GWR 1920 Churchward 'Toplight City' Profile and Models

GWR 1920 Churchward 'Toplight City'

Brake Third 3755 at Didcot Railway Centre © Hugh Llewelyn

The first order for these coaches was placed in 1915 but due to the First World War they were not built until 1920. The second batch was completed in 1921. Six sets of coaches were produced with a set comprising six coaches. The coaches were close coupled and constructed with a steel body rather than the traditional wooden paneling. Due to the restrictive loading gauge of the London underground tunnels the carriages are 7 inches lower than other contemporary carriages of the time. This enabled them to travel directly to Aldgate and Liverpool Street, on the Metropolitan Underground system. The coaches were originally used for commuter traffic from the likes of Reading and Windsor into the City of London. At the start of World War 2 this service was curtailed. However, after the Second World War and into BR days the coaches could be found on services much further afield. The coaches started to be removed from revenue earning service  in December 1956 and all had been removed by December 1957. There was only one significant change made to the design during the lifetime of the coaches which was the removal of one roof ventilator from each compartment. Two coaches survive in preservation at Didcot Railway Centre.
 

(Information provided via Dapol)

Type of Vehicle

Coach

Builder

Swindon Works

Build Dates

1920 to 1921

Total Built

36

Wheel Configuration

2 x Bogies

Operated By

Great Western Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Suburban passenger
Branchline passenger

In Service Until

Late 1950s

Surviving Examples

2

 

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Mallard GWRBOGIEM GWR 38ft Suburban Bogie brake coach Kit Requires assembly Not set GWRBOGIEM
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GWR 38ft Suburban Bogie brake coach Kit Awaiting Categorisation