GWR Autocoach

The GWR Autocoach (or auto-trailer) is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the steam locomotive. This eliminates the need to run the engine round to the other end of the coach at the end of each journey.

GWR Autocoach
Autocoach 190 preserved at Didcot Railway Centre
In service	1904–1964
Manufacturer	Swindon Works
Constructed	1904–1954
Number built	256
Number preserved	15
Number scrapped	241
Diagram	A – Z, A1 – A44
Fleet numbers	1 – 256
Operator(s)	Great Western Railway British Railways
Specifications
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

When one or more autocoaches are connected to a suitably equipped steam locomotive, the combination is known as an auto-train, or, historically, a railmotor train. A steam locomotive provided with the equipment to be used as an autotrain is said to be auto-fitted.

The autocoach is the forerunner of the driving trailer used with push–pull trains.

Design features

Retractable steps for use at low platforms

A locomotive fitted with additional control equipment is used to power the autotrain.

When running 'autocoach first', the regulator is operated by a linkage to a rotating shaft running the length of the locomotive, passing below the cab floor. This engages (via a telescopic coupling) with another shaft running the full length below the floor of the autocoach. This shaft is turned by a second regulator lever in the cab of the autocoach. (See photograph sequence below.) The driver can operate the regulator, brakes and whistle from the far (cab) end of the autocoach; the fireman remains on the locomotive and (in addition to firing) also controls the valve gear settings. The driver can also warn of the train's approach using a large mechanical gong, prominently mounted high on the cab end of the autocoach, which is operated by stamping on a pedal on the floor of the cab. The driver, guard and fireman communicate with each other by an electric bell system.

Internally, the passenger section of the coach is divided into two open saloons – originally for smoking and non-smoking – with a lobby in the middle separating the two. There is usually a small guard's and luggage compartment at the 'loco' (non-driving) end of the coach. The seating layout is similar to the lower deck of a modern-day bus, with a mixture of normal seating and inwards-facing bench seats. Passengers access the coach via the lobby. The coach is equipped with retractable steps, which are extended if the train stops at rural halts with either low or non-existent platforms, and which fold-in tight against the coach underframe to keep them clear of line-side obstructions when the train is moving. These steps are controlled by the guard using levers in the lobby.

Some earlier autocoaches were converted from steam rail motors, by the removal of the integral steam engine. The most familiar type of autocoach was introduced in 1928. The design proved very long-lived, with 163 examples being built to a similar design. The last coaches were built some years after nationalisation by British Railways in 1954.

• 
  The lever above the cab window moves a vertical rod...
• 
  ...which rotates the long rod beneath the coach...
• 
  ...to turn the flat bar at the back of the coach...
• 
  ...that engages with the socket on the locomotive to operate the regulator.

In operation

The non-driving end of preserved W225 in British Railways livery on the South Devon Railway

If more than one autocoach was used, the locomotive would usually be marshalled between the coaches, as 'play' in the control linkages could otherwise make operation difficult. This arrangement was not always possible where turntables were not convenient for turning coaches and hence up to two autocoaches could follow or lead a locomotive with cab ends away from the locomotive.[1]

Many GWR suburban services around Plymouth were formed of fixed autotrain formations of four autocoaches, two each side of the locomotive with cabs leading in each direction. When these were introduced in 1906, experiments were made to harmonise the appearance of the locomotive in the middle of the train by cutting down the sidetanks and encasing the entire locomotive in a square bodyshell of the same basic design, height and width as the coaches, complete with 'windows' and the same chocolate/cream paint livery, thus giving the complete formation the appearance of a later multiple unit. Two 2021 Class and two 517 Class engines were modified in this way during 1906. The coachwork greatly restricted visibility, made coaling, watering and servicing the locomotives awkward and initial concerns that passengers would be deterred by the unusual sight of a locomotive running in the middle of a train proved unfounded. The dummy coachwork was removed from all four locomotives during 1911.

