Carriage 29
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Carriage 29 | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Traeth opening train 25/3/07 Photo: KC Bradbury | |
| Built By | Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. of Birmingham |
| Wheels | Bogie |
| Seating | 28 |
| Length | 26ft |
| Body Width | 5ft 6in |
| History | |
| Date Built | 1891 |
| 1989 | Returned to WHR |
| Operating | WHR (P) Fleet |
| Carriages | |
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This carriage resides on the Welsh Highland Railway at (Porthmadog).
[edit]Background
As North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways No. 8, it was constucted by the Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. of Birmingham.
Mr. Gladstone, the Prime Minister, travelled in No. 8 on the way to a holiday at Nant Gwynant. Thereafter, the coach was nicknamed the Gladstone Car.
By 1922, No. 8 had received a vermilion (red) livery. Under WHR/FR management, No. 8 was renumbered No. 29 in 1922. Sometime between 1923 and 1934 it may have received a new livery of FR Kentish Green, along with the rest of the carriage stock. However, at closure, the stocklist gave the colour as red. It was disposed of by demolition contractor George Cohen in 1942.
The body of the Gladstone Car was located many years ago by members of the Festiniog Railway in a garden near Harlech. It was deemed to be beyond restoration and various fittings were removed for re-use (quite possibly they are on vehicles running on the FR today).
Some years later, in 1989, the WHR 64 Company Ltd. recovered the coach from a local field. Over a 7 year period it has been restored and is now in use on the WHR at Porthmadog, carrying its original number.
Edited from the WHR(P) site - which see for further details and pictures.