'B' set question

[lankytank]

OK you chaps & chappettes, this is quite likely to be considered a newbie question but as my railway interest tends to centre around the north of the country (L&YR), there is a legit reason for my query.

Now, back in the very dim & distant past (more years ago than I care to remember!!!) I had something of a passing interest in the GWR & recall that the B sets were used for 'commuter' traffic (ish) - what I can't recall is..... How was extra traffic (the consumer to use modern parlance) accommodated - was an extra coach simply tacked on the end (type?) or was another B set added?

As always, all/any information appreciated - or if there's any printed info, a heads up wouldn't go amiss.

Thanks

 

[AJC]

I don't *know* - GWR carriage working being (to someone whose inclinations are Southern), an absolute mess of types with little obvious pattern, auto trains (where coach types were mixed almost at will), and, yes, B sets, apart but I guess it depended on circumstance.

Here's a pair at Liskeard for Looe: 1948 -- 1967 Locos 4000 - 4999

Some really useful notes on Bristol area B set working here:

Some notes on Bristol Division GWR B-sets

GWR Modelling provides links, notes, galleries and inspiration for modellers of the Great Western Railway in Britain

www.gwr.org.uk

This, at Portishead, has a non-corridor swinger on the end. 1948 -- 1967 Locos 4000 - 4999

This, at Patchway, has a Hawksworth attached: 1948 - 1967 Locos 5000 - 5999

I imagine that for branch working through coaches might, being the Western, have been absolutely *anything* (it was slip coaches around Yeovil and Taunton from the late '50s - this is convenient as I would rather like to model one!).

Adam

 

[daifly]

Not sure what photos Adam was trying to reference - the links give hundreds of hits!

Try these for two possibles:

Stations - listed Alpahbetically | Portishead 4517-120452-RPC294

4577 stands at Portishead station, 12/4/52. ©www.railphotoprints.co.uk - collection

railphotoprints.uk

1948 - 1967 Locos 5000 - 5999 | 5147 Patchway 0553 RPC136

Western Region large Prairie 5197 leaves patchway with a Bristol area local service, 5/53. ©www.railphotoprints.co.uk - collection

railphotoprints.uk

Dave

 

[AJC]

Not sure what photos Adam was trying to reference - the links give hundreds of hits!

Try these for two possibles:

Stations - listed Alpahbetically | Portishead 4517-120452-RPC294

4577 stands at Portishead station, 12/4/52. ©www.railphotoprints.co.uk - collection

railphotoprints.uk

1948 - 1967 Locos 5000 - 5999 | 5147 Patchway 0553 RPC136

Western Region large Prairie 5197 leaves patchway with a Bristol area local service, 5/53. ©www.railphotoprints.co.uk - collection

railphotoprints.uk

Dave

Argh - yes, those are the right ones, thanks Dave!

Here's the Liskeard one: 1948 -- 1967 Locos 4000 - 4999 | 4574 Liskeard 090861 HB809

Adam

 

[Dog Star]

Seems to me that there are several options when traffic on offer exceeds capacity of a rostered B-set:-

* add an extra coach;
* add another B-set;
* replace the B-set with a D-set (a four coach configuration);
* replace the B-set with a number of main line coaches.

As to which, that probably depends upon availability of stock in the area, influenced by what was specified in the appropriate Carriage Working Notices for the division - using a D-set is not an option if the division has no requirement for that configuration.

On balance, add another coach seems most likely as such has greatest flexibility of use and widest choice of coach type.

Rgds, Graham

 

[lankytank]

Many thanks Guys, so, it would appear that an additional coach, providing it's not out of character or period, would be 'acceptable'.

Makes life a little easier.

Again, thanks.
Barry

 

[AJC]

Many thanks Guys, so, it would appear that an additional coach, providing it's not out of character or period, would be 'acceptable'.

Makes life a little easier.

Again, thanks.
Barry

It needn't ever be 'Western (in the BR period). The WR did seem to hang on to other regions' coaches quite a bit. My favourite example being a Thompson compo' reinforcing a couple of auto trailers on the Chalford local (obviously not in auto mode!).

Adam

 

[Tim V]

The coaches working book would tell the shunter what coaches to add, it wasn't random. And 'B' sets were used on branch lines, not necessarily for 'commuter traffic'. The timetables I've looked at would give timings unsuitable to commute to work.

 

[lankytank]

The coaches working book would tell the shunter what coaches to add, it wasn't random. And 'B' sets were used on branch lines, not necessarily for 'commuter traffic'. The timetables I've looked at would give timings unsuitable to commute to work

Tim, this is excellent info. Appreciated. My use of the phrase 'commuter' was dragged from the memory bank of over 35+ years ago.

The reason for my OP was that, I've just acquired a Gauge 3 B set & wanted to, possibly, 'mix it up a bit' - instead of just running the 2 coach set.

 

[NewportRod]

I've found a couple of specific examples - in the WR Working of Passenger Coaches & Railcars GLOUCESTER, NEWPORT, CARDIFF and SWANSEA DISTRICTS 1958.

Newport District Local set 93 (a B set) spent most of its day rambling between Aberdare, Ystrad Mynach, Neath and Pontypool Road, but for the 7.40 am SX working Pontypool Road to Aberdare it gained a Second extra Non-corridor.

Newport District Local set 93a, however, plied the same routes, but for the 7.45 am MO Aberdare to Pontypool Road, it gained Newport District Local set 94, itself a B set

7.40 am SO working corrected to 7.40 am SX working - it makes all the difference! Presumably this was for commuter traffic