Tetbury branch train c1907

[rprodgers]

In “Great Western Branch Line Modelling Part 2 (by S Williams ) there is a photograph dated about 1907 page 89.

It shows apparently. a 517xx tank on a short 2 coach passenger train of possibly a brake  composite bogie (?) and brake 3rd
 

As per page 91 it states it was usually 4 wheel coaches in 1911
 

Is that an unusual coach formation with the two vehicles or a standard one?

[PMP]

There is a Tetbury branch book published which will probably  give a better idea of the typical train formations. In very basic terms coaching sets could be allocated to specific locations for considerable periods. When they required maintenance you may see a variation with replacement stock. Fairly typically there was ‘cascading’ of replacement vehicles. This means that older vehicles could be replaced with newer ones when new vehicles were introduced on other routes. The GW used this cascading of stock frequently, however there isn’t a typical downstream flow that I’m aware of, and any stock cascaded would need to be appropriate to the receiving lines requirements.

[wagonman]

From what I have seen the (theoretical) standard branchline set of the early 1900s was a pair of T34s flanking a U4 composite, sometimes close coupled. This would mostly be newly built stock so in some locations the equivalent accommodation could be provided by older stock. Such a set would provide 6x3rd, 2x2nd and 2x1st compartments.

[Penrhos1920]

On 08/02/2022 at 14:06, rprodgers said:

In “Great Western Branch Line Modelling Part 2 (by S Williams ) there is a photograph dated about 1907 page 89.

It shows apparently. a 517xx tank on a short 2 coach passenger train of possibly a brake  composite bogie (?) and brake 3rd
 

As per page 91 it states it was usually 4 wheel coaches in 1911
 

Is that an unusual coach formation with the two vehicles or a standard one?

 

The coaches in that photo are E51 and T38.  Page 93 gives examples of coaches used on many branches but you still have to decide which 4 wheel brake third or bogie composite etc you will use.  The link in my signature will help you with that.

 

The book fails to mention that on certain days there will be additional coaches.  On the Pontypridd to Newport service in 1911 the normal train of 4 4 wheel coaches was supplemented with between 1 and 3 third class 4 wheel thirds on market days.  Then when the usual rake was undergoing maintenance anything that was available would have been used provided it had roughly the right number of 1st and 3rd class compartments and van space. 

 

My my guess is that that photo is a day when the usual coaches can’t be used.  It has 10 off 3rd class and 2 off third class compartments and 2 off small van areas.  That’s similar to 2x T34 & 1x U4, assuming 2nd class has been abolished which it mostly was in 1907.

[rprodgers]

Thank you Penrhos1920 I will take a look.

 

I was quite interested by it as it’s a very short coach formation.

[DCB]

Why was the photo taken?   Could it have been because bogie stock had not been seen previously at Tetbury?   The Junction at Kemble is only about 10 miles from Swindon works so there is lots of potential for any old tat or freshly repaired or brand new stock to be turned out for the Tetbury branch if the usual stock was not available.  An odd station Kemble. No goods yard, it was 1/2 mile up the line where the line crossed the old Foss Way.

[Steamport Southport]

The problem is in 1907 the GWR didn't have much in the way of "old tat" as the old tat was Broad Gauge and most of it went on the bonfire.

 

That's why there was a massive coachbuilding programme from about 1880 onwards. That includes the "convertibles" which ran temporarily on Broad Gauge underframes.

 

 

 

Jason

Edited February 20, 2022 by Steamport Southport