Great Western Railway Coaches - Churchward Dreadnoughts

Nicknamed after the massive battleships that were launched in late 1905, Churchwards first coaches were just that. Enormous. In fact they were the biggest ever coach to appear on the railways of mainland Britian. Whilst 19" shorter than the BR Mk 3 coach (75' 6) that was introduced in 1975, they were 6" wider at 9'6"; making the cross sectional area of a Dreadnought 702 sq.ft vs 680 sq.ft for the Mk 3. Something that was only possible due to the wide loading gauge inherited from broad gauge days.

They broke with accepted design in many ways. Instead of doors to every compartment there were only doors at the middle and ends of the coaches. Instead of the clerestory roof there was a large elliptical roof.

Dimensions
Width over cornices	9' 2¼
Width over body under cornices	8' 11½
Width over body at waist	9' 6 9' 6¾ - Diners
Width over handles	9' 6
Width over vestibules	7' 6
Width over floor	8' 9¼
Height to gutters	10' 7
Height to top of roof	12' 6¼
Height over ventillators	13' 0¾

Diagram	Dimensions Length x Width Wheelbase		Numbers		Conversions / Withdrawn Date
C24 9 compartment third	69' x 9'6 63' wheelbase	6 built in 1904 14 built in 1905 10 built in 1905	2295 to 2300 3277 to 3290 3291 to 3300	R Spratt Collection C24 No.079006 © Lens of Sutton C24 No.3299 @ Totnes © Photomatic	3291 - one compartment converted to Electric Testing Compartment C26 in 1909 Condemned 1950 - 1956
C26 8 compartment third and Electric Testing Compartment	69' x 9'6 63' wheelbase	1 converted in 1909	3291	Experimental Electric train May 1909 Fitted with 8 insulators for Uniplax Signalling 1919 Extra Sliding door in corridor and part of partition removed and Caution Notices February 1925 Fitted with Wireless Apparatus January 1926	Converted back to C24 before November 1945 when it was recorded as having 72 seats
D42 5 compartment brake third	70' x 9'6 64' wheelbase	6 built in 1905 6 built in 1905	3467 to 3472 3473 to 3478	R Spratt Collection	3467 & 3472 had 2 compartments changed to a buffet kitchen and pantry in 1927, given diagram H2 (second use), converted back to normal compartments in 1936/7 3476 rebuilt in 1927 to D100 3478 converted to Mobile Decontamination Unit May 1942 and returned to normal stock October 1946 Condemned 1949 - 1954
E77 8 compartment composite 3 first class and 5 second class compartments	67' 11 x 9'6 62' wheelbase	6 built in 1905	(7)1629 to (7)1644		Condemned 1952 - 1956
H8 H9 H10 Composite Diner Central Kitchen with 18 seat 1st class Saloon & 32 seat 3rd class Saloon	68' x 9'6 61' 6 wheelbase	1 built in 1904 3 built in 1904 3 built in 1905	1575 9515 (after 1907) 1572 to 1574 9512 to 9514 (after 1907) 1569 to 1571 9509 to 9511 (after 1907)	Diagram shows coach after renovation with the windows and toplights replaced by a combined window with sliding top opener. Pre-renovation the windows were as drawn on the E77 diagram above.	H9 - 9509 H10 - 9510 - built with 6 wheel American bogies All others were built with 9' bogies with volute springs All renovated in 1936 Various bogie changes throughout their life Withdrawn between 1952 and 1959
H11 Composite Diner Central Kitchen with 18 seat 1st class Saloon & 32 seat 3rd class Saloon	70' x 9'6 63' 6 wheelbase	4 built in 1905 in 2 lots	1567, 1568 9507, 9508 (after 1907) 1565, 1566 9505, 9506 (after 1907)	Diagram shows coach after renovation with the windows and toplights replaced by a combined window with sliding top opener. Pre-renovation the windows were as drawn on the E77 diagram above.	All renovated in 1936/7 1941 - 9506 1954 - 9507, 9508 1956 - 9505
M8 PO Sorting Slip	68' x 9'6 61' 6 wheelbase	1 built in 1905	837	Similar to M9 below except there is no gangway in the Guard compartment	1955 - 837
M9 PO Stowage Van with Guards compartment	68' x 9'6 61' 6 wheelbase	2 built in 1905	823, 824		1946 - 824 1956 - 823
M10 PO Stowage Van	68' x 9'6 61' 6 wheelbase	2 built in 1905	821, 822		1954 - 821 1956 - 822