Didcot: GWS Railcar/Rail Motor Discussion

Thanks for mention this book(s)
I just love these very distinguish railcars!

Have some of the streamlined versions (flying banana) survived into preservation?

Knut

 

No 4 is part of the national collection in York.

 

Yes, 3 of them. One original 'Flying banana' No.4 and two of the later models, which were more angular, Nos. 20 and 22.

See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_railcars

 

Thanks for your answer.

 

See also http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/GWRRailcar.html

I have recently completely rewritten the page for No4 as my first effort was crap! This involved working with the NRM, as it's early preservation history was almost lost to us. Their Search Engine team were brilliant and thanks to them a much more comprehensive preservation history has now been written, it has been incorporated into that page with their permission.

It's well worth a read for those interested in how the three preserved GWR Railcars have fared: http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/4.html

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An interesting article, thanks for the link.
I remember seeing No.4 at Didcot during one of their open days and was able to go inside and have a look round.
I remember being surprised that such a small vehicle would have a buffet.
The last time I saw it was at Steam in Swindon.

 

The reason they had a buffet was that they did long distances. Later models were designed for slower, branch line work.

On the right as you looked down the corridor at the buffet was a glass fronted cabinet for cigarettes and chocolate. Just what you needed in the 1930s

 

Hi Chris, greatly enjoyed reading your account of #4's early preservation life http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/4.html Re the last photo of the railcar "at an unknown location" - I'm pretty sure that it's not Didcot as it is standing on temporary rails (BH on its side) and the building looks wrong. My first thought was at RESCO but the ferry van alongside suggests a rail connection which I didn't think RESCO had. Mmm!
Ray.

 

If it was RESCO at Woolwich, that didn't have a rail connection. Didn't stop it having rail vehicles though. I recall a GER 6 wheeler, an 08 shunter and a LNER third sleeper body amongst others. Wonder where that ended up?
The building in the picture is not the Woolwich building I recall though.

 

Whoever is responsible for the web page http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/GWRRailcar.html might care to correct one typo.

Edit and at least two more on http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/22.html

 

Yes, always on the lookout for any corrections others can spot. Erm.....where are they?

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http://preserved.railcar.co.uk/GWRRailcar.html Bottom right "Didoct".

I'm embarrassed to say that I now can't see those on the other page. I'll keep looking.

 

The picture is at workshop premises by Resco rented at Eirth

The picture is at workshop premises Resco rented in Erith where the GWR railcar no 4 was restored for museum display. The van pictured alongside is ex Danish Railways, not a UK ferry van, having come to the UK at the same time as Nene Valley purchased some passenger coaches. The van later went to Thomas Hills works at Rotherham - Im not sure if it still exists.

 

If it was a sleeper, it was the ECJS one from Easingwold and, sadly, was broken up, although the owner did say that the interior had been retained. He wanted to use it on the main line ad held the view that it was the interior that passengers experienced rather than the exterior, therefore it could be rebuilt inside a more modern vehicle. Sadly, though, he never did! Hopefully, the bits are still in store somewhere. There was an LNER Gresley at Resco in Woolwich, TTO 56856, as its body only, supported by piles of sleepers, which was acquired by a group of LNERCA members and is now restored and in service on the NYMR.

 

I think it was this one:


This would be 1981, a long time ago, but I recall looking round inside it, finding sleeper compartments (visible through the windows) and an open section at one end (the nearest).

What became of it?

 

here's a short film shot at park royals factory of the first one resplendent in its GWR livery



Colin

 

I'm pretty sure that's the Easingwold coach. Sadly, as mentioned above it was broken up. Hopefully, the interior survives somewhere.

 

Wasn't the unique G.W. restaurant car (from National Coll. later scrapped at Pontypool & Blaenavon) http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=257 and the austerity Respite (left over from the recreation of Iron Duke) here at one time?
Ray.

 

This was ECJS diagram 70 Composite Sleeping Car No. 107 built at York in 1901. It had 6 wheeled bogies and an interesting internal layout of 6 first class Sleeping berths, 2 third class compartments seating 16, attendants compartment and 2 lavatories.
Withdrawn in July 1927.
26 years in use as a carriage, 52 years as a house, 10 years in ‘preservation’, then scrapped. A real shame.


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For the record, the ECJS body was at Tenterden at one time (I think just for storage, no work done on it there). Photo on 12 June 1977 -