South Devon Railway- Coach 2180

The
South Devon Railway
Ex BR(W) Coach 7377

Update 14^th April 2000:
Hawksworth BCK 7377 entered traffic on the South Devon Railway at the weekend after a two year rebuild. The carriage, which was acquired by the Trust from Dart Valley Railway Plc four years ago, has had new roof sections fitted to resolve the water ingress, body repairs, complete new upholstery, a repaint into 1947 GW livery and has had its bogies removed and overhauled. 7377 is now the regular brake vehicle on the train and joins Collet 6515 in the formation. Next GW carriage for overhaul will be be one of the two Collett 'Excursion' coaches 1285 or 1295. These were amongst the earliest open design carriages for front line duties on the Great Western. Another Hawksworth 2180 is waiting in the wings for restoration after the SDRA's London Group complete their current project BG 276.

Our picture shows 1420 ready to leave Buckfastleigh with the 12.15pm train for Shearings Coaches on 10.4.00 with 7377 at the head of the formation and 6515 next in line.

This coach was built by the Great Western Railway to Hawksworth design diagram E.164.
This splendid vehicle once formed part of the WR Royal Train (7372 at Didcot was the brake vehicle at the other end of the train.)

Seen here ex-works (02 November 1999) from Buckfastleigh C&W Works, it has been outshopped in GW 1947 livery and will be part of the regular train set on the SDR from the 2000 season.

7377 will form part of the Great Western train with 6515, the yet to be restored two Art-Deco "Excursion Coaches" 1285 & 1295 , Hawksworth "Composite" 2180, the nearly completed Full Brake 276 and "Ocean Saloon" 9111 (King George).