Accidents and incidents

• On 15 April 1923, carriage No. 70 formed a passenger train hauled by locomotive No. 215. The train was in a head-on collision with a freight train at Curry Rivel, Somerset due to a signalman's error. Nine people were injured.[2]
• On 16 November 1937, an empty train in a siding at the eastern end of Ealing Broadway station (between platforms 2 and 3) was waiting to be called into the platform to form the next service to Denham when the driver started the train in thick fog without noticing either that the points were not set for the platform nor that the signals were against him, and the auto-trailer crashed into the signal box. This auto-trailer, no. 211 of Diagram A³¹, had been converted in August 1935 from steam rail motor no. 81 (Diagram Q¹); it was repaired after the accident, and was not withdrawn until March 1959.[3][4][5][6][7]

Fleet list

Table of Diagrams and numbers[8]

Year	Diagram	Lot No	Fleet No	Length	Notes	Preserved examples
1904	A	1055	1	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1904	B	1055	2	70 ft 0 ^3⁄4 in (21.36 m)
1905	B	1081	3–6	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905	C	1087	7, 8	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1905	D	1090	9, 10	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905	E/F	1097	11–13	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1905	G/G1/H	1097	14–17	52 ft 0 ^3⁄4 in (15.87 m)
1906	J/J1	1102	19–24	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
1905	K/K1	1103	25–28	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1906	L	1108	29–34	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1906	M/M1	1108	18, 35	54 ft 0 ^3⁄4 in (16.48 m)
1907	N	1126	36–41	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)		38 out of service at the Telford Steam Railway
1906	L	1127	42–47	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1907	O	1128	48	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Experimental
1907	P	1130	49–52	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1908	L	1141	53–58	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1908	L	1143	59–70	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1909	Q	1160	71, 72	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1909	R	1161	73, 74	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1911	T	1190	75–80	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1912	U	1198	81–92	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)		92 at Didcot Railway Centre, used with the steam railmotor
1913	Q	1224	93–95	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1913	R	1225	96–98	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
1915	Z	—	99–104	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 3–8
1917	A6	—	105, 106	57 ft 0 ^3⁄4 in (17.39 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 1, 2
1916–19	A7	—	107–112	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 9–14
1919–20	A9	—	113–124	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 17–28
1920–23	A10	—	125, 128–133	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 29, 32, 31, 33–36
1920	A13	—	126	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 59
1920	A14	—	127	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 60
1923	A15	—	136, 137	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 46, 47
1923	A17	—	134	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 43
1923	A18	—	135	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 44
1923	A19	—	138–140	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 50–52
1928	A23	—	146	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 38
1928	A24	—	147	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 41
1928	A25	—	148	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 45
1928	A26	—	149	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 57
1928	A29	—	150–153	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 61, 63, 67, 68
1928	A26	—	154–157	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 85, 87, 89, 90
1928	A26	—	158	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 99
1929	A27	1394	159–170	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)		163 and 167 at the Llangollen Railway 169 being restored at the West Somerset Railway
1930	A28	1410	171–180	62 ft 8 in (19.10 m)		174 being restored at the Llangollen Railway 178 at the Severn Valley Railway
1930	A26	1432	181–185	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 54, 56, 84, 95, 94
1930	A29	1432	186	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 62
1933	A33	1480	187–196	62 ft 8 in (19.10 m)		190 at the Didcot Railway Centre
1934	A23	1511	197, 198	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 39, 40
1934	A26	1511	199, 200, 206	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 53, 58, 86
1934	A29	1511	201	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 69
1934	A31	1511	202–205	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 73, 74, 82, 83
1935	A31	1521	207–209	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 75, 78, 79
1936	A26	1542	210, 212–215	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 91, 93, 96–98	212 restored as a steam railmotor at the Didcot Railway Centre
1936	A31	1542	211	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 81
1936	A29	1545	216–218	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)	Rebuilt from railmotors 64, 66, 72
1936	A31	1542	219	59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)	Rebuilt from railmotor 76
1938	A34	1600	1668–1671	57 ft 0 in (17.37 m)	Auto-fitted Brake Thirds
1951	A38	1736	222–234	64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)	232 was modified as a first class saloon on the Dartmouth Steam Railway 233 was modified as a test coach by British Rail (see below)	225, 228 and 233 at the South Devon Railway 231 at the Didcot Railway Centre 232 at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway
1951	A39	1736	220	64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
1951	A40	1736	221	64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
1953	A43	1766	235–244	64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)		238 Chaffinch on the Severn Valley Railway 240 awaiting restoration on the South Devon Railway
1953	A44	—	245–256		Rebuilt from Brake Thirds 5491/95, 4015/16/05/19, 4343, 5871, 4358, 5875, 4351/45

