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Many withdrawn coaches went on to be used in departmental service. There were at least 5 different number series used:
1 to 276 in the Pilot Van series
Each conversion was different, but most conversions involved: 1) Removing some or all compartments. Most conversions of short coaches resulted just 1 or 2 compartments. 2) Fitting bench seats or bunks, cooking or heating stoves & storage lockers for tools. 3) Fitting a track level handbrake. Up until about 1940 a pair of DC levers were fitted to a single cross-shaft (DC1 style) which then connected to the existing coach brake gear. Post war conversions had instead Morton type brake levers. In the registers the former was usually called "Either side hand brake" and the latter "Lever each side". The exception to this general rule was the former Camping coaches. When originally converted to Camping coaches they had a single DC lever fitted, presumably because they were mostly parked at one location and did not travel in trains frequently. |
| Dimensions Length x Width Wheelbase | Lewis Class. | ||||
Pilot Vans Neyland Breakdown Vans
106 | 31' x 8' 19' | LE7N | Converted from S9 No.2769 in 1935
Lever either side hand brake fitted. Two open compartments and one brake compartment
Written: "Loco, Carriage, Wagon Department, Neyland" Four gas cocks fitted for flare lights. Painted Brown in 1935. Tare 10t 18cwt |
  exV4 106(left) and exS9 61(right)
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Condemned in 1957 |
| 28' x 8' 18' | LE7N | Converted from V5 No.17 in 1935
Pedistal hand brake removed and lever either side hand brake fitted. Converted to one large compartment with tool racks Written: "Loco, Carriage, Wagon Department, Neyland" Gas fittings: four flare lights provided. Painted Brown in 1935 and again in 1947. Tare 12t 4cwt |
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Pilot Van Weymouth Breakdown Van | 31' x 8' 19' | LA9N | Converted from V13 No.572 in 1926
Lever either side hand brake fitted. Load to carry 20 tons. 1 pair of double doors each side, 2 roof lights, converted to one large compartment Roof label boards written: "Loco, Carriage, Wagon Department, Weymouth", later changed to Yeovil Ends painted red. Painted Brown in 1941 and again in 1947. |
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Engineering Department Tool Van | 25' x 8' 18' | LA9N | Converted from S1
No track level hand brake fitted. |
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Engineering Coach | 31' x 8' 19' | LE7N | Converted from T47 in 1937 and painted brown. In 1943 it was painted Red-Brown.
Written "Engineering Department, Westbury Later changed to "Return to Bathampton" Fitted with Either side hand brake. Both compartments appear to have retained their original third class seats. Many of the side panels have been plated over, but there is no over plating on the ends and the original guard's duckets have been kept. |
 
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Condemned at Thingly 7/9/1957
Previously 80919 had been converted in January 1932 from 2042 which was originally built as a T51. This coach only lasted until September 1933. |
Engineering Coach (Mess Room) | ??' x ?' ??' | N/A | Converted from Barry Railway Third no.52 in 1924.
Written "Engineering Department Central Wales Division, Machynlleth Fitted with Vacuum and Either side hand brake. Changed to Lever Each Side at Oswestry February 1953. Seats with lockers fitted around end, cooking stove provided. |
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The origins of this coach are a bit of a mystery. The registers say that it was converted from Barry Railway Third no.52 which was originally built in 1894. However, 52 had 6 compartments, not 5 as the picture shows and the build date was also wrong. |
Sleeping Van | 28' x 8' 9'6 - 9'6 | LA9N | Converted from S4 in 1930.
Written "Engineers Department, Oswestry One large compartment. Incandescent gas lighting, six beds and one stove. Fitted with Vacuum and Either side hand brake. Changed to Lever Each Side at Oswestry February 1953. |
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Condemned 7/9/1957 |
Inspection Coach | 28' x 8' 9'6 - 9'6 | LA9N | Converted from S3 in 1930.
Written "Engineers Department, Oswestry One large & one small compartment. Incandescent gas lighting, cooking stove, table, wash basin and seats with lockers fitted each side of large compartment. Fitted with Vacuum and Either side hand brake. Changed to Lever Each Side at Oswestry February 1953. |
Condemned @ Aberystwyth 13/7/1957 | |
Inspection Coach | 31' x 8' 18 | LE7N | Converted from G20 in 1939. |   |
Converted to Q10 by 20/8/1949 |
Signal Sleeping Coach | 31' x 8' 19' | LE7N | Converted from T37 in 1935 and painted brown.
Written "Signalling Department, Reading Fitted with Either side hand brake (top photo). Changed to Lever Each Side in October 1950 (bottom photo). The three compartments have been combined into one sleeping compartment and fitted with beds. Other similar conversions were fitted a stove, wash basin and lockers. Given someone has chalked "HELL'S KITCHEN" on the side in the top photo, I think it can be taken that a cooking stove had been fitted! |
 
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