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GWR Autocoach
Autocoach 190 preserved at Didcot Railway Centre
In service1904–1964
ManufacturerSwindon Works
Constructed1904–1954
Number built256
Number preserved15
Number scrapped241
DiagramA – Z, A1 – A44
Fleet numbers1 – 256
Operators
Specifications
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The GWR Autocoach (or auto-trailer) is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the steam locomotive. This eliminates the need to run the engine round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey.

When one or more autocoaches are connected to a suitably equipped steam locomotive, the combination is known as an autotrain, or, historically, a railmotor train. A steam locomotive provided with the equipment to be used as an autotrain is said to be auto-fitted.

The autocoach is the forerunner of the driving trailer used with push–pull trains.

Design features

Retractable steps for use at low platforms

A locomotive fitted with additional control equipment is used to power the autotrain. When running 'autocoach first', the regulator is operated by a linkage to a rotating shaft running the length of the locomotive, passing below the cab floor. This engages (via a telescopic coupling) with another shaft running the full length below the floor of the autocoach. This shaft is turned by a second regulator lever in the cab of the autocoach. (See photograph sequence below.) The driver can operate the regulator, brakes and whistle from the far (cab) end of the autocoach; the fireman remains on the locomotive and (in addition to firing) also controls the valve gear settings. The driver can also warn of the train's approach using a large mechanical gong, prominently mounted high on the cab end of the autocoach, which is operated by stamping on a pedal on the floor of the cab. The driver, guard and fireman communicate with each other by an electric bell system.[1]

  • The lever above the cab window moves a vertical rod...
    The lever above the cab window moves a vertical rod...
  • ...which rotates the long rod beneath the coach...
    ...which rotates the long rod beneath the coach...
  • ...to turn the flat bar at the back of the coach...
    ...to turn the flat bar at the back of the coach...
  • ...that engages with the socket on the locomotive to operate the regulator.
    ...that engages with the socket on the locomotive to operate the regulator.

In operation

The non-driving end of preserved W225 in British Railways livery on the South Devon Railway

If more than one autocoach was used, the locomotive would usually be marshalled between the coaches, as 'play' in the control linkages could otherwise make operation difficult. This arrangement was not always possible where turntables were not convenient for turning coaches and hence up to two autocoaches could follow or lead a locomotive with cab ends away from the locomotive.[2]

Many GWR suburban services around Plymouth were formed of fixed autotrain formations of four autocoaches, two each side of the locomotive with cabs leading in each direction. When these were introduced in 1906, experiments were made to harmonise the appearance of the locomotive in the middle of the train by cutting down the side tanks and encasing the entire locomotive in a square bodyshell of the same basic design, height and width as the coaches, complete with 'windows' and the same chocolate/cream paint livery. Two 2021 Class and two 517 Class engines were modified in this way.[3][4]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 15 April 1923, carriage No. 70 formed a passenger train hauled by locomotive No. 215. The train was in a head-on collision with a freight train at Curry Rivel, Somerset due to a signalman's error. Nine people were injured.[5]
  • On 16 November 1937, an empty train in a siding at the eastern end of Ealing Broadway station (between platforms 2 and 3) was waiting to be called into the platform to form the next service to Denham when the driver started the train in thick fog without noticing either that the points were not set for the platform nor that the signals were against him, and the auto-trailer crashed into the signal box. This auto-trailer, no. 211 of Diagram A31, had been converted in August 1935 from steam rail motor no. 81 (Diagram Q1); it was repaired after the accident, and was not withdrawn until March 1959.[6][7][8][9][10]

