GWR railcars

Great Western Railway’s main line passed the famous Southall works of Associated Equipment Company. AEC, the builder of London’s buses, owned (or were affiliated with) a number of other companies, including coachbuilder Park Royal and Hardy Railmotors.

Hardy’s CF Cleaver proposed a lightweight diesel-powered railcar that was inspired by Deutsche Reichsbahn’s ‘Flying Hamburgers’. Wind-tunnel tests helped sculpt the noses, and the 8.85 litre diesel engine could power the 62ft-long car to a maximum of 63mph.

GWR bought Cleaver’s railcar and milked the subsequent publicity. It ordered six more, and Nos. 2-4 joined No. 1 in service. The last three underframes were fitted with bodies built by Gloucester RCW and differed from the Park Royal vehicles, and became Nos. 5-7.

Cars 8-17 were ordered in 1935. Nos. 8, 9, 13-16 had 70-seater bodies, Nos. 10-12 had 63 seats but had lavatories, and No. 17 was a parcels car. These were followed by No. 18, which was the first to have buffing gear.

Cars Nos. 19-38 were introduced in 1940 ( by a quirk of fate, No. 20 entered service before No. 19). These were built at Swindon, with 9.25 litre engines supplied by AEC. Nos. 19-33 were single cars with buffing gear, No. 34 was another parcels car, and Nos. 35-38 were two-car DMUs that could be strengthened to three-car sets when necessary.

JOHN HENSHALL/ALAMY. The difference between the GWR-built railcars, with buffing gear, and those built by Park Royal and Gloucester are clear to see. This is the National Collection’s Park Royal railcar No. 4 in STEAM - The Museum of the GWR at Swindon. It’s now on display...