FR Carriages

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

This page lists Ffestiniog Railway coaching stock in the revival era, including vehicles which date back to before 1954. Because some vehicles have been renumbered and because some carriages and vans have carried the same numbers, a ready reference guide to numbering changes in the post-preservation era has been prepared and can be accessed here.

Updated details of the Carriage Sets currently used in operation can be found at Carriage sets

Heritage carriages[edit]

A full survey of pre-preservation coaching stock can be found at Carriages (Pre Preservation).

This section lists carriages numbered in the original FR series. They are either surviving vehicles from pre-1954 or replicas of heritage vehicles constructed since then.

A note on numbering[edit]

Before 1954 the FR Co. numbered its public passenger carriages, passenger brake/luggage vans, quarrymen's carriages and goods brake vans in four, separate, series.

Following the revival of the line, a unified numbering series for coaching stock was adopted. The two four-wheeled ex-Quarrymen's goods brake vans, the surviving Quarrymen's carriage and the three bogie brake vans that had been adapted to include passenger compartments were renumbered using vacant slots among the surviving carriages, respectively 1, 2, 8, 10, 11 & 12. However by 1996 the restoration and replication of carriages had, or soon would have, recreated the vehicles that originally carried these numbers, a situation inconceivable to the preservation pioneers, so in order to accommodate all the vehicles the heritage brake vans were renumbered a separate series. Despite this the three rebuilt bogie vans have recently been carrying their historic (early preservation period) identities of 10-12, to match their current condition which represents that period. There is, therefore, possible confusion with four-wheel carriages 10-12.

There are photographs of one particular carriage that has, to date, eluded identification. Details of this can be found here, although it is now thought likely to have been a WHR vehicle.

4 Wheeled Coaching stock[edit]

Bug Boxes (Small Birminghams)[edit]

  • Carriage 1 - Replica "zoo car" previously numbered Carriage 9.
  • Carriage 2 - First class, previously numbered Carriage 6.
  • Carriage 3 - Third Class.
  • Carriage 4 - Third Class.
  • Carriage 5 - Third Class.
  • Carriage 6 - Third Class.
  • Carriage 11 - Open coach, known as "The Flying Bench", now fitted with a replica canopy and leather aprons. Previously numbered Carriage 12 and Carriage 7.
  • Carriage 12 - Replica "porthole bugbox".
  • Carriage 13 - Similar to Flying Bench. It survived just into preservation era, but was an early candidate for scrapping. Some parts re-used on Carriage 12.

Quarrymen's Carriages[edit]

Ashbury 4-Wheel Carriages[edit]

  • Carriage 9 - Second generation small Ashbury. Type no longer exists but replica 10 built.
  • Carriage 10 - The 2006 replica Ashbury first class.

Brake Vans[edit]

  • Van 1 - (1955) - Goods Brake ex quarrymen's carriage with two balconies - withdrawn in 1963 and no longer exists.
  • Van 3 - Replica of "Sentry-Box" passenger brake van to 1865 design, built 2013-4.
  • Van 6 - Goods Brake ex Quarrymen's Carriage - balcony at one end only.
  • Van 7 - Replica of old Van 1 (1955) above.

Bogie Coaching Stock[edit]

Brake and Luggage Vans[edit]

  • Van 1 - The replica "Curly Roofed Van".
  • Van 3 - (1876) - Survived to 1955 but never returned to service - no longer exists.
  • Van 10 - originally Van 2
  • Van 11 - originally Van 4
  • Van 12 - originally Van 5

Ex-Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Stock[edit]

Pioneer Bogie Carriages[edit]

Carriages 17 to 20 - "Bowsiders"[edit]

Ashbury Bogie Stock, variously rebuilt[edit]

  • Carriage 21 (1897) - Disposed of in 1962
  • Carriage 21 (second) - Ashbury replica, built 2013-19.
  • Carriage 22 - FR, new body to new profile built 1984 using 1967 steel frame and original bogies.
  • Carriage 23 - ex WHR, normally runs on the WHR.
  • Carriage 24 - Replica NWNGR car, normally runs on the WHR.
  • Carriage 26 - ex WHR, new steel frame (1965) and body (1986) to new profile.

Open Carriages - Hudson Toastracks reconstructed in the preservation era[edit]

Modern carriages[edit]

Carriages built since 1954 are numbered in a series beginning at 100.

