GWR and BR(W) Coach formations

[honk843]

May I just add what an excellent thread this is turning out to be and also it might shed a light on why I think this is such an interesting period to model.

[richard.ferraro23]

May I just add what an excellent thread this is turning out to be and also it might shed a light on why I think this is such an interesting period to model.

It most certainly is, I've learned so much. And thank you everyone who has posted and helped me learn. Big props to @Karhedron who seems to have a real treasure trove of knowledge. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[twinklekev]

Another good source of information is the instructions for Comet Coach kits as these tend to have sample formation on them.

For example; from the D84 coach kit instructions.

Sample formations
South Wales sets 1924                                    BTK/TK/CK/RC/CK/TK/BTK
08.35 Plymouth-Paddington 1931                     BTK/CK/TK/BTK/FK/RU/TK/BTK/Slip/Slip
10.10 Paddington-Birkenhead via Oxford 1938  TK/BTK/TK/CK/TK/RC/CK/BTK*/TK*/CK/BTK*                                                                               
                                                                     I            Hereford          I      Birkenhead      I*70' stock
11.45 Paddington-Hereford 1951                      BTK/TK/CK/TK/BTK*/RU/CK/BTK                                                                               
                                                                     I         Hereford          I  Worcester I*70' stock

RU = Restaurant (unclassified). RC = Restaurant Composite (Just so you know).

Hope this adds something to the discussion.

Kevin.

[martyn]

Its not (G)WR of course, but the GER Society has within its online shop a series of BR stock working diagrams for the ex GER main lines; Liverpool St to Norwich via Ipswich and via Cambridge, and also the principle cross country expresses. These are available for the workings for different years, mainly 1955 to 1985.

A second series of stock working diagrams gives details of local and branch line formations.

It is possible that similar formations existed across the regions, with local variations; I'm not sure, but it does give ideas for 'typical' formations of the era.

martyn

[longbow]

 The most authoritative source I've seen on these matters is a groups.io forum called BR Loco-hauled Coaching Stock 1948-97, which has a large library of Carriage Working Notices.