NWNGR Summer Carriages
The summer carriages were a batch of four bogie thirds built by the Ashbury Carriage and Iron Company in 1894 for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways. They were built for tourist traffic, and fitted with half-height doors. Two styles were built: numbers 11 and 12 were fitted with glazing between the doors, whilst numbers 13 and 14 were completely open. The two unglazed carriages had bars across the windows.
Their dimensions were Length: 29'11" Width: 6' Height: 7'5".
When delivered they were painted chocolate brown up to the windows, with the upper woodwork being a pale brown. Lining and lettering was in gold.
They were taken into Welsh Highland Railway stock in 1923, when they were renumbered in the joint Festiniog and Welsh Highland numbering scheme. Numner 11 became 26 in July 1924, number 12 became 24, number 13 became 28 and number 14 became 27. The carriages were also reduced in height so that they could operate over the whole of the combined F&WHR network.
In 1926 number 24 was transferred to the Festiniog Railway and at some point afterwards was renumbered 23.
Under the 1934 colour schemes numbers 23 and 28 were green, 26 was blue and 27 was pink.
Those remaining in WHR stock were sold along with the other WHR stock in 1942. 23 survived into the revival era on the FR and was later joined by 26 which was restored to traffic after serving as a hen house. There is now also a modern replica (numbered 24) built in 2002 for the modern WHR.
Fleet table[edit]
| Key: | In service | Stored | Scrapped | Renumbered or repurposed | Preserved elsewhere | Under construction |
|---|
| Number | Year built | Class | Current facilities | Former facilities | Service status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1894 | Summer Car | Compartment Third | In service | Originally NWNG 12, then old-WHR 24 | |
| 24 | 2002 | Summer Car | Compartment Third | In service | Modern replica | |
| 26 | 1894 | Summer Car | Compartment Third | Dismantled/awaiting new body. | Originally NWNG 11 | |
| 27 | 1894 | Summer Car | Compartment Third | Dismantled | Originally NWNG 14 | |
| 28 | 1894 | Summer Car | Compartment Third | Dismantled | Originally NWNG 13 |