GWR 65801 Mogo Van

GWRGreat Western Railway 65801 MogoGWR telegraphic code signifying a covered motor car wagon Van
GWRGreat Western Railway 65801 MogoGWR telegraphic code signifying a covered motor car wagon Van
Built By	GWRGreat Western Railway Swindon
Status	Operational
Number	65801
History
Built	1946-47
Diagram	G43
Lot	1556
Type	4-wheeled ventilated van
Capacity	12 tons
Telegraphic code	MOGO
1973	Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway
1984	Overhauled
1985	In main line use
2000	Overhauled
Goods Wagons

65801 has a 12-ton capacity and is fitted with end doors and wheel bars to allow a motor car to be loaded and transported in a goods train, hence its telegraph code 'MOGO'. This late example had a plywood body as a post-War economy measure, although earlier examples had planked construction.

Service and preservation

The GWRGreat Western Railway’s ‘G’ Diagrams originally covered large open wagons such as the LORIOT used for transporting road vehicles and agricultural equipment, but by the 1930s the growth of private car ownership saw the GWRGreat Western Railway introduce covered vans for transporting cars by rail. 65801 was built at Swindon circa 1946-47 to Diagram G43, Lot 1556. It saw service in BRBritish Rail or British Railways's Western region.

65801 was acquired by The GWR 813 Preservation Fund at Swindon, where it was awaiting breaking up. It arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway from there on 3 July 1973.

In May 1982 the van was cleaned down and primed by a visiting group of volunteers from the Bristol Conservation Corps, with painting and lettering completed by John Lonergan.. Two years later it received a more major overhaul which included recanvassing the roof, rebuilding the end doors using second-hand ‘FRUIT D’ door planks, and replacing all four axleboxes with Great Western RCHRailway Clearing House pattern ones. Following a complete repaint it re-entered service during the Enthusiasts' Weekend Demonstration Goods Train on 15 September. It appeared on the main line in 1985 as part of the GW 150 demonstration freight train which ran to Newport behind GWR freight loco 2857.

During 2000, 65801 returned to Bewdley yard for a further overhaul which began the following summer. On this occasion the roof canvas was repaired rather than replaced, but the complete outer skin of the four end doors was replaced using new timber, with the inner door planks being replaced as required. The overhaul was completed during 2002.

In 2008 a falling slate from the Goods Shed roof split the roof canvas, necessitating another repair. The opportunity was taken for a complete repaint of the vehicle at the same time.

See also

List of goods wagons

References

Links

• 65801 on www.gwr813.org
• 65801 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line