Renumbering
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
This page is here one attempt to try and record the changes of numbers that carriages and waggons have had over the past 150 plus years of both the Festiniog and the Welsh Highland. In the main there have been the New Welsh Highland (2xxx), FR Centenary Stock (1xx), Original WHR, and original FR. Within the scope of 'FR original', the company had a couple attempts at renumbering in different series, including Vans and Carriage and waggons, whilst the WHR, and its precursor NWNGR also had a few attempts!! All very confusing!
Because of the nature of the changes being indicated, the use of links is minimal. The only vehicles listed here are ones that still exist, and the number they currently carry.
Source Detail: Boyd for material prior to 1975, though updated and corrected by FRM, Heritage journals, etc.
Rewritten from the Chronology
After the take-over in 1954, it would appear to have become policy of the FR Co. to have a single series of numbers for all passenger and goods rolling stock. The intention being that there should be no duplication of numbers between coaches, vans and wagons. To this end, some coaches and wagons were renumbered to avoid confusion between coaches and brake vans. The numbering system used 1-9 for 4 wheeled coaches and vans and 10-50 mainly for bogie coaches. 24, 25 & 30 were allocated to new bogie coaches (see below). However, tourist open coaches were given numbers 37 & 38, numbers originally used for toastrack coaches in the 1920s and although they used ex W^D Hudson bogie underframes as before, they are not replicas. 39 was intended to be a replica. With several replicas in construction or planning, re-numbering of some coaches (mainly 4 wheeled vans) was proposed in the mid nineties to release low numbers, a point which has now com to fruition.
Pedantically is not a renumber, as the current holder of this position is the new build Curly Roof Van. However, due to the number of different No.s 1, a potted history is stated here along where else it is relevant.
- 1863 - ???? = various
- 1955 - 1963 = A converted quarrymans carriage which was previously the old companys van 7. Became Van 1 in 1955 but deteriorated in service and ended its life as a grounded shelter at the bottom end of Dduallt Station. The remains were removed to Boston Lodge in the 1990's and from the dimensions, this replica van was built.
- 1963 - 1998 = the current Van 51 held the title of Van 1
- 1998 - 2004 = the current Van 7 held the title of Van 1
- 2004 - now = the curly Roof Van
Van 2 originally Van 2, then Carriage 10
The old company had it as Van 2, but the new admminstration in around 1955 decided to renumber it in the carriage series as Carriage 10. In 2005 it reverted to its orignal number
Van 4 originally Van 4, then Carriage 11
The old company had it as Van 4, and again, the new admminstration in around 1955 decided to renumber it in the carriage series as Carriage 11. In 2005 it reverted to its orignal number
Van 5 originally Van 5, then Carriage 12
The old company had it as Van 5, and again, the new admminstration in around 1955 decided to renumber it in the carriage series as Carriage 12. In 2005 it reverted to its orignal number
Van 7 previously Van 1 previously Van 7 previously a quarryman's carriage
Built in 1998 as a replica of a converted quarrymans carriage which was the old companys van 7. The original Van 7 became Van 1 under the new administration in 1955 but deteriorated in service and ended its life as a shelter at the bottom end of Dduallt Station. The remains were removed to Boston Lodge in the 1990's and from the dimensions, this replica van was built.
Van 51 originally Van 1
Built in 1963 as a replacement for the old No. 1. Van. Renumbered in the late 1990s following construction of a replica Old No. 1 Van.
Carriage 23 originally NWNGR Coach 11
Built in 1894 by Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Co (external), Manchester for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (NWNGR) as a "Summer Coach" and numbered 11. In 1936 the coach passed into FR Co. ownership. At some point in this era it was numbered Carriage 23 in the FR series.
Carriage 104 originally 24
When originally planned Carriage 104 was intended to be number 24. However, as they were being built in the Centenary period, it was decided, in May 1967, to add 100 to the number, and start a fresh number range denoteing modern stock
Carriage 105 originally 25
When originally planned Carriage 105 was intended to be number 25. However, as they were being built in the Centenary period, it was decided, in May 1967, to add 100 to the number, and start a fresh number range denoteing modern stock
Carriage 1000 originally Carriage 100
Carriage 100 existed as such from 1965 to 2005, originally on the FR, but for the last 2 years on the WHR. At the end of 2005 it was withdrawn from passenger service. The carriage has been replaced with a new all first observation car, built in line with the 2005 Carriage policy. The new Carriage 100 entered service with the new 'Service Carr' carriage 124 in April 2007. The body of the original 100 has now had replacement SAR bogies placed underneath, and is in service as a Permanent Way mess coach for the Welsh Highland. This, along with 1001, will fill the requirements of the staff and volunteers through the construction period and beyond.
[edit]See also
- Carriages Index
- Carriage Renumbering Guide for a different view on renumbering