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1145 was built at Swindon as part of Lot 1301 to Diagram K22 and entered service in March 1922. It was renumbered W1145W by BR, continuing in passenger service until August 1960.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2013)]] p.134.</ref> It was then transferred into Internal User stock as number 079038.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2013)]] p.172.</ref> With the internal guard's and luggage compartments removed, it was used for delivering DMU parts to Swindon Works.
W1145W was purchased by [[Great Western (SVR) Association]] member Philip Fryer<ref>SVR News 225, Spring 2024, p. 68., ''Obituaries: Philip Fryer''</ref> and arrived on the SVR from Bristol on 11 September 1973.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It spent Winter 1973-74 in the shed at [[Bewdley ]] where it received a new canvas roof and a repaint into chocolate and cream.<ref>SVR News 31</ref> In summer 1974 it was one four carriages requested for the following year's [[Rail 150]] event at Shildon celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway,<ref>SVR News 32</ref> although the time needed for full restoration meant that other carriages eventually attended instead.
Having been re-roofed, 1145 was used as a storage vehicle.<ref>SVR Stock Book Sixth edition, August 1977 and Seventh Edition, July 1980</ref> In spring 1984 the SVR agreed with Philip that 1145 could be converted to provide a fourth [[Santa's Grotto]] at [[Arley]],<ref>SVR News 71, ''General Manager's notes''</ref> for which internal partitions were fitted.<ref name=SB9/>
In 1993 1145 returned to Bewdley for a 'much needed face-lift'. Despite never had a 'heavy overhaul', it was considered to be still in 'very good condition', requiring only attention to the steel panelling, repairs to the toplights, and a repaint.<ref>SVR News 110</ref> In 1997 it was moved to [[Kidderminster]] to provide space in the yard at [[Arley ]] for filming [[Oh Doctor Beeching!]] and the opportunity was taken for another repaint, the report in SVR News noting that "''This coach, along with the other two grottos, earns more revenue over the three-week Santa period than any other coach in the whole year, so it must be kept water-tight and smart to look at when in the siding at Arley''".<ref>SVR News 124</ref>
After the SVR obtained replacement 'Grotto' vehicles in 1999, 1145 was "''dumped unceremoniously out of use with its future very uncertain''". In late 2008 the [[Great Western GW(SVR) Association]] A announced that Philip Fryer had donated the coach to them. At the time, the [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] were using [[LNER 70759 Gangwayed Full Brake/Pigeon Van|LNER Pigeon Van 70759]] as their Bewdley sales coach. In order to release 70759 for restoration, the LNER Fund agreed with the GW(SVR)A that, in return for the LNER Fund’s working members carrying out basic conservation and restoration work for static use,<ref group="note">Much more work, particularly on the ends, underframe and running gear would have been necessary to return 1145 to operational condition.</ref> 1145 would then be used as a shop jointly by the LNER (SVR) Coach Fund and the [[Bewdley Station Fund Shop|Bewdley Station Fund]].<ref>SVR News 164</ref>
The LNER Fund duly began work on 1145. Some modifications to the original bodywork were required for its future use as a shop, but these were carried out in an easily reversible manner to avoid compromising a future restoration of 1145 as a working vehicle. The guard's compartment was reinstated and a sag in the roof corrected which had resulted from its absence over many years. [[SVR(H)]] funded a new roof canvas in recognition of the years of 'Grotto' service. The LNER Fund resisted the temptation to paint the coach in a Doncaster 'scumbled teak' finish and applied a suitable GWR livery.<ref>SVR News 165</ref> The restoration was completed with the coach in use in its new role by summer 2010.<ref>SVR News 170</ref>
