[6] By late 1976 both 9615 and 9627 were complete and awaiting axle ultrasound testing prior to use in the SVR's GWR main-line rake of carriages.[7] Use of the mail line rake ended in 1980, by which time ownership of both carriages had been transferred to the Guarantee Company[8], later assumed by SVR(H).
9615 underwent major repair work in spring 1981 while 9627 also received attention, following which both were painted in 1946 livery (which they would not have carried in service having been refurbished by BR shortly after the War).[9] Both then returned to use in the Severn Valley Limited dining set.
In February 1988 9627 became the first carriage to enter and be lifted in the new Kiderminster Carriage Repair Works.[10] The following year it began a major overhaul at Bewdley which entailed a complete rebuild, the body work having become badly rotted. It was repainted in 1938 livery and after attention to the bogies returned to service in summer 1990.[11] It subsequently received an external re-varnish in May 2001.[12]
In 2009 9627 underwent a three month overhaul at Kidderminster including attention to bodywork and internal fittings. On this occasion a new pair of GWR destination boards reading 'Severn Valley Limited Dining Car' in Hawksworth period capitals were produced, one of which can be seen in the photographs.[13] It has continued in use in the Severn Valley Limited dining set since, although in April 2021 it had been declassified for use in set GW2 (main picture above). It is finished in GWR 1934-42 livery featuring the 'shirt-button' roundel.
9627 in a dining train in 2015
See also
References
- ↑ Longworth (2013) p.108.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition
- ↑ SVR News 24, 59
- ↑ Longworth (2013) p.172.
- ↑ SVR News 26
- ↑ SVR News 39
- ↑ SVR News 41
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Seventh Edition
- ↑ SVR News 59
- ↑ SVR News 88, “North Star Carriage Works”, Colin Jenkins
- ↑ SVR News 92, 94, 96
- ↑ SVR News 142
- ↑ SVR News 167
Links
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