| Nicknamed after the massive battleships that were launched in late 1905, Churchwards first coaches were just that. Enormous. In fact they were the biggest every coach to
appear on the railways of mainland Britian. Whilst 19" shorter than the BR Mk 3 coach (75' 6) that was introduced in 1975, they were 6" wider at 9'6"; making the cross sectional area of a
Dreadnought 702 sq.ft vs 680 sq.ft for the Mk 3. Something that was only possible due to the wide loading gauge inherited from broad gauge days.
They broke with accepted design in many ways. Instead of doors to every compartment there were only doors at the middle and ends of the coaches. Instead of the clerestory roof there was a large elliptical roof. The sleeper and restaurant cars had a distinctly American look to them with their big 6 wheel bogies supporting bodies that only had doors at the ends. Just a couple of the Dreadnought designs are shown below. |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width over cornices | 9' 2¼ | ||
| Width over body under cornices | 8' 11½ | ||
| Width over body at waist | 9' 6 9' 6¾ - Diners |
||
| Width over handles | 9' 6 | ||
| Width over vestibules | 7' 6 | ||
| Width over floor | 8' 9¼ | ||
| Height to gutters | 10' 7 | ||
| Height to top of roof | 12' 6¼ | ||
| Height over ventillators | 13' 0¾ | ||
| Diagram | Dimensions Length x Width Wheelbase | Numbers | Conversions | ||
9 compartment third | 69' x 9'6 63' wheelbase |
6 built in 1904 14 built in 1905 10 built in 1905 |
2295 to 2300 3277 to 3290 3291 to 3300 |
|
Condemned 1950 - 1956 |
5 compartment brake third | 70' x 9'6 64' wheelbase |
6 built in 1905 6 built in 1905 |
3467 to 3472 3473 to 3478 |
  |
3467 & 3472 had 2 compartments changed to a buffet kitchen and pantry in 1927, given diagram H2 (second use), converted back to normal compartments in 1936/7
3476 rebuilt in 1927 to D100 3478 converted to Mobile Decontamination Unit May 1942 and returned to normal stock October 1946 Condemned 1949 - 1954 |
