GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Lapworth Station: gwrl3283

Ex-Bristol and Exeter (B&E) Railway coach converted to a Divisional Engineer's Inspection Saloon by the Great Western Railway in circa 1900 and seen at Lapworth on 30th June 1956. This saloon carried British Railway's number W14643 and is probably the Wolverhampton Divisional Engineer's Inspection Saloon, which is understood to be the last of this type of coach to remain in service. It was reported as being condemned in 1955 still in its 1920s livery. The majority of the other ex-B&E Inspection Saloons had previously been replaced by; six inspection saloons (diagram Q13) newly built in 1948 and four tunnel inspection saloons converted from elderly passenger brake vans in 1952, but it is believed that one ex-B&E inspection saloon body was purchased by a private owner for preservation.

The physical dimensions and details of this inspection saloon are:

Overall length: 38 feet
Wheelbase: 22 feet
Weight: 13 tons, 0 cwt

Several of these Inspection Saloons were fitted with gas flare lamps at the end of the verandah roof for illuminating tunnels (these can be seen on the inspection saloon in 'gwrkd11'). The coach lighting was also gas supplied from the cylinder tanks below the frame. When built in 1875, the coaches originally had four compartments plus a central luggage area. They also originally had six wheels, but the centre set of wheels had already been removed in the late 1880s prior to conversion.

Robert Ferris

This photograph is displayed courtesy of the RCTS (Railway Correspondence and Travel Society) and copies can be ordered directly from them using the link here. Please quote CUL618.

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