WC&PR had a diverse range of Coaches during its forty-three years of operations but the best known are #15-17 which were the main operating stock in the final years. These were originally built for the LSWR by Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon. Two (#15, #17) were 24' 6" Saloons, #15 being a Brake Saloon, dating from 1869 (Beattie) and I have a suitable diagram for these. The last #16 was a LSWR 30' Five Compartment all Third from 1879-85 of standard MCW design.

For those interested in more details, Peter Strange’s book on the WC&PR and the Col. Stephens Society provide good background. The coaches were lit by Electricity (from dynamo in #15), steam heated and gave a comfortable ride (no doubt aided by the legendary slowness of operation!). They are synonymous with the WC&PR and feature in the BBC programme on the Railway’s story.

Reproduced from the out of print book “Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway", by Peter Strange ISBN 0906294 19 3 Published 1989 by Twelveheads Press, with the approval of the publisher.

It is these three interesting coaches which I'm in the process of building from Ratio GWR Four- Wheeler Kits. A good challenge for a first time kit basher.