GWR 1948 Hawksworth 63’ Profile and Models

2202 at Didcot Railway Centre in April 2019. ©Hugh Llewelyn

Following World War 2, the GWR's new Chief Mechanical Engineer, Frederick Hawksworth proposed a new design of coach for use on express and secondary passenger services. These corridor coaches feature distinctive domed roof-ends and re-utilised Collett's "bow-ended" end profile. Due to a shortage of materials, the stock was not as lavishly appointed as GWR's previous designs but they proved useful and lasted in use with BR until the mid-1960s.

Type of Vehicle	Coach
Builder	Great Western Railway
Build Dates	1948 to 1951
Total Built	523
Wheel Configuration	Bogies
Operated By	Great Western Railway British Railways
Main Duties	Express & Secondary Passenger Services
In Service Until	1966
Surviving Examples	Some in preservation