GWR Autocoach

The GWR Autocoach (or auto-trailer) is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the steam locomotive. This eliminates the need to run the engine round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey.

When one or more autocoaches are connected to a suitably-equipped steam locomotive, the combination is known as an auto-train, or, historically, a railmotor train. A steam locomotive provided with the equipment to be used as an autotrain is said to be auto-fitted.

The autocoach is the forerunner of the driving trailer used with diesel multiple units.

Design features

A locomotive fitted with additional control equipment is used for the purpose.

When running 'autocoach first', the regulator is operated by a linkage to a rotating shaft running the length of the locomotive, passing below the cab floor. This engages (via a telescopic coupling) with another shaft running the full length below the floor of the autocoach. This shaft is turned by a second regulator lever in the cab of the autocoach. The Driver can operate the regulator, brakes and whistle from the far end of the autocoach; the Fireman remains on the locomotive and (in addition to firing) also controls the valve gear settings. The Driver can also warn of approach using a large mechanical gong, prominently mounted high on the cab end of the autocoach, which is operated by stamping on a pedal on the floor of the cab. The Driver, Guard and Fireman communicate with each other by an electric bell system.

Internally, the passenger section of the coach is separated into two open saloons - originally for 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' - with a lobby separating the two. There is usually a small guard's and luggage compartment at the 'loco' end of the coach. The seating layout is similar to the lower deck of a modern-day bus, with a mixture of normal seating and inwards-facing bench seats. Passengers access the coach via the lobby. The coach is equipped with retractable steps, which are extended if the train stops at rural 'halts' with either low or non-existent platforms, and which fold-in tight against the coach underframe to keep them clear of lineside obstructions when the train is moving. These steps are controlled by the guard using levers in the lobby.

Some earlier autocoaches were converted from steam rail motors, by the removal of the integral steam engine. The most familiar type of autocoach (as shown in the photograph) was introduced in 1928. The design proved very long-lived, with 163 examples being built to a similar design. The last coaches were built some years after nationalisation by British Railways in 1954.

In operation

If more than one autocoach was used, the locomotive would usually be marshalled between the coaches, as 'play' in the control linkages could otherwise make operation difficult.

When used on rural branch lines these coaches were normally paired with a GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2 tank locomotive. Autocoaches were also used on some main-line duties; a famous one being that between Gloucester and Chalford on the Golden Valley Line route between Gloucester and Swindon. They could also be found on some London inner-suburban services out of Paddington, where they were usually powered by the faster and more powerful 5400 Class 0-6-0 pannier tanks. Auto-trains on the steeply-graded routes in the South Wales valleys often used the smaller-wheeled 6400 Class engines.

Preserved examples

No.163. Built 1928. Restored to full working order with the assistance of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. It is currently (2007) at the Llangollen Railway, in North Wales, where it is in use as a static or mobile classroom, in addition to conventional passenger-carrying duties.

No.169. Currently under restoration at the West Somerset Railway [http://www.auto169.150m.com/]

No.178. Built 1930. Usually based at the Dean Forest Railway, but often goes 'on tour' to other preserved railways along with GWR 1400 Class locomotive 1450.

No.190. Built 1933. Preserved in working order at the Didcot Railway Centre, although the locomotive with the necessary control equipment (1466) is currently (2007) out-of-service awaiting overhaul.

Nos W225, W228 (fully-working) and W240 (under restoration) may be found at the South Devon Railway. (Built by British Railways 1951-54). Restored examples have been given the correct British Railways' crimson and crimson-and-cream liveries.

W231 is in working order at Didcot Railway Centre, it has recently had a repaint in Crimson & Cream; it used to run in Western Region Chocolate & Cream, which was the wrong livery (Built in 1951 by British Railways)

Further examples may be found on other heritage railways in the United Kingdom, but in many cases the auto-control gear or the cab fittings are no longer present.

Two early autocoaches (Nos. 212 and 92) are the subject of an ambitious project [http://www.railmotor93.org/railmotor.html] to 'back-engineer' them into a steam railmotor and trailer combination at Didcot Railway Centre.

'Auto-fitted' locomotives

Several locomotive classes included examples equipped to work in autotrains. Locomotives fitted with push-pull equipment included:

* GWR 517 Class 0-4-2T – the first 'auto-tank'
* GWR 1076 Class 0-6-0ST later 0-6-0PT – 21 of 266 were auto-fitted
* GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2T (originally known as 4800 Class) – all fitted
* GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T – some members of class
* GWR 5400 Class 0-6-0PT – all 25 locos auto-fitted"The Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Britain" by H C Casserley, Frederick Warne & Co (1958 edition)]
* GWR 6400 Class 0-6-0PT – all 40 locos auto-fitted Of these, the following have been preserved:
* 1400 Class 1420, 1442, 1450, 1466
* 4575 Class 5542, 5526, 5572 (cab end only fitted)
* 6400 Class 6412, 6430, 6435

References

Further reading

*cite book | last =Lewis | first =John | title =Great Western Railway Auto Trailers: Pre-grouping Vehicles (Part 1) | publisher =Wild Swan | date =1991 | pages =208 pages | isbn = 0 906867 99 1
*cite book | last =Lewis | first =John | title =Great Western Railway Auto Trailers: Post-Grouping and Absorbed Vehicles (Part 2) | publisher =Wild Swan Publications Ltd | date =1995 | pages =184 pages | isbn = 1 874103 25 9
*cite book | last =Lewis | first =John | title =Great Western Steam Railmotors: and their services | publisher =Wild Swan Publications Ltd | date =2004 | pages = | isbn = 1 874103 96 8

External links

* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/davidlloyd/railmotor.htm History of GWR railmotors and autocoaches]
* [http://www.gwsr.com/html/1400_autotanks.html Working the Auto Trains (Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway)]
* [http://www.163autocoach.co.uk/history.htm GW Autocoach 163 - history and specifications]
* [http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/pixpage3.cgi?h=The%20Rebuilding%20of%20GWR%20Auto%20Trailer%20no%20169&t=169pix West Somerset Railway – Photo gallery: Restoration of Autocoach no 169] – "includes many pictures of 'innards' of an autocoach."