Heritage Carriages Project

The West Somerset Railway is a magnificent recreation of a Great Western Railway branch line. Fine GWR locomotives haul passengers in comfort through splendid scenery between delightful and varied GWR stations. Attractive and historic GWR signalling allows for ordinary services and exciting gala events. The WSR is now properly connected to the national railway network. And yet there is a gap.

The Railway’s carriages are exclusively British Railways carriages from the 1950s and 1960s. These are appropriate for the very end of steam trains in the UK but somewhat utilitarian and not at all “GWR” in character.

A total of ten wooden bodied carriages from the Great Western era have been kept for restoration by the Trust to create ultimately a complete train. Seven coaches are at Williton and three are in the West siding at Dunster.

Brake composite coach no. 6705, dating from 1938 is approaching completion at Williton and work has started on no. 3639, a Toplight coach of 1908 which was converted to an ambulance coach during the first world war.

Heritage Carriages project gallery

How to help…? Working parties take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Williton and new volunteers are welcome, as are funds for the project – see the Contacts page if you require further details.

No. 3631 in 2008
No. 3639
No. 5131
No. 6705 USA to GB
No. 6705 in 2008
No. 6705 in 2009
No. 6705 in 2010
No. 6705 in 2011
No. 6705 in 2012
No. 6705 in 2013
No. 6705 in 2018-19
No. 6705 in 2020

GWR Toplight no 3631 in the former concrete works yard at Williton on 18 October 2008.

Claire Sheppy removing life-expired carpet tiles from GWR Toplight no 3631 at Williton on 25 October 2008.

GWR Toplight no 3631 – the poor condition of this end is obvious in this view taken on 18 October 2008.

Looking better after removal of net curtains and other unwanted contents is GWR Toplight no 3631 at Williton on 25 October 2008.

A 2018 view of the interior of 3639.

David and Richard hard at work on GWR Toplight no 3639 at Williton on 30 August 2008.

A view of GWR Toplight no 3639 at Williton after removal of the corner post and much more on 30 August 2008.

A view showing the GWR 1908 method of flooring a coach. Two layers of diagonal tongued and grooved boards,laid diagonally, sandwiched a layer of sawdust. Here, the top layer has been removed, the sawdust swept up, and the bottom layer is ready for removal. 18 October 2008.

A view showing how the first quarter of the coach is having its floor removed to expose the chassis. 18 October 2008.

A good tidy-up in and around Toplight no 3639 at Williton on 18 October 2008.

No 5131 at Bodmin in December 2007.

Collett BTK no 5131 is sheeted down at Bodmin and is now ready for transportation to West Somerset – pictured on 3 August 2008.

A view along the corridor…

An end view…

A view of a Third Class door…

The Guard’s compartment…

Original fittings still in place…

A view of the operations from the top floor…

The Steamtown staff enjoy a break…

Loaded and ready to roll.

No 6705 – frames and body – set off for Halifax.

No 514 moves No 6705 into position ready for the lift.

No 6705 – frames and body – set off for Halifax.

No 6705 – wheelsets – set off for Halifax.

No 6705 – wheelset on the quayside at Halifax.

No 6705 – frame and body – on the quayside at Halifax.

No 6705 – wheelset on the quayside at Halifax.

No 6705 – frame and body – on the quayside at Halifax.

A view of the lift at Steamtown on 6 February 2007.

No 6705 is moved into position for the lift aboard MV Fairlift on 15 February 2007.

No 6705 is lifted aboard MV Fairlift on 15 February 2007.

In the hold of MV Fairlift at Newport on 26 February 2007.

No 6705 is lifted from the hold of MV Fairlift at Newport on 26 February 2007…

No 6705 back on terra firma at Newport on 26 February 2007…

Buffers and drawgear for No 6705 at Crewe in July 2008.

No 6705 at Crewe in July 2008.

A view of the roof of No 6705 at Crewe in August 2008. The picture shows the tank covers and ventilator. The plates put on by the Americans to cover the ventilator holes can also be seen. The roof appears to be in very good condition and will not require very much treatment beyond removal of surface rust and some paint.

Buffers and drawgear for No 6705 at Kidderminster in July 2008 about to set off for Crewe.

The Heritage Carriages Project coach no 6705 now under cover at Crewe on 4 August 2009.

The protective plywood panels have been removed from Heritage Carriages Project coach no 6705 now under cover at Crewe on 4 August 2009.

The scaffolding going up around Heritage Carriages Project coach no 6705 at Crewe on 24 July 2009.

The lower of these containers provides storage for parts of the Heritage Carriages Project coach no 6705 which is now under cover at Crewe – seen here on 17 September 2009.

The Heritage Carriages Project coach no 6705 which is now under cover at Crewe – seen here on 17 September 2009.

The corridor side with main solebar removed – November 2009.

The coach end with corridor connection removed – November 2009.

No 6705 at Crewe in December 2009 showing progress with side panelling removed to replace bottom soleplate down each side, most woodwork is excellent.

No 6705 – another rebuilt door with new panels – at Crewe in June 2010.

No 6705 – Colin Worrall alongside one of the rehung doors – at Crewe in June 2010.

No 6705 – a new angle bracket (one of many) securing new woodwork – at Crewe in June 2010.

No 6705 – the rebuilt corridor at the 3rd class toilet end – at Crewe in June 2010.

The roof of GWR BCK no 6705 now almost fully repaired with all ventilators reinstated at Crewe – photographed on 2 November 2010.

Work has now started in earnest on the interior of the GWR BCK no 6705 at Crewe. The flushing mechanism of the 3rd class toilet has been stripped down – photographed on 2 November 2010.