GWR Steam Railmotor and Trailer Project

Railmotor Sheds

History

As far as is known the GWR only built two running sheds specifically for Railmotors, one at Southall on the main line out of Paddington, and one at Chalford on the Stroud Valley line. All other vehicle allocations were to established steam sheds, where they were stabled and serviced with all the other locomotives.

CHALFORD

The photograph, which is the only one known giving a clear view of Chalford shed, shows the shed and water tank from a vantage point near the station goods yard. The view is looking in the London direction, with the main line to the right of the picture

A part enlargement of a 1905 GWR drawing showing the shed location, including an amendment done in 1916 after the fire destroyed the building and a wooden coal stage was built at the end of the adjacent siding.

The Chalford shed was of wood frame construction clad with corrugated iron, with smoke troughs ventilated through chimneys in a curved roof, and was situated some 200 yards east of the station buildings adjacent to the UP (London) line. The shed was about 130‘ long, 15 ½‘ wide and 18’ to the roof ridge. Track length inside the building was 126’, and a pit was constructed outside the building for ash disposal. No coal stage was provided, coaling the railmotors being done direct from a wagon stabled on an adjacent siding, which also was used to stable a gas tank wagon to provide replenishment of the railmotor’s lighting cylinders. A tank was erected to supply water at the yard entrance.

Chalford shed site in 2006, viewed from approximately where the water tank stood. The main line to London can be seen on the right, together with the stone retaining wall detailed on the shed plan. (now covered in vegetation)

The shed and watering facilities were provided for the commencement of services between Chalford and Stonehouse on 12th October 1903 at a cost of £720, and lasted until the night of 8th January 1916, when the shed was burnt down in a mysterious fire that also destroyed Railmotor No 42, which was stabled in the shed at the time. Although the need for a new shed was acknowledged, no replacement was ever built, the railmotors being stabled and serviced in the open after that date.

SOUTHALL

The Southall shed was larger than the one at Chalford, being some 200’ long, and 19 ½’ wide. This shed was of iron frame construction rather than wood, and was clad in corrugated iron. There was a smoke trough running the length of the building venting through chimneys, and a pit ran most of the length inside the building. It was built in 1905 at the London end of Southall station, near the engine shed, adjacent to the curve of the Brentford Branch, and seems to have been “squeezed in” to a plot of land next to a margarine factory.

A photo, taken from publicity leaflet produced by the margarine factory in 1912 shows the rail motor shed on the right, the Brentford Branch in mid photo, and Southall’s engine shed on the left. The main line to Paddington can just be seen on the far left. It also shows the modified roof vent arrangements fitted to the shed soon after construction.

The original GWR 1905 plan shows the track running through the building for about 100’, terminating in a stop block. This (according to reports) incorporated a wooden coal stage, but a photograph from 1912 shows no evidence of this structure. There is some evidence however that the coal stage was constructed on the stop block of a siding that terminated adjacent to the external pit. (shown in brown at the left hand side of the plan) The shed was equipped with water and gas hydrants fed from the main engine shed. The early roof modification of fitting a louvred vent running the length of the roof was to improve the ventilation, the shed being notorious for the volume of smoke and dirt, so much so that it was normal practice to service the railmotors over the external pit, rather than within the building.

The photograph shows the shed in later days after rail motor services had terminated and the external pit was filled in. At this time the building was used to house Auto Trailers. The pile of debris against the wall is the location of the buffer mounted coal stage.

The Southall site in 2008, with the shed demolished, and the boundary wall hidden behind the trees. The margarine factory is long gone, replaced by a conglomeration of small industrial units. The Brentford branch is however still in situ, although now singled. Both this and the previous photograph were taken from the footbridge that spans the GWR main line to the east of Southall station.

The Recreation

Side elevation of proposed shed – an extract from one of the architect’s drawings

Site Infrastructure Director Graham Drew with the tape, and architect Richard Antliff with the peg and hammer marking out the site

The GWS took the decision at a meeting of all interested parties in August 2007 to recreate one of the sheds at Didcot to house the Society’s rail motor No 93 together with trailer No 92 when restoration of the vehicles is complete. The decision to opt for a replica of the all steel constructed Southall shed was probably wise, bearing in mind the fate of the Chalford shed. The plan to construct the building is dependent on the Society obtaining ownership of the site, as obtaining the funding for construction would be virtually impossible until this is achieved. As the building will be a replica, it is not possible to obtain backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund who will only fund the restoration of original structures, so the Society must obtain funds from other sources.

PROGRESS TO DATE

A chronicle of progress to date is given below and will be progressively updated as progress in made.

The Project Team (r to l)  - Richard Antliff, Peter Jennings, Robin Stevenson, Graham Drew - 22-Aug-2008

"Grubbing out " the hedge behind the Branch Buffer Stop
22-Aug-2008

Branch extension trackwork heading for the railmotor shed site - October-2008