Fleet list

Fleet list[11]
Year Diagram Lot no Fleet no Length Notes Preserved examples
1904 A[12] 1055 1 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1904 B[13] 1055 2 70 ft 0+3⁄4 in (21.36 m)
1905 B, V, W, X, A4[13][14] 1081 3–6 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905 C[15][14] 1087 7, 8 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1905 D, A11, A12[16] 1090 9, 10 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905 E, F[17][14] 1097 11–13 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905 G, G1, H[18][14] 1097 14–17 52 ft 0+3⁄4 in (15.87 m)
1906 J, J1[19][14] 1102 19–24 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1905 K, K1, Y, A5[20][14] 1103 25–28 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1906 L[21][14][22] 1108 29–34 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1906 M, M1, A8[23] 1108 18, 35 54 ft 0+3⁄4 in (16.48 m)
1907 N[24] 1126 36–41 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) 38 at the Telford Steam Railway
1906 L[22] 1127 42–47 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1907 O, S[25][22] 1128 48 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Experimental
1907 P[26] 1130 49–52 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1908 L[22] 1141 53–58 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1908 L[22] 1143 59–70 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1909 Q[27][22][28] 1160 71, 72 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1909 R[27][22][28] 1161 73, 74 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1911 T[29][22] 1190 75–80 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1912 U[29][28] 1198 81–92 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) 92 at Didcot Railway Centre, used with the steam railmotor
1913 Q[28] 1224 93–95 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1913 R[28] 1225 96–98 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1915 Z — 99–104 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 3–8
1917 A6 — 105, 106 57 ft 0+3⁄4 in (17.39 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 1, 2
1916–19 A7 — 107–112 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 9–14
1919–20 A9 — 113–124 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 17–28
1920–23 A10 — 125, 128–133 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 29, 32, 31, 33–36
1920 A13 — 126 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 59
1920 A14 — 127 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 60
1923 A15 — 136, 137 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 46, 47
1923 A17 — 134 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 43
1923 A18 — 135 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 44
1923 A19 — 138–140 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 50–52
1928 A23 — 146 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 38
1928 A24 — 147 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 41
1928 A25 — 148 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 45
1928 A26 — 149 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 57
1928 A29 — 150–153 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 61, 63, 67, 68
1928 A26 — 154–157 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 85, 87, 89, 90
1928 A26 — 158 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 99
1929 A27[30] 1394 159–170 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) 163 at the South Devon Railway
167 at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
169 at the West Somerset Railway
1930 A28[30] 1410 171–180 62 ft 8 in (19.10 m) 174 at the Llangollen Railway
178 at the Severn Valley Railway
1930 A26[30] 1432 181–185 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 54, 56, 84, 95, 94
1930 A29[30] 1432 186 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 62
1933 A33[31] 1480 187–196 62 ft 8 in (19.10 m) 190 at the Didcot Railway Centre
1934 A23[31] 1511 197, 198 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 39, 40
1934 A26[31] 1511 199, 200, 206 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 53, 58, 86
1934 A29[31] 1511 201 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 69
1934 A31[31] 1511 202–205 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 73, 74, 82, 83
1935 A31[31] 1521 207–209 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 75, 78, 79
1936 A26[31] 1542 210, 212–215 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 91, 93, 96–98 212 restored as a steam railmotor at the Didcot Railway Centre
1936 A31[31] 1542 211 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 81
1936 A29[31] 1545 216–218 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) Rebuilt from railmotors 64, 66, 72
1936 A31[31] 1542 219 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) Rebuilt from railmotor 76
1938 A34[31] 1600 1668–1671 57 ft 0 in (17.37 m) Auto-fitted Brake Thirds
1951 A38[30] 1736 222–234 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m) 232 was modified as a first class saloon on the Dartmouth Steam Railway
233 was modified as a test coach by British Rail (see below)		 225, 228 and 233 at the South Devon Railway
231 at the Didcot Railway Centre
232 at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway
1951 A39[31] 1736 220 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
1951 A40[31] 1736 221 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
1953 A43[31] 1766 235–244 64 ft 0 in (19.51 m) 238 Chaffinch on the Severn Valley Railway
240 on the South Devon Railway
1953 A44 — 245–256 Rebuilt from Brake Thirds 5491/95, 4015/16/05/19, 4343, 5871, 4358, 5875, 4351/45

