Carriage 42
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Carriage 42 | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Side view Stewart D. Macfarlane | |
| Built By | Robert Hudson Leeds |
| History | |
| Date Built | 1923 |
| Operating | WHR(P) Fleet |
| Carriages | |
Contents |
[edit]Background
This carriage resides on the Welsh Highland Railway at Porthmadog.
It was built in August 1923 by Robert Hudson Ltd of Leeds, to a design of WW1 military carriage used in the 600mm gauge trench railways. It was one of six commissioned by Colonel Stephens for the Ffestiniog at a cost of £155 each. When delivered carriages when delivered were painted in light grey undercoat and two, at least, ran in this colour until 1934. An undated photograph of one carriage at Boston Lodge appears to show that some, at least, were painted in a darker colour at one stage. They were numbered 37-42 in the 'joint' WHR/FR numbering scheme and appear to have operated mainly on the Welsh Highland betweenBeddgelert and Portmadoc. In later years, due to the financial situation, parts were used to keep the Beddgelert coal wagons in running order. Eventually only 37 and 42 remained.
However, these ended up being stripped down after the war. No. 37 provided the frame for FR rebuilt Carriage 38 in 1972, leaving No. 42 in use for storage. Indeed, No. 42 housed the boiler of Quarry Hunslet Britomart until mid-1997.
*Date:5 August 2005 *Photo: Stewart D. Macfarlane
On the Ffestiniog Railway Yahoo discussion group (message 41689) Phil Tucker states that the Hudson underframe and bogies under Welsh Highland carr. 42 were previously under FR tank car no. 64. and are all original carriage bits. When Phil who built the new chassis for tank 64 he arranged for the historic Hudson components to be donated to the former '64 Co. They had no further use on the FR, but were an ideal project for the restoration team at Gelerts Farm who have justified the co-operation by their excellent restoration of the carriage.
*Date:5 August 2005 *Photo: Stewart D. Macfarlane
In order to provide compatibility with other WHR(P) rolling stock Carriage 42 is fitted with air brakes, and in common with FR and WHR(C) it is fitted with Norwegian Chopper couplings.
There is a data page on the Welsh Highland Railway's own website
The WHR(P) Coach No. 3 had been known as the Hudson toastrack, due to its construction. On completion of Coach 42, it became referred to as "Old Toastie"