Changes

[[File:GWR Churchward 57 Passenger Brake No.261 (7047804459){{Infobox carriage|image = GWR_261_20150711.jpg |thumb|300px|right| caption = GWR toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake 261 (Wikimedia CommonsJuly 2015)|construc = GWR Swindon|status = Static use|carno = 261|othernos = W261, W261W|designed = Churchward|diagram = K22|lot = 1281|cartype = Snake C, [[:Category:Carriage Type BG|BG]]|length = 56ft 11&frac14;in|weight = |seats = None|built = 1922|years1 = 1982|events1 = Entered preservation|years2 = 1996|events2 = Arrived on SVR|years3 = |events3 = |years4 = |events4 = |years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}'''GWR 261''' is a '''Churchward toplight 'Snake CToplight' Gangwayed Passenger Brake ''' (BG) No 261 . This type of 'full brake' contained no passenger seating and was built in 1922therefore classed as [[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS)| Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock]] (NPCCS). It was first preserved in 1982 by The internal layout consisted of a guard's compartment situated between two luggage compartments, the larger of which occupied more than half the length of the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway for potential use as a catering vehiclecoach. It moved A corridor along one side allowed passengers to pass through. The type was given the SVR in March 1996GWR telegraphic code "'''SNAKE C'''".<ref group="note">The telegraphic code SNAKE specified a Full Brake, of which there were four sub-types, SNAKE A (6-wheeled), then privately owned. It is now situated adjacent to Highley Signal BoxSNAKE B (8-wheeled), where it is used for temporary overnight accommodationSNAKE C (8-wheeled with side corridor) and SNAKE D (8-wheeled with gangways.</ref>

GWR 261 was designed by the GWR's Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent George Jackson Churchward and built to Diagram K22. The first two carriages to that Diagram were completed in 1915, after which further construction was halted by the First World War. A further 36 were built in 1921 and 1922.<ref name=Longworth>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2018)]] p.134.</ref> The last ones were completed after Churchward's retirement<ref group=Sources"note">The title of 'Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent' ended with Churchward's retirement, his successor C.B. Collett adopting the more familiar title 'Chief Mechanical Engineer' (CME).</ref> and were constructed with steel-sided flush panelling rather than the timber panelling and beading found on the earlier Toplight stock. The Diagram 22 carriages held the distinction of being both the last 'Toplights' to be built at Swindon and the last such carriages in BR use, continuing in service until 1961-62.<ref name=GW2022>GW(SVR)A Newsletter, Summer 2022, "''Churchward Passenger Brake Van Centenarians''", Chris Haynes</ref> Sister carriage [[GWR 1145 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake|1145]] of 1922 is also preserved on the SVR and can be seen at Bewdley, where it serves as [[The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop]]. 261 and 1145 were the subject of an article by Chris Haynes in the [[Great Western (SVR) Association]] Newsletter, Summer 2022, the title "''Churchward Passenger Brake Van Centenarians''" denoting that both are now more than 100 years old. A third 'SNAKE C', [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|GWR 1150]], was also based at Bewdley between 1981 and 2001 where it was home to the "Wribbenhall Junction" model railway layout. ==Service and preservation==261 was built at Swindon in 1921 as part of Lot 1281, being outshopped in September of that year.<ref group="note">Lot 1281 comprised running numbers 257 to 266, although they were not completed sequentially. 261 and 265 were outshopped in September 1921, the others were completed between October 1921 and April 1922.</ref> It continued in use with BR(W), renumbered W261W, until April 1961.<ref name=Longworth/> After withdrawal from service, it was sold to Llanwern Steelworks for internal use as a mess van.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref>  261 was acquired for preservation at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Heritage Register Carriage Surveyin 1982 by Mark Vrettos<brref name=GW2022/>for potential use as a catering vehicle. Some restoration work was carried out there, but was still incomplete when 261 was purchased by Great Western (SVR) Association member Mike Walker. This enabled a transfer to the Severn Valley Railway to take place on 20 March 1996, where completion of the restoration could take place.<ref name=SB9/> The 1999 SVR Stock Book Ninth Editionincluded a picture of 261 at Kidderminster, noting that "''It is intended to keep it in full running order''".<ref name=SB9/> However by 2000 it was positioned at Highley, adjacent to the [[Highley signal box]],<ref>SVR News 135, photo p. 7.</ref>. {{As of|2022}} it was still at Highley, where it has been used since arrival for storage and as temporary overnight accommodation, and still owned by Mike Walker. Sadly, he died on 14 January 2023. ===Gallery===In the picture from July 2015 (top right), 261 is in similar condition to the undated illustration in Chris Haynes' article, which is captioned "261 at Highley after its main restoration". For comparison, two other pictures from before and after that date are shown below; the blue primer around the windows is not visible in either. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GWR Churchward 57 Passenger Brake No.261 (7047804459).jpg | GWR 261 at Highley (March 2012)GWR_261_20170723.jpg| GWR 261 at Highley (July 2017)</gallery>As seen from left to right, the first two sets of double doors gave access to the larger luggage compartment, the single door was for the guard's compartment, and the final pair of double doors gave access to the smaller luggage compartment.  ==See also==*[[Carriages| List of carriages]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/> ==References==<references/>

*[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=62 261 on vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]<br>

==See also=={{CarriageNavbox}} [[Carriages| List of carriagesCategory: Carriage Type BG]]<br>: [[GWR 238 Autotrailer Third | Previous ]]<br>Category: [[GWR 650 Brake Third Open (Excursion) | Next Featured articles]]