Major financial boost for railcar that is ‘integral’ to future of the KESR
THE 25-year restoration by the Kent & East Sussex Railway of a former GWR diesel railcar that general manager Richard Coombes describes as integral to the line’s future has received a major financial boost that brings its eagerlyawaited return to service ever closer.
The railcar is W20W, one of 38 in a class that, with its eye-catching design and adaptability, proved a success on both main and branch lines. It was built at Swindon in 1940, withdrawn by BR from Worcester (85A) in October 1962, and saved for preservation by the KESR, where it arrived in April 1966.
Staff and volunteers at the railway have genuine affection for the distinctively-styled railcar for several reasons, one of which is that it ran the first public passenger train from Tenterden Town station on the railway’s official opening in preservation on February 3, 1974.
Completion of the project would bring closer the tantalising prospect of it being reunited with Didcot Railway Centre’s sister railcar, No. 22. But doubtless most important of all to the railway’s personnel is that its return to traffic would be a fitting testimonial to Andrew Webb, a former KESR director whose tenacity and determination kept the restoration going after it was started 25 years ago. He sadly died in November 2019 at the age of 73 without seeing the longrunning overhaul completed.
The financial boost to the restoration, the longest and most complex ever undertaken by the railway, is a £20,000 grant from the Association for Industrial Archaeology, which supports the preservation and study of the country’s industrial heritage. The railway’s board has pledged to match this grant, which would leave just £20,000 to be raised by donations to complete the project, and the railway’s carriage and wagon department has resolved to prioritise the work.
Public appeal
On announcing the AIA grant and the matched funding on October 14, the railway launched the 20 For 20 public appeal to raise the £20,000 shortfall and dedicated it to Andrew’s memory. If successful, it is hoped that the railcar would be able to return in 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both its inaugural run in preservation and the KESR’s golden jubilee.
KESR general manager Robin Coombes said: “The word iconic is often over-used but in the case of W20W is entirely appropriate. There are very few places in the world where you can ride one of the pioneer Art Deco railcars of the 1930s over any distance.
“Completing the restoration is not only important to us, but also for the whole preservation movement. Railcars don’t get the profile they deserve, yet they can provide a genuine heritage experience but at a lower running cost, which is even more important as we enter uncharted waters for our economy.
“In addition, as this summer’s high temperatures have shown, we can no longer rely solely on steam trains during our busiest season for visitors, as periods of drought become the rule rather than the exception.
“W20W is therefore integral to the KESR’s future and, as a lightweight railcar, it is aligned with Colonel Stephens’ philosophy which sits at the heart of our railway.”
The railcars were designed by CF Cleaver, a visionary engineer with Hardy Railmotors, a subsidiary of Associated Equipment Co. They first entered service with the GWR in 1934 and a further 37 were built between 1934 and 1942.
Unlike the class pioneer, all 37 were equipped with two AEC engines which increased the maximum speed to either 70mph, as in the case of W20W, or 80mph for some of the batch.
The railway has yet to announce what livery the car will carry on its return, or the number. Its original GWR number was 20, and on Nationalisation it was numbered W20 and after nationalisation was numbered W20W.
➜ To support this project, visit https:// kesr.org.uk/donate or text‘Railcar’to 70460 to make a £20 donation.