Camping coaches

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Swindon Advertiser

FEW people realise that for a time in the 1930s the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)’s Swindon Works was actually in the holiday home business.

Old carriages which would otherwise have been scrapped were converted and sent to become static features at the ends of countryside branch lines.

Known as Camp Carriages, they were then used as holiday bases by GWR workers and their families.

Our picture was taken at Fairbourne on the Welsh coast more than 80 years ago, and shows a holidaymaker emerging from one of the static carriages, which was next to a line.

The presence of a signal suggests the line in question was very much still in use.

[johnneyw]

There were the Brunel Camping Coaches at Dawlish Warren:

https://www.dawlishwarren.info/accommodation/brunel-camping-coaches/

I'm not sure if they are open again yet.

Edit: Their Facebook pages say they are all refurbished and reopen for business. The pictures look very good.

[grahame]

There really beautiful carriages - far better than "camping" though I have not been inside in person so that's passed on view - at St Germans and at Hayle - https://www.railholiday.co.uk .

[chuffed]

At 1135 pounds a week for 6 people max, they should be!. I believe the old style coaches used to go for a minimum of 350 pounds a week.

[Bmblbzzz]

I have a vague feeling I was aware of this. And elsewhere I've heard of old carriages being used as temporary – and occasionally even permanent – housing (not camping!) for railway employees in Poland right up to early 2000s.

On a different note, a couple of weekends ago I was camping (in a tent!) at a place which included an old goods wagon very nicely refurbished. Lovely site and the wagon looked quite cosy. Ex-Southern Railway, if the label I saw is to be believed: https://orchardgetaway.co.uk/avalon-carriage/

[grahame]

52 years since the withdrawal of the last nationally run camping coach.  I still fancy a stay in St Germans or Hayle ... have any members tried them?

[broadgage]

52 years since the withdrawal of the last nationally run camping coach.  I still fancy a stay in St Germans or Hayle ... have any members tried them?

No, but I have stayed in a holiday home that consisted of  old railway carriages, but well away from a railway line. on the South coast. It had no electricity.

[oxviem]

52 years since the withdrawal of the last nationally run camping coach.  I still fancy a stay in St Germans or Hayle ... have any members tried them?

I have not but have tried the one at Loch Awe and would thoroughly recommend it.

[Marlburian]

I recall the camping coach(es) at Newton Poppleford Station. I would glimpse them as I cycled over the bridge, having built up speed down the hill from the Bowd Inn.

Old carriages also featured at Purley-on-Thames (includes photo) and as overnight accommodation at Mac's Transport Caff on the A4 at Padworth. Sheets were changed once a week irrespective of the number of people who'd slept in them. Popular with cyclists competing in time trials that started near Englefield. Interior of railway carriage prior to removal in the 1970s (page 41)