Auto-fitted locomotives

Several Great Western locomotive classes included examples equipped to work in autotrains at different times. These included:

Type Locomotives Fitted Introduced Road Numbers of Locomotives Fitted Preserved examples Comments
455 Class 2-4-0T 40About 40 1869 Various – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[32]
517 Class 0-4-2T 86 1868 Various – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[32]
645 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 1 1872 1522 - Fitted in April 1931[33]
1076 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 21 1870 728, 738, 753, 1147, 1167-1169, 1234, 1235, 1247, 1252, 1254, 1256, 1265, 1269, 1271, 1278, 1284, 1567, 1570, 1600 – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[32]
1854 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 1 1890 1728 - Date of Fitting Unknown[33]
2021 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 27 1897 Various - Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[32]
4575 Class 2-6-2T 15 1927 4578, 4581, 4589, 5511, 5524, 5529, 5534, 5535, 5545, 5555, 5559, 5560, 5568, 5572, 5574 5572 A few fitted with auto gear in 1953[32]
4800 Class 0-4-2T 75 1932 4800-4874 (later 1400-1474) 1420, 1442, 1450, 1466 Auto-fitted version of 5800 Class later renumbered as 1400 Class[32]
5400 Class 0-6-0PT 25 1930 5400-5424 – All auto-fitted[32]
6400 Class 0-6-0PT 40 1932 6400-6439 6412, 6430, 6435 Smaller wheel version of 5400 Class, all auto-fitted[32]

References

  1. ^ Lewis, John (1991). Great Western Auto Trailers - Part One: Pre-Grouping Vehicles. Didcot: Wild Swan. pp. 11–13. ISBN 0-906867-99-1.
  2. ^ Kingdom, Anthony R; Lang, Mike (2004). The Newton Abbot to Moretonhampstead Railway. ARK Publications (Railways). pp. 32, 43, 62. ISBN 1-873029-09-8.
  3. ^ Beck, Keith; Copsey, John (1990). The Great Western in South Devon. Didcot: Wild Swan Publications. pp. 184–186. ISBN 0-906867-90-8.
  4. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 34–35
  5. ^ Vaughan, Adrian (1989). Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. pp. 29–32. ISBN 1-85260-055-1.
  6. ^ Trevena, Arthur (1980). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 1. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 41. ISBN 0-906899-01-X.
  7. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 197–200
  8. ^ Lewis, John (1995). Great Western Auto Trailers - Part Two: Post-Grouping and Absorbed Vehicles. Didcot: Wild Swan. p. 312. ISBN 1-874103-25-9.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Victor E.; Smith, Keith (April 2000). Ealing to Slough. Western Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. map IV, figs. 9, 10. ISBN 1-901706-42-7.
  10. ^ "Accident at Ealing Broadway on 16th November 1937". The Railways Archive. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  11. ^ Harris 1966, pp. 131–156.
  12. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 51–52
  13. ^ a b Lewis 1991, pp. 53–64
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Harris, Michael (1966). Great Western Coaches: 1890–1954. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. p. 146.
  15. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 111–114
  16. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 65–66
  17. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 67–70
  18. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 124–126
  19. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 115–118
  20. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 71–72
  21. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 75–87
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h Harris 1966, p. 147
  23. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 127–128
  24. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 119–122
  25. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 87–91
  26. ^ Lewis 1991, pp. 91–92
  27. ^ a b Lewis 1991, pp. 93–110
  28. ^ a b c d e Harris 1966, p. 148
  29. ^ a b Lewis 1991, pp. 97–64
  30. ^ a b c d e Harris 1966, pp. 151–152
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harris 1966, pp. 153–156
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h Veal, Colin; Goodman, John (1981). Auto-Trains and Steam Rail Motors of the Great Western. Didcot: Great Western Society. ISBN 0-902956-06-X.
  33. ^ a b Maidment, David (2019). Great Western Panniers. Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN 978-1-52673-451-8.

Further reading

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