Carriages 100 - 107 and beyond - the "Barns"[edit]

Original Barns or 'Centenary Stock'[edit]

  • Carriage 100 (first) - First class observation car - allocated to the WHR from 2003 and renumbered 1000 in 2006. Dismantled 2010.
  • Carriage 101 - Top-end 3rd class observation saloon, formerly old style First class observation Car - allocated to the WHR from 2006-2009, numbered 123 between 2011 and 2021.
  • Carriage 103 (first) - Buffet Car - withdrawn 2006.
  • Carriage 104 - Composite saloon. First carriage of the Barn series to be built (originally 24). 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
  • Carriage 105 - Lavatory fitted all-third saloon - disabled access.
  • Carriage 106 - Composite saloon. Original body withdrawn and replaced 2002. (see below)

Later Barns[edit]

  • Carriage 100 (second) - New style observation car (without guard's compartment).
  • Carriage 102 - Top-end 3rd class observation saloon, formerly new style first class observation car (with guard's compartment).
  • Carriage 106 - Composite saloon (replacement body). 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
  • Carriage 107 - Composite saloon. 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
  • Carriage 124 - Service Car (Buffet-Toilet-Guard).

Super Barns[edit]

  • Carriage 103 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access.
  • Carriage 108 - all 3rd saloon - disabled access.
  • Carriage 117 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access, panoramic windows.
  • Carriage 118 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access, panoramic windows.
  • Carriage 119 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access, panoramic windows.
  • Carriage 120 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access, panoramic windows.
  • Carriage 121 (second) - all 3rd saloon - disabled access.
  • Carriage 125 - Service Car (Buffet-Toilet-Guard).
  • Carriage 150 - Observation Pullman.
  • Carriage 152 - Observation Pullman.
  • Carriage 808 - all 3rd saloon - disabled access, panoramic windows.

Prototype metal-bodied carriages[edit]

Carriages 112 - 114 - the Carnforths[edit]

Carriages 117 - 121 – the Tin Cars[edit]

Under construction[edit]

None at present

Planned for construction[edit]

None at present.

Departmental stock[edit]

FR Fleet table[edit]

Click [show] to expand the fleet table.

