Carriage 42

Carriage 42
Built By	Robert Hudson Leeds
Length	19' (5.79m)
History
Date Built	1923
Operating	WHHR Fleet
Carriages

Background

This carriage resides on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway at Porthmadog.

It was built in August 1923 by Robert Hudson Ltd of Leeds, to a design of WW1 military carriage used in the 600mm gauge trench railways. It was one of six commissioned by Colonel Stephens for the Ffestiniog at a cost of £155 each. When delivered these carriages were painted in light grey undercoat and two, at least, ran in this colour until 1934. An undated photograph of one carriage at Boston Lodge appears to show that some, at least, were painted in a darker colour at one stage. They were numbered 37-42 in the 'joint' WHR/FR numbering scheme and appear to have operated mainly on the Welsh Highland between Beddgelert and Portmadoc. In later years, due to the financial situation, parts were used to keep the Beddgelert coal wagons in running order. Eventually only 37 and 42 remained.

However, these ended up being stripped down after the war. No. 37 provided the frame for FR rebuilt Carriage 38 in 1972, leaving No. 42 in use for storage. Indeed, No. 42 housed the boiler of Quarry Hunslet Britomart until mid-1997.

It is worth comparing the inside of the rebuilt 42 with that of Carriage 39. The interior is varnished wood (compared with the paint interior of 39). Also of note is the different roof detail and the absence of lights

In FR E-group posting 41689, Phil Tucker states that the Hudson underframe and bogies under Welsh Highland carr. 42 were previously under FR tank car no. 64. and are all original carriage bits. When Phil built the new chassis for tank 64 he arranged for the historic Hudson components to be donated to the former '64 Co. They had no further use on the FR, but were an ideal project for the restoration team at Gelert's Farm who have justified the co-operation by their excellent restoration of the carriage.

Side view of 42 shows that the detail of the side quadrants follow that of 47, unlike Carriage 39. Chains and doors are fitted. The doors are do not have the curved detail of 39

In order to provide compatibility with other WHHR rolling stock Carriage 42 is fitted with air brakes, and in common with FR and WHR(C) it is fitted with Norwegian Chopper couplings.

There is a data page on the Welsh Highland Railway's own website

The WHRL Coach No. 3 had been known as the Hudson toastrack, due to its construction. On completion of Coach 42, it became referred to as "Old Toastie"

See also

• Carriage 37
• Carriage 38
• Carriage 39
• Carriage 40
• Carriage 41
• WHR Ltd Carriages
• WHR Carriages
• FR Carriages