User:Ron F/Sandbox - 1
In late 1872 the first body was delivered from the Birmingham firm of Brown, Marshalls & Co. of Adderley Park, Birmingham , the details being their own, but with an overall general design by Charles Easton Spooner. Whilst not the worlds first, they were the first revenue-earning bogie coaches in the British Isles, and now the oldest in existence. Due to the length and fact they would only be supporting at the end of the carriage, the wrought iron frames were made considerably stronger than previously used.. This was also in order to take the strain of a train passing through reverse curves of short radius, and to haul large rakes of empty wagons. The bogie centres and bolsters were of oak sandwiched between cross girders.
*Date Feb 1963
*Photo: Ron Fisher
The two vehicles,(with Carriage 15), when originally constructed, had seven compartments, which accommodated three classes. One description had the carriages as having a 1st class compartment upholstered in blue material, holding six passengers in the centre, flanked on one side by a 2nd class fitted out in plain cloth, holding eight persons and with 3rd class seating for 24 on wooden seats with no intermediate partitions. At each end of the carriage, where the floor is raised over the bogies, there are Luggage/Third compartments in which the seats were originally removable and arranged lengthways. Droplight windows were provided in both the end of the carriage and the partition between this luggage compartment and the adjacent Third class. As built they had removable benches across the side doors and entry was generally made from end balconies, there being a gangway across the ends of these carriages with suitable steps each side. They seated three per side and were described as being 'for servants and baggage'. The end compartments had their windows removed later. Wooden boards replaced them, and the compartments were used purely for luggage The total seating capacity was 50, now 39. The original running and buffing gear was added at Boston Lodge.
Dimensions are Length: 35'9", Width: 6ft and Height:7'8". Tare 6 tons. Wheelbase, 27 ft. Over the years they have operated, the seating arrangements have been varied slighty The layout is now 3rd / 3rd / 3rd / 1st / 1st coupé / 3rd / 3rd with 6 seats in first class, 3 in the coupé and, with increasing girth of passengers, 6 in each of the third class.
To suit the end compartments to their primary role, in both vehicles, there was a wide door in each side; but in order to use it, the seats had to be removed.
The carriage has been restored in the Colonel Stephens heritage liveries as part of the railway's vintage The 1930's Train.
Carriage No. 16 was launched at Harbour Station, on Monday 1st October 2001. There were still some minor details to finish, with it finally entering service on a Trustees special train to Tan-y-Bwlch on the 4th.
The carriage, which has been restored to its 1930s appearance, of green livery with red ends is very different from the highly ornate 15. Both coaches are virtually identical but now show the development from Victorian carriage to inter-war period, with many detail changes. The 1st Class Coupé compartment has retained the marquetry from Pullman Car Eunice installed by Ron Jarvis in the 1970's rebuild. This was deliberately left as a tribute to Ron's work. The mouldings on top of the marquetry are from the original (or very early rebuild). It is possible to see the fixing points for the luggage rack brackets. The coupé compartment had at one time a table for solicitors to work upon during their journey. It is unique on the FR and may have been installed when a second-class compartment was altered. Various stories are told of it. This compartment was reputedly used by David Lloyd George when, as a solicitor, he travelled between Port and Blaenau.
Carriage 16 has been finished to the same high standard as 15, displaying a quality of work that gives the appearance of museum finish; but as with 15, both now operate as part of the normal passenger carrying fleet.
Source Boyd and FRCo material
*Date unknown
*Photo:Martin Ellis