GWR autocoach

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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox train

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

File:GWR coach A38 231 retractable steps.jpg
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]

In operation

File:GWR coach A38 225.jpg
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 Template:Stnlnk when the driver started the train in thick fog without noticing 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 listTemplate:Sfn
Year Diagram Lot no. Fleet no. Length Notes Preserved examples
1904 A[11] 1055 1 Template:Convert
1904 B[12] 1055 2 Template:Convert
1905 B, V, W, X, A4[12][13] 1081 3–6 Template:Convert
1905 C[14][13] 1087 7, 8 Template:Convert
1905 D, A11, A12[15] 1090 9, 10 Template:Convert
1905 E, F[16][13] 1097 11–13 Template:Convert
1905 G, G1, H[17][13] 1097 14–17 Template:Convert
1906 J, J1[18][13] 1102 19–24 Template:Convert
1905 K, K1, Y, A5[19][13] 1103 25–28 Template:Convert
1906 L[20][13][21] 1108 29–34 Template:Convert
1906 M, M1, A8[22] 1108 18, 35 Template:Convert
1907 N[23] 1126 36–41 Template:Convert 38 at the Telford Steam Railway
1906 L[21] 1127 42–47 Template:Convert
1907 O, S[24][21] 1128 48 Template:Convert Experimental
1907 P[25] 1130 49–52 Template:Convert
1908 L[21] 1141 53–58 Template:Convert
1908 L[21] 1143 59–70 Template:Convert
1909 Q[26][21][27] 1160 71, 72 Template:Convert
1909 R[26][21][27] 1161 73, 74 Template:Convert
1911 T[28][21] 1190 75–80 Template:Convert
1912 U[28][27] 1198 81–92 Template:Convert 92 at Didcot Railway Centre, used with the steam railmotor
1913 Q[27] 1224 93–95 Template:Convert
1913 R[27] 1225 96–98 Template:Convert
1915 Z — 99–104 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 3–8
1917 A6 — 105, 106 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 1, 2
1916–19 A7 — 107–112 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 9–14
1919–20 A9 — 113–124 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 17–28
1920–23 A10 — 125, 128–133 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 29, 32, 31, 33–36
1920 A13 — 126 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 59
1920 A14 — 127 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 60
1923 A15 — 136, 137 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 46, 47
1923 A17 — 134 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 43
1923 A18 — 135 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 44
1923 A19 — 138–140 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 50–52
1928 A23 — 146 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 38
1928 A24 — 147 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 41
1928 A25 — 148 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 45
1928 A26 — 149 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 57
1928 A29 — 150–153 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 61, 63, 67, 68
1928 A26 — 154–157 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 85, 87, 89, 90
1928 A26 — 158 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 99
1929 A27[29] 1394 159–170 Template:Convert 163 at the South Devon Railway
167 at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
169 at the West Somerset Railway
1930 A28[29] 1410 171–180 Template:Convert 174 at the Llangollen Railway
178 at the Severn Valley Railway
1930 A26[29] 1432 181–185 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 54, 56, 84, 95, 94
1930 A29[29] 1432 186 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 62
1933 A33[30] 1480 187–196 Template:Convert 190 at the Didcot Railway Centre
1934 A23[30] 1511 197, 198 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 39, 40
1934 A26[30] 1511 199, 200, 206 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 53, 58, 86
1934 A29[30] 1511 201 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 69
1934 A31[30] 1511 202–205 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 73, 74, 82, 83
1935 A31[30] 1521 207–209 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 75, 78, 79
1936 A26[30] 1542 210, 212–215 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 91, 93, 96–98 212 restored as a steam railmotor at the Didcot Railway Centre
1936 A31[30] 1542 211 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 81
1936 A29[30] 1545 216–218 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotors 64, 66, 72
1936 A31[30] 1542 219 Template:Convert Rebuilt from railmotor 76
1938 A34[30] 1600 1668–1671 Template:Convert Auto-fitted Brake Thirds
1951 A38[29] 1736 222–234 Template:Convert 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[30] 1736 220 Template:Convert
1951 A40[30] 1736 221 Template:Convert
1953 A43[30] 1766 235–244 Template:Convert 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 Total auto-fitted Introduced Preserved examples Comments
455 Class 2-4-0T 40About 40 1869 – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[31]
517 Class 0-4-2T 86 1868 – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[31]
645 Class 0-6-0PT 1 1872 - No. 1522 fitted in April 1931; withdrawn November 1937[32][33]
1076 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 21 1870 – Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[31]
1854 Class 0-6-0PT 1 1890 - No. 1728 auto-fitted at some point in the 1920s; withdrawn February 1932[32]Template:Sfn
2021 Class 0-6-0ST/PT 27 1897 - Some fitted with auto gear after 1905[31]
4575 Class 2-6-2T 15 1927 5572 Certain locomotives of this class fitted with auto gear in 1953[31]
4800 Class 0-4-2T 75 1932 1420, 1442, 1450, 1466 Auto-fitted version of 5800 Class later renumbered as 1400 Class[31]
5400 Class 0-6-0PT 25 1930 – All auto-fitted[31]
6400 Class 0-6-0PT 40 1932 6412, 6430, 6435 Smaller wheel version of 5400 Class, all auto-fitted[31]

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

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External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Great Western Railway

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