Hudson Toastracks
Hudson Toastracks
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[edit] Background
In 1923 the Ffestiniog Railway purchased six open "Toastrack" coaches from Robert Hudson Ltd of Leeds. They were numbered 37 to 42. Although brand new, they were identical in design to coaches supplied by Hudson to the War Department, for use on the military railways, which conveyed personnel and materials to the trenches in WW1. Although paid for by the FR, they were used on both the Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railway. These Carriages were not successful and most were converted to flat waggons by the end of the 1920's.
The Ffestiniog Railway nowadays has three carriages with open sides. These are added to service trains in good weather, to offer passengers an alternative to travelling in an enclosed carriage. As flexible additions to existing carriage sets, these open coaches invariably run immediately behind the locomotive (on an up train).
Usually known as the "Tourist Cars", two of these carriages were built in 1971 at Boston Lodge. They utilise WD type D underframes, but the bodies, though in the spirit of the originals, are more substantial. While Carriage 37 retains the standard livery of maroon and cream, carriage 38 has been repainted in green and ivory livery.
Carriage 39 was built in 1992 and is a more exact replica.
Carriage 42 is a reconstruction of the original, on the original chassis, and runs on the WHHR.
[edit] Carriage 37
The current Carriage 37 was built using the frame of Wagon 70 in 1971.
[edit] Carriage 38
The current Carriage 38 was built using the parts from the original Carriage 37 (later Wagon 66) in 1971.
[edit] Carriage 39
Carriage 39 is essentially a replica of one of these carriages and was built on an old Hudson frame by Winson Engineering at Penrhyndeudraeth using some original parts from Wagon 73, and upgraded at Boston Lodge in 1992. It is painted in the "Colonel Stephens" Livery of green with red ends. Wire mesh doors were added for safety reasons, in place of the original chains, in 2004.
[edit] Carriage 40
No other detail at this time
[edit] Carriage 41
No other detail at this time
[edit] Carriage 42
There is a fourth example of this type of vehicle, Carriage 42, to be found on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Uses the original frame from 42, later Wagon 64.
[edit] Carriage 47
A derelict Hudson Toastrack - identified as Carriage 47 - was parked outside the old Locomotive Shed at Boston Lodge at the time of restoration in 1955. Referring to Boyd[1] pages 361/2 only the original 37 and 42 were not converted into flat wagons, therefore there is a probability that the true identity is one of these. There is no other record of a carriage of this number.
[edit] WHRL Coach No. 3
The only connection this vehicle has to this block, is that it was built using a Hudson open wagon chassis in 1980 at the Gelert's Farm Works. Due to its construction, it was sometimes referred to as a toastrack
It was, subsequently, converted to a disabled coach in 2005, and acquired the nickname “old toastie” when No 42 was rebuilt. It has now been sold elsewhere.
[edit] References
- ^ Boyd, James I.C. (1975 / 2002). The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 Locomotive and Rolling Stock and Quarry Feeders. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 085361-168-8.
