GWR Route: The North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Hatton

Stratford on Avon Station: gwrsa3039

An ex-Great Western Railway Swindon built Diesel Railcar is seen outside Stratford upon Avon Station in the late 1950s. During this period Leamington Shed (84D) had three Diesel Railcars allocated for passenger use (Nos W22W, W26W and W29W) to work the two diagrams, plus a parcels version (No W17W) for working the 6:00am service to Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton. The passenger turns mainly worked between Leamington Spa and Stratford upon Avon, although a couple of the morning turns were extended to Honeybourne with a Brake Second coach attached.

Following the success of the experimental Diesel Railcar No 18, which was designed for coupling to and hauling additional vehicles, a total of fifteen similar single railcars were constructed on AEC built chassis at Swindon Works during 1940/41 under Lot 1635 and numbered Nos 19 – 33. These railcars were more angular in appearance than their predecessors because they were destined for branch line service and thus also geared for a slower maximum speed of 42mph (although two of these railcars had dual ratio gearing). The two AEC six-cylinder engines produced 105hp at 1,650rpm and each was connected via a five speed gearbox controlled by an electro-pneumatic system to ensure simultaneous operation was possible from either driving end. These Diesel Railcars had two saloons with a total of forty eight passenger seats and a luggage area.

On the right of the photograph, a prairie tank locomotive waits in front of Stratford upon Avon engine shed (which closed in September 1962). Behind this is the Flowers Brewery building.

From John Turner's '53A Models of Hull Collection', photographed by the late James S Doubleday.

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