 GWR Sleeping Car No 9038 This coach was one of three introduced by the GWR in 1897 to carry First Class passengers between Paddington and the port of Fishguard and the Irish ferry. The coach was in service until 1931. In 1933 the body was sold and became part of a bungalow, spending the next fifty years under a tiled roof. In 1985 this historic vehicle was rescued and came to the West Somerset Railway for restoration. With a restored GWR underframe (chassis) and much interior woodwork donated from a coach (No 9039) by the Great Western Society at Didcot, the coach has been restored to 1925 condition by the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust. The coach is normally open to view in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard Station. |
The Sleeping Car |
"Welcome ye friends of progress" The West Somerset Steam Railway Trust is concerned with the historical and educational aspects of railway preservation in West Somerset. Since 1984 the Trust has made financial contributions to the restoration of GWR steam locomotives 4561 and 4160, rescued a unique GWR sleeping car, established a GWR Museum, registering system and archive, published information leaflets and advised on historical matters. The newsletter, Trust News, is sent to members and associate members occasionally and contains news, information, comment and historical articles. The Trust is administered by six voluntary directors and cannot dispose of items it owns, so gifts and bequests remain safe for the future. In the unlikely event of the Trust being wound up, its property could only be passed to another similar trust. Because of this, people who have collected railway items, rolling stock or shares etc which they wish to remain safe for the future may feel that a charitable body such as the Trust is the best organisation to which to bequeath them. The Trust may also be willing to accept certain items on loan for exhibition purposes and these would normally be registered and covered by existing insurance arrangements. Please contact the Curator for details. West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Registered Charity No 265564 Registered Office Williton Railway Station, Williton, Somerset TA4 4RQ Email info@wssrt.co.uk |