GWR Coaches: Toplight, Collett, etc

GWR Coaches: Toplight, Collett, etc. Available: 1902-1966 One of the most popular coach designs of the Great Western Railway was the 'Toplight', so-called for the small opaque windows above the main windows. Typically 57 feet (17m) long, initially built with wood paneling in 1907 and metal being used from 1912. Most were a compartment construction with a side corridor and enclosed gangway connections between carriages. Most had two water closets for the public convenience, should passengers need to spend a penny. The brake version has half of the space used for luggage, light parcels and the guard's compartment with the hand brake (to hold the train when the engine was uncoupled). GWR Toplight Coach: Carries 16, 80mph (129kph) GWR Toplight Coach Brake (Fr): Carries 8, 80mph (129kph) GWR Toplight Coach Brake (Re): Carries 8, 80mph (129kph) Available: 1902-1948 When Charles Collett became Chief Mechanical Engineer of the GWR, amongst his new designs were bow-ended carriages to succeed the Toplights. The bow-ended design shortened the gang-way connections between coaches, that had previously frightened some passengers. Fast and numerous production of these coaches in the 1920s meant they comprised the large majority of mainline stock by the 1930s. Many of Collett's bow-ended coaches were still in use when nationalisation came in 1948 and weren't phased out until the 60s. In 1949 BR's new crimson and cream livery was applied when these coaches were repainted. The brake version has half of the space used for luggage, light parcels and the guard's compartment with the hand brake (to hold the train when the engine was uncoupled). GWR Collett Bow-ended Coach: Carries 18, 95mph (153kph) GWR Collett Bow-ended Coach Brake (Fr): Carries 9, 95mph (153kph) GWR Collett Bow-ended Coach Brake (Re): Carries 9, 95mph (153kph) Available: 1923-1948 GWR Collett Bow-ended Coach BR: Carries 18, 100mph (161kph) GWR Collett Bow-ended Coach Brake BR (Fr): Carries 9, 100mph (161kph) GWR Collet