Key: In service Stored Scrapped Renumbered or repurposed Preserved elsewhere Under construction
Number Year built Class Current facilities Former facilities Service status Notes
1 (1864) 1863/4 Bug Box Open Third Built as first class, converted to open third circa 1880s Scrapped 1929
1 1994-7 Bug Box Open Third In service "Zoo Car" - Replica incorporating parts from carriage 2
2 1863/4 Bug Box First Open third 1880s to 1990s In service Numbered 6 from 1950s to 1990s
3 1863/4 Bug Box Third In service
4 1863/4 Bug Box Third In service
5 1863/4 Bug Box Third In service
6 1863/4 Bug Box Third Scrapped 1931
7 (1868) 1868 Ashbury Third Scrapped 1928
8 (1868) 1868 Ashbury Third Scrapped
8 1885/6 Quarrymen's Carriage Third In service
9 (1868) 1868 Ashbury Third Scrapped
10 (1868) 1868 Ashbury First Scrapped
10 2006 Ashbury Third In service Replica of first class carriage
11 (1868) 1868 Ashbury Third Scrapped
11 1863/4 Bug Box Fully Open Third Fully Open First 1860s to C.1880s, First Observation C.1880s to C.1920s, Open Third C.1920s to 1950s In service "The Flying Bench" - Originally numbered 12, 11 around 1930s, 7 from 1950s to 1990s
12 2012 Bug Box Open Third In service "Porthole Bug Box" - Replica incorporating some original parts from carriage 11
13 1863/4 Bug Box Open Third Fully Open Third 1860s to C.1880s, First Observation C.1880s to C.1920s Scrapped 1958 Numbered 12 from 1930s
14 (1868) 1868 Ashbury Third Scrapped
14 1897 Lynton & Barnstaple Buffet Car In service
15 1872 Pioneer bogie Composite In service
16 1872 Pioneer bogie Composite In service
17 1876 Bowsider Composite In service
18 1876 Bowsider Composite In service
19 1879 Bowsider Composite In service
20 1879 Bowsider Composite In service
21 (1897) 1897 Ashbury Third Scrapped by 1962
21 2019 Ashbury Third In service Replica of previous 21
22 1897 Ashbury Third In service Little original fabric remains
23 1894 Ashbury Third In service
24 2002 Ashbury Third In service Replica of NWNGR Summer Car
26 1894 Ashbury Third In service Little original fabric remains
37 (1923) 1923 Toastrack Open Third Dismantled Underframe reused under current 38
37 1971 Toastrack Open Third In service
38 (1923) 1923 Toastrack Open Third Dismantled
38 1971 Toastrack Open Third In service
39 (1923) 1923 Toastrack Open Third Dismantled
39 1992 Toastrack Open Third In service Replica of original style toastrack
40 1923 Toastrack Open Third In service Now on Apedale Valley Railway
41 1923 Toastrack Open Third Dismantled
42 1923 Toastrack Open Third In service Now on WHHR
Van 1 (1873) 1873 Brake van Passenger brake van Scrapped 1921
Van 1 2004 Brake van Passenger brake van In service "Curly roof van" Replica
Van 10 1873 Brake van Brake third Passenger brake van In service Originally Van 2
Van 3 (1876) 1876 Brake van Passenger brake van Scrapped 1955
Van 3 2013-14 Brake van Passenger brake van In service "Sentry Box" Replica
Van 11 1880 Brake van Observation brake first Passenger brake van, brake third In service Originally Van 4
Van 12 1880 Brake van Brake third Passenger brake van In service Originally Van 5
100 (1964) 1964/5 Barn (1st generation) Observation First / Guard Scrapped 2010 Renumbered to 1000 and moved to departmental stock 2005
100 2005/6 Barn (2nd generation) Observation First In service Named Dwyryd in 2022.
101 1970 Barn (1st generation) Observation Third/Guard Observation First/Guard In service Numbered 123 between 2011 and 2021
102 2005 Barn (2nd generation) Observation Third/Guard Observation First/Guard In service
103 (1968) 1968 Barn (1st generation) Buffet Third Scrapped 2006 Formerly named Charles Spooner
103 2008/9 Superbarn (1st generation) Third Saloon In service
104 1964 Barn (1st generation) Composite In service 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
105 1964 Barn (1st generation) Third Saloon / Toilet 1st class compartment (removed 2004) In service
106 1968 Barn (1st generation) Composite In service 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
107 2004/5 Barn (2nd generation) Composite In service 1st class compartment retained but declassified.
108 2011/13 Superbarn (1st generation) Third Saloon In service
110 1975 Prototype metal-bodied Third Saloon In service Later prototype for Tin Cars class.
111 1986/90 Tin Car Observation - PW interior First class interior removed 2016 In service - Departmental use
112 1991 Carnforth Third Saloon First class compartments removed 2019 In service
113 1991 Carnforth Brake third with toilet Rebuilt with toilet and guards van in former first class compartments 2019 In service
114 1991 Carnforth Buffet Third In service
116 1972 Prototype metal-bodied Third saloon First class compartment removed 2007 In service Early prototype for Tin Cars class. Interior as rebuilt 2007/8 is prototype for Super Barn interior.
117 (1977) 1977 Tin Car Third saloon Withdrawn 2015 - sold to Moseley Railway Trust
117 2015/16 Superbarn (2nd generation) Third Saloon In service
118 (1977) 1977 Tin Car Third saloon Withdrawn 2016 - sold to GVLR
118 2016/17 Superbarn (2nd generation) Third Saloon In service
119 (1980) 1980 Tin Car Third saloon / Toilet Withdrawn 2014 - sold to GVLR
119 2013/14 Superbarn (2nd generation) Third Saloon In service
120 (1980) 1980 Tin Car Third saloon Toilet removed 2010 Withdrawn 2018 - sold to Moseley Railway Trust
120 2017/18 Superbarn (2nd generation) Third Saloon In service
121 (1981) 1981 Tin Car Third saloon Scrapped 2005
121 2010/12 Superbarn (1st generation) Third Saloon In service
122 2003 Prototype metal-bodied Third saloon In service (allocated to WHR indefinitely) Prototype for larger and longer vehicles.
124 2007 Barn (2nd generation) Service Car (Buffet/Guard/Toilet) In service
125 2015/16 Superbarn (2nd generation) Service Car (Buffet/Guard/Toilet) In service
150 2014/15 Superbarn (Pullman) Observation Pullman In service Named Gwynedd in 2019.
152 2018 Superbarn (Pullman) Observation Pullman In service Named Eryri-Snowdonia in 2020.
808 2019-22 Superbarn (2nd generation) Third Saloon In service

See also[edit]

References[edit]