2426 - Churchward ‘Bars 1’ Toplight to complete the set

Help restore the Association’s oldest carriage to join Toplights ‘Bars 2’ 9055 and ‘Multibars’ 3930 and 9369

The Severn Valley Railway is well known for its variety of heritage rolling stock and the short Great Western Railway ‘toplight’ set is popular for hire and at galas. The Association is proud of the quality of its restored vehicles which are authentically appropriate to a country branch line. The Association and its members own ‘Toplights’ of all three designations having restored Multibars 3930 (full third of 1915), 9369 (saloon of 1923) and Bars 2 9055 (saloon of 1912) – we wish to restore the line’s oldest vehicle – Bars 1 2426 (full third of 1910) which is our biggest challenge yet.

2426 was designed under Churchward’s direction in 1909 and completed at Swindon Works in January 1910 to Diagram C30, Lot 1167 (one of 14 built). It has a 56ft by 9ft body on 8ft American bogies with an underframe braced with flat-iron trusses. It weighed 27 tons 5cwt with accommodation for 64 passengers in eight compartments and two toilets at the ends. It was fitted with scissors corridor connections and doors to each compartment. It lasted in ordinary service until withdrawal in May 1952 when it was converted at Swindon for use as a ‘camp coach’. Compartments were removed to allow for the installation of a kitchen area, sleeping and living accommodation. It was re-numbered W9918W. In 1967 it was used as a departmental S&T vehicle before withdrawal at Swindon in 1972.

It was purchased by the Severn Valley Railway Holdings Company in 1972 for use as volunteer sleeping accommodation, firstly at Bridgnorth until 1988 and then Hampton Loade until 2016. The Association acquired the vehicle in 2002 and moved the carriage to Kidderminster Carriage Shed to dry out before transferring to our restoration base at Bewdley in 2017, initially used as a workshop. The overhaul commenced in 2022 with framework repairs and underframe painting. Fund raising can now commence as Collett bow-ended third 4786 nears completion. Funding is needed for the heavy framework repairs (£50k), manufacturing the many missing fittings (upholstery £20k, others £25k), roof repairs (£20k), overhaul of the bogies (£20k) and making the many intricate moldings that make it such an attractive carriage. On completion, it will take its place in the GWR ‘Toplight’ set to complement the other vehicles and exhibit the three types of construction.

Download the 2426 appeal leaflet

Donations

I would like to make a donation of £ ....................... towards the restoration of 2426. Please make cheques payable to 'Great Western (SVR) Association' and send to:
Rob Massey - Secretary, 9 Shandon Close, Harborne, Birmingham B32 3XB.

Name .............................................................................................................................................

Address ..........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................ Post Code ..............................

Email address: ................................................................................................

Online donations

Donations can also be made on-line via the Charity Aid Foundation website:

Regular donations

Regular donations by standing order can be one of the most effective ways to help the Association. Please complete and send to your own bank. Available in HTML and PDF (26kB) formats.

Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer, you can make your contributions worth nearly 25% more, at no extra cost to you. For every £10 donated, the Association can claim an extra £2.50 from the Inland Revenue. Please complete either the HTML or PDF (33kB) forms and return.