233 finished its passenger service with British Rail in 1964 and was subsequently used by BR for a variety of non-passenger purposes as Test Car 1 at Derby D of D, (the old CM&EE.) where it was used for ride testing all types of new and old freight rolling stock. It was part of a catenary test train hired by Balfour Beatty for the then new Channel Tunnel and where it achieved 104 M.P.H. in test runs. When purchased by 5542 Ltd in July 2013, it had no seats, a large diesel generator, a kitchen sink unit, remnants of computer equipment, BR Mk 1 toilet, dual Air/Vacuum brakes, B4 bogies, Oleo pneumatic buffers and all of its auto-train control gear removed but has now been refurbished although retaining many of its test car features.

Auto-fitted locomotives

Several locomotive classes included examples equipped to work in autotrains at different times. These included:

Type	Locomotives fitted	Introduced	Preserved examples	Comments
455 Class 2-4-0T	About 40	1869	–	Some fitted with auto gear after 1905.[9]
517 Class 0-4-2T	86	1868	–	Some fitted with auto gear after 1905.[9]
1076 Class 0-6-0ST/PT	21	1870	–	Some fitted with auto gear after 1905.[9]
2021 Class 0-6-0ST/PT	27	1897	–	Some fitted with auto gear after 1905.[9]
4575 Class 2-6-2T	15	1927	5526, 5542, 5572	A few fitted with auto gear in 1953.[9]
4800 Class 0-4-2T	75	1932	1420, 1442, 1450, 1466	Auto-fitted version of 5800 Class later renumbered as 1400 Class.[9]
5400 Class 0-6-0PT	25	1930	–	All auto-fitted.[9]
6400 Class 0-6-0PT	40	1932	6412, 6430, 6435	Smaller wheel version of 5400 Class, all auto-fitted.[9]

References

1. Kingdom, Anthony R; Lang, Mike (2004). The Newton Abbot to Moretonhampstead Railway. ARK Publications (Railways). pp. 32, 43, 62 etc. ISBN 1-873029-09-8.
2. Vaughan, Adrian (1989). Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. pp. 29–32. ISBN 1-85260-055-1.
3. Trevena, Arthur (1980). Trains in Trouble. Vol. 1. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 41. ISBN 0-906899-01-X.
4. Lewis, John (1991). Great Western Auto Trailers - Part One: Pre-Grouping Vehicles. Didcot: Wild Swan. pp. 197–200. ISBN 0-906867-99-1.
5. Lewis, John (1995). Great Western Auto Trailers - Part Two: Post-Grouping and Absorbed Vehicles. Didcot: Wild Swan. p. 312. ISBN 1-874103-25-9.
6. Mitchell, Victor E.; Smith, Keith (April 2000). Ealing to Slough. Western Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. map IV, figs. 9, 10. ISBN 1-901706-42-7.
7. "Accident at Ealing Broadway on 16th November 1937". The Railways Archive. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
8. Harris 1966, pp. 131–156.
9. Veal, Colin; Goodman, John (1981). Auto-Trains and Steam Rail Motors of the Great Western. Didcot: Great Western Society. ISBN 0-902956-06-X.

• Harris, Michael (1966). Great Western Coaches: 1890–1954. Newton Abbot: David and Charles.

Further reading

• Lewis, John (1991). Great Western Railway Auto Trailers: Pre-grouping Vehicles (Part 1). Wild Swan. ISBN 0-906867-99-1.
• Lewis, John (1995). Great Western Railway Auto Trailers: Post-Grouping and Absorbed Vehicles (Part 2). Wild Swan Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-874103-25-9.
• Lewis, John (2004). Great Western Steam Railmotors: and their services. Wild Swan Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-874103-96-8.
• "GW Autocoach 163 - History and Specifications". 163Autocoach.co.uk. GWR Autocoach 163 Trust. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011.

External links

• West Somerset Railway – Photo gallery: Restoration of Autocoach no 169 – Includes many pictures of the innards of an autocoach