WHR Carriages (Pre Preservation)
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
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[edit]General
Most of the carriages used on the WHR from 1922 to 1937 originated on the NWNGR.
Those that passed to the WHR were renumbered from 1923 in a common series with the Festiniog Railway.
Thirteen carriages remained at Dinas in 1921. It is thought that a further seven cars did not survive the First World War. These included a Brown Marshall bogie carriage of 1882, three Cleminson 6-wheelers built by Gloucester in 1877 and some four-wheel carriages, possibly built by Ashbury and of indeterminate origin. The numbering of carriages in NWNGR ownership is not completely clear and it has been postulated that there were two numbering schemes, an original one and another implemented in the 1890s.
The 11 ex-NWNGR carriages that are believed to have come into WHR ownership are thought to be as follows. Two further carriages that survived until 1921, a Metropolitan 3rd class saloon "Closed coach", and an Ashbury 3rd class "Summer coach" of 1894 appear to be not fully accounted for.
| NWNGR No. | Details | Date | WHR No. |
| 3 | Metropolitan 3rd saloon (Closed Coach) | 1891 | |
| 4 | Pickering composite brake | 1907 | 8 |
| 5 | Brown Marshall composite brake | 1882 | 9 |
| 7 | Metropolitan 3rd saloon (Closed Coach) | 1891 | |
| 8 | Metropolitan 3rd observation “Tourist Coach” - the Gladstone Car | 1893 | 29 |
| 9 | Ashbury 3rd saloon (Corridor Coach) | 1878 | 25 |
| 10 | Ashbury composite saloon (Corridor Coach) - Buffet Car | 1878 | 23 |
| 11 | Ashbury 3rd 7-compartment open (Summer Coach) | 1894 | 26 |
| 12 | Ashbury 3rd 7-compartment open (Summer Coach) | 1894 | 24 |
| 13 | Ashbury 3rd 7-compartment open (Summer Coach) | 1894 | 28 |
| 14 | Ashbury 3rd 7-compartment open (Summer Coach) | 1894 | 27 |
[edit]Explanation
Some explanation of the type descriptions is called for.
- The 26ft "Closed Coaches" were described their manufacturer as "Workmen's Carriages". All windows were glazed and there was no internal connection between the two halves of the car.
- The 26ft "Tourist Coach" had a glazed central section and commodious open end sections (referred to sometimes as "balconies"). It had originally been built for 1st class passengers.
- The 29ft "Corridor Coaches" were so known because there was internal communication throughout; they did not have external corridor connections. All windows were glazed.
- The "Summer Coaches" were more spartan compartment vehicles, 29ft 11ins in length. 13 and 14 had no glazing and half height doors while 11 and 12 had half height doors with the upper section between each door glazed.
Closed coaches 3 & 7 were described as "dilapidated" in 1923. It is claimed by Boyd that they were allocated numbers 32 & 34.
The FR purchased six open toastrack Hudson carriages in 1923, numbered 37 to 42. The cost was supposed to be shared but the WHR did not pay its share. They were used on both systems.
One replica WHR carriage has been built and another is under construction. They are of a Summer Coach and of so-called Corridor Coach number 25.
[edit]References
Reference: "WHR Carriage Re-Numbering" - John Padley (FR Heritage Group Journal 47)