Changes

|image = GWR_1145_20150315GWR_1145_20160806.jpg|caption = GWR toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake 1145(2016)

|length = 60ft 56ft 11¼in|weight = 31t 9cwt

|years2 = 20091984|events2 = Restored Converted for use as a static shopSanta's Grotto|years3 = 2009|events3 = Converted for use as shop

}}'''GWR 1145''' is a '''Churchward toplight 'Snake CToplight' Gangwayed Passenger Brake ''' (BG) No 1145 . This type of 'full brake', which was given the GWR telegraphic code "'''SNAKE C'''",<ref group="note">The telegraphic code SNAKE specified a Full Brake, of which there were four types, SNAKE A (6-wheeled), SNAKE B (8-wheeled), SNAKE C (8-wheeled with side corridor) and SNAKE D (8-wheeled with gangways).</ref> contained no passenger seating and was built in 1922therefore classed as [[:Category:Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS)| Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock]] (NPCCS). Accommodation The internal layout consisted of a guard’s guard's compartment situated between two luggage vanscompartments, with a the larger of which occupied more than half the length of the coach. A corridor along one side to allow allowed passengers to pass through, but this was removed when the coach was transferred into departmental use for delivering DMU parts to Swindon Works.

1145 was purchased by [[Great Western (The SVR) Association]] member Philip Fryer<ref>SVR News 225is home to another SNAKE C, p. 68</ref> and arrived on the SVR from Bristol on 11 September 1973. In summer 1974 it was one four carriages requested for the following year's [[Rail 150GWR 261 Toplight 'Snake C' Passenger Brake|GWR 261]] event at Shildon celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway,<ref>SVR News 32</ref> although where further information on the time needed for restoration meant that other carriages eventually attended insteadtype may be found.

==GWR 1145 has previously seen use as [[Santa's Grotto]], but after the SVR obtained replacement vehicles in 1999, service and preservation==1145 saw use was built at Swindon as a storepart of Lot 1301 to Diagram K22 and entered service in March 1922. In 2007 It was moved to [[Bewdley]] and briefly used as accommodationrenumbered W1145W by BR, then as the continuing in passenger service until August 1960.<ref>[[List of shopsBibliography#Other References|LNER Longworth (SVR2013) Coach Fund shop]] until its deteriorating condition led to its temporary replacement by [[LNER 70759 Gangwayed Full Brakep.134.</Pigeon Van|LNER Pigeon Van 70759]]ref> It was then transferred into Internal User stock as number 079038. In order to release 70759 for restoration, the <ref>[[The LNER Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (SVR2013) Coach Fund]] agreed with p.172.</ref> With the GW(SVR)A that, in return for the LNER Fund’s working members carrying out basic conservation internal guard's and restoration workluggage compartments removed, it would be was used as [[The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop]]for delivering DMU parts to Swindon Works.

In 2023 the GWW1145W was purchased by [[Great Western (SVR)A carried out a Association]] member Philip Fryer<ref>SVR News 225, Spring 2024, p. 68., ''Obituaries: Philip Fryer'bottom half' </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 repaintinto chocolate and cream.<ref>GW(SVRA) Facebook post 1 June 2023SVR 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.

Sister 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 (SVR) Association]] 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> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">GWR_1145_20150307.jpg| GWR 261 Toplight 'Snake SNAKE C' Passenger 1145 in use as a sales coach at Bewdley, March 2015</gallery> A re-arrangement of the sales shops at Bewdley took place during 2016. The smaller [[GWR 1399 Milk Brake|261]] is also resident on , formerly the GW(SVR)A shop, became the [[Bewdley Station Fund Shop]], while 1145 became [[The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop]],<ref name=GW2022>GW(SVR)A Newsletter, Summer 2022, "''Churchward Passenger Brake Van Centenarians''", Chris Haynes</ref> a role in which it has continued since. In 2023 the GW(SVR)A carried out a 'bottom half' repaint.<ref>GW(SVRA) Facebook post 1 June 2023</ref>