The GWR allocated the code ‘Loriot’ to flat wagons designed to move earth moving and plant machinery. The first appeared in 1892 and a family look soon evolved, with the wagon’s deck angled upwards at each end to clear the axles. One new ‘Loriot’ was built in 1937 to Diagram G39 and coded ‘Loriot Y’. Originally, the GWR considered it to be an addition to its ‘Loriot W’ fleet, however, it was built from assembled ‘I’ beam girders rather than rolled beams. Consequently, it was re-classified ‘Loriot Y’. A second was built in 1939 and both would have run over large areas of the GWR’s network, moving excavators and other plant, particularly during the Second World War. Records for these two vehicles are few and far between. No. 41989 found fame when it starred in The Titfield Thunderbolt, after which it is believed to have been scrapped not long after the filming in 1953. Sister ‘Loriot Y’ No. 41990 remained in revenue-earning service until at least 1990 at Radyr Engineers Yard. Eventually, as DW41990 (coded ‘ZXP’ on TOPS), it moved to Bescot from where it was condemned in 1994. Saved at the 11th hour, it moved to the Severn Valley Railway where it remains to this day.
(Information provided via Rapido Trains)
Type of Vehicle |
Flat wagon |
Builder |
GWR Swindon Works |
Build Dates |
1937 & 1939 |
Total Built |
2 |
Wheel Configuration |
4-wheel |
Operated By |
Great Western Railway British Railways |
Main Duties |
Machinery transport Departmental |
In Service Until |
1990s |
Surviving Examples |
1 |
Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Cambrian | Requires assembly | Not set |
C48Cambrian View |
GWR Loriot W Diagram G41 1944/48/BR flatrol ww zwp/zvpDiagram 2/900/902 1949-58 | Awaiting Categorisation | |
N Gauge | N Gauge Society | Requires assembly | Not set |
NGS6 View |
GWR/BR 'Loriot' 4-wheel Wagon kit | Awaiting Categorisation |