WHRL Coach No. 1

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
WHRL Coach No. 1
Type Observation and Brake
Seating 20 x 3rd
Home Railway Teifi Valley Rly
Original Railway WHHR
Status Sold
History
Built by WHR Ltd/Alan Keef
Built 1973
1980 First train on new WHRL
19?? Sold to Teifi Valley Railway
Technical
Length 23 ft
Frames Steel
Wheels Bogie
Carriages

This vehicle was built by a group of WHRL members in 1973. It is called the "Cote Coach" because it was constructed at Alan Keef's depot which, at that time, was based in Cote, Oxfordshire (about 10 miles west of Oxford). Coaches for the Teifi Valley Railway were also constructed there.

Having been built as a prototype, the coach is unusual in many respects. It was a test piece for future coach building projects and consequently it has a diverse collection of different compartments. At one end is a narrow brake compartment. Next, two passenger doors admit people to the fully glazed central section consisting of upholstered full-width cross-benches. One of the cross-benches has a central gangway to admit people through to the end compartment. This compartment is part-glazed and has seating around the perimeter.

Coach No. 1 was actually completed prior to the construction of the WHR Ltd railway at Beddgelert Sidings. Following completion, it spent some time at the Leighton Buzzard Railway, before being moved to Gelerts Farm. Here, it was distinguished in being used with locomotive 2_Kinnerley for the very first trains on the newly re-opened Welsh Highland Railway in 1980.

Coach No. 1 has now been sold to the Teifi Valley Railway

Adapted from original page at WHHR site.

See also[edit]