Changes

|image = LNWR_76738_20230401LNWR_76738_20231014.jpg|caption = LNWR 76738 at Bridgnorth in April 2023

|years2 = 20071995|events2 = Cosmetic restorationRestored to usable condition|years3 = 2007|events3 =Cosmetic restoration|years4 = 2023|events4 = Re-purposed as sales coach

}}The actual identity of this "'''LNWR 76738'''" is a London and North Western Railway Company 10 -ton Goods Van is . Its actual age and identity are unknown. It , although it is thought to have been built at Wolverton between 1910 and 1923.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> The LNWR goods vans were built to carry general merchandise. Unlike [[GWR 93016 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van|GWR 10-ton MINK goods vans]] of the same era, they had a timber rather than steel chassis, and were also fitted with fold-down lower doors (which it no longer has) to aid loading and unloading by porters in goods sheds<ref name=InfoPoster>Information poster on display in 2024</ref>.

Many In 1919 the Government bought 500 goods vans from the LNWR on behalf of these vans were supplied new to the War Department just after . These were intended to be loaded with artillery shells in case the First World War and Armistice talks with Germany broke down. The 500 vans were supposedly new, although some may have been 'nearly new'.<ref name=InfoPoster/> Full details of this wagon certainly ended life in van's subsequent military serviceare unknown, although while being sanded for cosmetic restoration in 2007 (see below)it ended its service as RNAD 338 at RNAD Bedenham, Gosport. Prior to that time it had received a number reading either 86059 or 86359 was revealedof alterations and repairs, suggesting possible use including the replacement of the original doors by a set of 1950s BR goods van full-length doors. Some of external planks were also replaced by narrower Royal Navy planks, which can be seen to the right of the LNWR firstreplacement doors in both pictures below.<ref name=SVR158>SVR News 158<InfoPoster/ref>

The van arrived on the SVR from Gosport on 22 November 1993 from RNAD Bedenham, Gosport where it had <ref name=SB9/> having been in use acquired by the Royal Navy numbered RNAD 338[[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]].<ref name=SB9SVR114>SVR News 114</ref><ref group="note">SVR News 114 and the wagon information poster on display in 2024 both refer to the GWR 813 Fund. The 1998 Stock Book named Paddy Goss as the owner.</ref>  It was originally intended for static display at [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] but when restored inspected by the Carriage and Wagon group at Bewdley in early 1995, it was found to be in good condition and considered suitable for operational use. At some time during service <ref name=SVR114/> It therefore underwent a restoration was repainted in LNWR livery, notwithstanding the side doors had been modified from modifications to the original design. Despite Before repainting, efforts were made to establish the van's true identity. LNWR wagon plates were removed by the LMS after 1923,<ref group="note">It is not clear in this modificationinstance if the plate was removed by the LMS themselves, it was repainted in LNWR livery or during the RNAD ownership</ref> and given flatting down the fictitious top end plank where the painted number '76738'.would have been displayed did not reveal a conclusive answer;<ref name=SVR114>SVR News 114, 117</ref>possible options included 8, 3 or 5, 8, 5 or 3, 4 or 1. As a published photo exists of one of these vans in original 1910 condition and numbered 76738, the decision was taken to adopt that number as representing a known member of the class.<ref name=SVR158InfoPoster/> Following this With restorationcompleted, "76738" spent some years in use in the 1999 SVR stock noted it as being owned by Pat Goss and having been used in demonstration freight trains's [[Demonstration Goods Train]].<ref name=SB9/>

In early 2007 '76738' it was one of three wagons selected for cosmetic restoration at Kidderminster Carriage Works prior to exhibition in [[The Engine House]], the others being [[LNER 223162 Mineral Wagon|LNER Mineral Wagon 223162]] and [[LMS 730866 Goods Brake Van |LMS brake van 760866]]. Funding for all the restorations was provided by one of the agencies financing the setting up of the exhibition, with the work being carried out as a contract job by Mike Walker (owner of [[GWR 261 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake]]). By that time 76738 was ‘on 'on the brink of terminal collapse’collapse'. The body was affected by rot and fungus and required considerable work heavy repairs before painting. A buffer beam fitted by the Navy was found to have been made of plywood, and was replaced with a more suitable one made of Iroko. A "new" roof canvas for the van was fitted using part of the former Arley [[Santa's Grotto]] marquee.<ref name=SVR158>SVR News 158</ref>

‘76738’ 76738 duly took its place on display when The Engine House eventually opened in 2008. The Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey includes a [http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7929 photograph] of the van on display in The Engine House in 2010. It was removed from there during a re-organisation in April 2012.<ref>SVR News 179</ref> Although restored to serviceable condition, it was felt that the van's age and wooden underframe make made it unsuitable for further use in the [[Demonstration Goods Train]]. It then spent some years stored out of sight in [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] but was visible seen outside [[Carriage Repair Works | Kidderminster Carriage Works]] during late summer 2016.

In April 2023 '76738' was repurposed as the [[L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Department Sales Coach | LMS & BR Coach Dept sales coach]] at Bridgnorth, selling books to raise funds for restoration work by the Bridgnorth Carriage and Wagon Department volunteers<ref name=InfoPoster/>. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">LNWR_76738_20230401.jpg | Newly opened as a sales coach, Bridgnorth, April 2023</gallery>

*[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/>