Where does the coal go in this contraption?

 The sign of things to come in the form of a GWR Railcar - Photo courtesy of Martin Creese 

 

Whilst not technically steam department related, I thought it was rather pertinent to share the following news regarding some further visiting traction. Thus, without further ado, I am very pleased to announce that GWR Railcar No. W22 will be visiting the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway from April until the end of May. On a more important note, does anyone know where you store the coal in this contraption, or how to fire it? Answers on a postcard, please.

During its stay, the railcar will appear in service on a number of selected dates, which will be announced shortly. One confirmed engagement is our Vintage Weekend over the 11th & 12th April, when the railcar will operate shuttle trips between Toddington and Hayles Abbey Halt. Please note that travel on the railcar will require a supplementary fare, and seats must be reserved in advance through our website once bookings open.

It'll be interesting to have another railcar at the railway, joining our resident Class 121 No. W55003.

 

Class 121 No. W55003 stabled in Toddington Yard - 10th March 2026 - I have no idea where the coal goes in this one either!

GWR Railcar No. W22 has not visited the line since its days in service with the Great Western Railway, making the forthcoming visit a particularly notable occasion. Its appearance will provide a rare chance to witness the railcar working once again along a route it served in regular traffic, offering a glimpse of how travel once looked in GWR days. Our sincere thanks go to Great Western Preservations Ltd for making this visit possible and for allowing us to host such an important piece of Great Western heritage. The gala visitors for this year are getting more eclectic by the week.

 

 

GWR diesel railcar No.22 (BR No.W22W), at Bridgnorth, Severn Valley Railway, 06/70 - Photo © Hugh Llewelyn

 

Time for a bit of history on the GWR Railcars and No. 22.

Between 1933 and 1942, the Great Western Railway constructed a fleet of 38 railcars. The earliest examples quickly proved popular with passengers, encouraging the company to refine the design in subsequent batches. Later vehicles were equipped with standard buffers and drawgear, enabling them to haul an additional coach during busy periods. Outside peak times, they could also be pressed into service on light goods work, particularly on branch lines, where it was not uncommon to see them handling one or two vans as part of a local pick-up goods.

The final quartet of GWR railcars differed slightly from their predecessors. Built as single-ended vehicles, they were intended to work in pairs coupled back-to-back, or alternatively as a three-car formation with a conventional coach inserted between them. In many ways, this concept foreshadowed the diesel multiple units that are now a familiar sight on Britain’s main lines.

Great Western Diesel Railcar W22 on the East Somerset Railway - 30742 Charters - Video © Preserved Railway - Making its first visit away from the Didcot Railway Centre this century, Great Western Railway diesel railcar W22 is captured on a 30742 Charters events on Saturday 7th March 2026 on the East Somerset Railway. The railcar was paired with a Fruit D van for at Cranmore station at the start of the day, before working down solo for lineside shots from Mendip Vale.

Railcar No. 22 emerged from the works in 1940. Passenger accommodation comprises two open saloons providing seating for 48, while driving cabs are provided at both ends. Power is supplied by a pair of AEC 9.6-litre direct-injection six-cylinder engines driving through a Wilson epicyclic gearbox. The engines were closely related to those fitted to buses operated by London Transport for many years. Externally, the vehicle has undergone extensive re-panelling over the years, and it last received a complete repaint during 1992–93.

GWR diesel railcar No.22 (BR No.W22W), one of the 1940 Swindon built units, in GWR livery in the Broad/Standard Gauge Transfer Shed at the Didcot Railway Centre, 26/05/14 - Photo © Hugh Llewelyn

No. 22 entered traffic from Newport shed on 18th September 1940. During its working life, the railcar was allocated to several depots, including Reading. In later years, it was frequently used in the Worcester area and became a familiar sight on the Severn Valley line. Withdrawal came in 1962, after which the vehicle was stored at Swindon. In 1967, it was purchased for preservation by the Midland Group of the Great Western Society. After an initial period of operation on the Severn Valley Railway, the railcar moved to Didcot in 1978.

Today, No. 22 is one of just three surviving GWR railcars, and currently the only example in working order. Railcar No. 4 (one of the early streamlined machines popularly dubbed the “Flying Bananas”) is preserved as a static exhibit at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway. Another survivor, No. 20, from the same batch as No. 22, is undergoing restoration at the Kent and East Sussex Railway.

 

 

GWR diesel railcar No.22 in GWR livery at the Didcot Railway Centre, 26/05/14 - Photo © Hugh Llewelyn

 

A more detailed history of No. 22 can be found on the SVR Wiki website here.

3850 rounds the curve approaching Southam Lane Road bridge - 14th March 2026 - Photo courtesy of Andrew Stratford

For those of you who use Facebook, here are a number of GWSR related groups which are worth following:

DMLL - Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd

CSPL - Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) 

2874 - The 2874 Trust

35006 - 35006 Group

76077 - Standard Locomotive 76077

CWR - Cotswold Wagon Restorations

CFOS - GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala Page

THL - The Honeybourne Line - a GWR mainline in the making

 

A very important weekend in May for your diaries, with further news and announcements due soon. *

 

 

The GWSR recently launched a new website and the various department blogs can all be found here. 

 

Anyway, that's all I have for today. More gala announcements will be chuffing along in due course. Hopefully, ones that are powered by more traditional methods... the black stuff!

Alex (the sooty one!).

 

No. 22 Railcar history based on information from Didcot Railway Centre and the SVR Wiki website. 

* Please Note: All locomotives are subject to availability and changes may be made at short notice. 

 

All published photographs and videos are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.