No 9635 - Collett 'Centenary Diner'

Two sets of thirteen 'centenary' coaches were built in 1935 to celebrate 100 years of the GWR and they entered service on the 'Cornish Riviera Limited' trains with the summer timetable on July 8th of that year. The centenary stock built comprised:

• 6 brake thirds - 4575-4580
• 6 full thirds - 4581-4586
• 6 brake composites - 6650-6655
• 4 composites (1st/3rd class) - 6658-6661
• 2 first class restaurants - 9635 and 9636
• 2 third class diners - 9637 and 9638

They were built to a similar design as the super saloons with 9'7" width bodies, which restricted the route availability, and until the outbreak of war only worked the 'Cornish Riviera'. The width of the vehicle maximises comfort inside but necessitated recessing of the doors.

As originally built they were fitted with full width 'Beclawat' lowering windows, these were replaced by more conventional fixed lights and sliding ventilators of a shallow pattern in 1938.

The centenary special edition of the GWR Magazine notes, in a review of how passenger comfort has improved over the previous 100 years, that 'to celebrate the Company's centenary two new corridor trains have been constructed at Swindon and put into service on the “Cornish Riviera Limited Expresses”. They mark a distinct departure from previous practice as the vehicles are fitted with two end doors only on each side, with spacious vestibules. This has enabled large drop windows to be fitted to each compartment. Spring fitted cushions and fluted seat backs enhance the seats and make the contrast with the conditions of third class travel of even much less than a century ago, well-nigh unbelievable.'

After the war the centenary coaches were no longer restricted to 'The Limited' but could be seen on most main line services including Newbury Race Specials.

The restaurant cars could seat 24 first class passengers and also accommodated the kitchen and pantry which serviced them and the 64 third class passengers seated in the adjacent vehicles. The restaurant cars were completely updated internally by Hamptons in 1947.

No. 9635 was one of two kitchen first restaurant cars included in the special trains and is the only centenary vehicle to survive into preservation.

The carriage was purchased for preservation in 1963 and was moved to the Dowty Railway Preservation Society at Ashchurch in Gloucestershire - then under the same ownership was relocated to Toddington on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. The Great Western Society bought the vehicle in 1989 and moved it to Didcot. The kitchen is virtually in its original condition apart from the substitution of an electric fan for the venturi extractor originally fitted and the conversion from oil-gas to propane cooking.

The vehicle is in a generally good condition, except for a leaking roof, and is as such a likely candidate for restoration to run with the super saloons to make a dining train at the railway centre, though it is unlikely that the kitchen will be used as it doesn't meet modern food hygiene standards.

Status

Static Display

Build date

1935

Built at

Swindon

Original railway

GWR

Lot Number

1540

Diag No

H.43

Length

61’ 4.5”

Date Preserved

1963

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