Great Western Railway Churchward Coaches

warning: This page is best viewed with a wide screen (greater than 1200 pixels wide).

During the Great War the War Department purchased many fairly new coaches from the GWR to operate as Ambulance Trains.  When the war was over the GWR bought them back and converted them for normal use.  The coaches were a mixture of Toplights of all three body types; Bars 1, Bars 2 and Steel.

Outwardly the rebuilt coaches generally resembled the toplight style that they were derived from, but some lost their toplights or panelling.  One coach (4377, diagram C55) received a complete new body and at first glance looked like the contempory C54s except for the flat curved under ends that were required as the underframe was 6" shorter.

Dimensions
Width over cornices 8' 11¼
Width over body at waist 9'
Width over handles 9' 5
Height to gutters 10' 7¼
Height to top of roof 12' 6¼
Height over ventillators 12' 11½

Diagram Dimensions
Length x Width
Wheelbase
Numbers
Conversions
C31

8 compartment third
with 2 lavatories

 57' x 9'

9' light bolster bogies

50' wheelbase

 41 rebuilt between 1920 & 1922

4 built in 1924

 2452, 2455 to 2464, 2468 to 2471, 2476, 2524, 3629, 3630, 3632 to 3644, 3653 to 3661, 4541 to 4544

ex WD 3629 to 3691, 3634, 3650, 3654, 3640, 3642, 3645, 2529, 3656, 3646, 2508, 3658, 2519, 2432, 2524, 3944, 3638, 3637, 3635, 3633, 3639, 2471, 2473, 2467, 2469, 2468, 2488, 2452, 2482, 2477, 2478, 2474, 2476, 2475, 2466, 2479, 2472, 2505, 2503, 3647, 3641, 3643, 3655

 Retained original toplights and full panelling
R Spratt collection, 9927 ex 2476		 All except 4541 to 4544 retained their original GWR numbers when rebuilt

2452 new body in 1942 due to being damaged beyond repair

3636 and 3637 had 8' American bogies

2463 and 2476 converted to Camping Coaches 9914 and 9927 in 1952

Condemned 1951 to 1958
C32

8 compartment third

 56'11¼ x 8'11¼

9' light bolster bogies

50' wheelbase

 1 rebuilt in 1921

2 rebuilt in 1922

 3631 (ex WD 3939)

2466 & 2467 (ex WD 2515 & 3921)

Retained original toplights and full panelling 3631 to Camping coach 9880 in 1957

Condemned 1955
C35

8 compartment third

 56'11¼ x 8'11¼

9' light bolster bogies

50' wheelbase

 15 rebuilt between 1920 & 1922 3645 to 3652, 3662 to 3668

ex WD 3964, 3958, 3959, 3965, 3966, 3968, 3974, 3979, 3967, 3970, 3971, 3973, 3972, 3978, 3975

 3649 converted to DW150024 (CCE Staff & Dormitory Coach, Cheltenham) in 1956

3667 converted to DW150049 (BTU Staff Coach, Shrewsbury) in 1956

3665 and 3668 converted to Camping coaches 9886 and 9888 in 1956

Condemned 1955 to 1958, except 3646 in 1963
D47

4 compartment brake third
with 1 lavatory

 57' x 9'

9' light bolster bogies

50' wheelbase

 1 built in 1922 3509
ex WD no. 3555		 Retained toplights and panelling New body 1942 due to being damaged beyond repair

Condemned 1957
K36

Passenger Brake Van

 57' x 9'

9' light bolster bogies

50' wheelbase

 7 rebuilt in 1925 1157 to 1163 Retained toplights and panelling
R Spratt collection, 1160		 Originally built as brake thirds, diagrams D47 & D52

Condemned 1954 to 1957

Under Construction.  This project is definitely work in progress. If you would like to receive an email when I update these pages please contact me in the Carriage Shed.

© 2021 - Richard Spratt - all rights reserved
GWR Coaches -- www.GWRCoaches.org.uk -- Richard Spratt 2021 -