A heritage railway is looking to restore one of just three surviving GWR railcars, a type of train that was first introduced in 1933 and were in service right through to the 1960s. Although 38 of these single-unit railcars were built, just three now survive, and the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) owns one of them.
GWR No.22 AEC Diesel Railcar at Didcot Great Western Railway Centre – photo by Andrew Bone
The restoration of 1940’s GWR Diesel Railcar W20 is the K&ESR’s longest running and most complex restoration project. After more than 25 years of steady progress, they now say that they need your help to get W20 across the finishing line so that it can, once more, play a leading role at the K&ESR and join the celebrations for the 50th birthday of K&ESR’s reopening in 2024.
The heritage railway is two-thirds of the way to raising the necessary £60K required to complete the restoration and provide for ongoing conservation, thanks to a grant of £20K from the Association for Industrial Archaeology and a matching pledge from the railway itself.
They now need to raise the remaining £20,000 to complete the restoration, and you can support the restoration project here.
(c) K&ESR
Built in 1940 for the Great Western Railway, the railcar W20 was originally one of just two that was built with dual-range gearboxes, which uniquely enabled it to run on both branch and mainline rail routes.
The railcar arrived at K&ESR in 1966, but had to be taken out of service in 1972 for repairs, and hasn’t been back on the rails since.
Commercially, for the heritage railway, if they are unable to run steam trains, having a working railcar gives them more flexibility to keep running public heritage trips.
The K&ESR operates a heritage railway along 10½ miles of railway between Tenterden and Bodiam. They were also the same organisation that brought a steam loco to the DLR earlier this year.
The other two surviving railcars are at the National Railway Museum and at the Didcot Railway Centre.
(c) K&ESR
An actual, working “Flying Banana” (!)
My grandfather worked for GWR in the fifties I’m guessing.He held his job with great pride for Approx 45 years. He started as a fireman and was eventually a driver for the huge steam trains.The royal Scot etc.when the diesels were bought in he had to take a test to drive them.He passed and was so proud of his 20/20 vision.As a young girl he would smuggle me on board and I recall being facinated by the fact the diesel had two ends no need for the turnstile.I was collected at radipole halt and the run was out to Portisham and Abbotsbury.We could collect hazel nuts and bee orchids.I was often allowed on the engine itself when the fire was being filled with coal .He had a new clean shovel which was kept for cooking sausages bacon and eggs.special days!.He drove the last train to Portland also.
Totally adore these railcars!!
Used to travel with my parents from West Drayton to Staines to visit my grandfatheron one of these in the 50’s
Beautiful restoration.
What an elegant design
Livery reminiscent of the Brighton Belle Pullman which I travelled on as a younster in the 1960s
I well remember these railcar in operation and would like to see W20 fully restored b6b2024.
I have los the form for donations for this sent with the recent magazine so would be glad of a copy or details of bank account for donations