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The Golden Valley Light railway

A 2ft (610mm) Narrow Gauge Railway in Derbyshire

Ashover Light Railway Coach No 4

After 21 years of trying, in 2007 the GVLR acquired Ashover Light Railway Coach No.4. This 1924 built coach, which ran on the Ashover Light Railway until 1937, had for 53 years been grounded on the Clay Cross Works Bowling Green. It has been fully restored, united with a pair of replica 1916 War Department type bogies, and returned to carrying passengers on the GVLR in 2014

image: ALR Coach No 4 number, on coach side
No4 and Works Plates
on side of ALR No4
E Draper

image: ALR Coach No 4 number, interior of the coach
Interior of ALR No4
after Restoration
E Draper

ALR Coach No4 Restoration

External Links
History of the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company

Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway,
home to the other two extant
Ashover Coaches


image: Ashover Coach No 4 in the GVLR Running shed
ALR Coach No 4
in the GVLR Running shed
B dominic

image: ALR Coach No 4 saloon interior
ALR Coach No 4
the saloon interior
B Dominic

image: Ashover Coach No 4 at the Bowling Green, Clay Cross
ALR Coach No 4
at Clay Cross
H A Morton

A Short History
of Ashover Light Railway Coach No 4

by Barry Lynam

For the opening of the Ashover Light Railway in 1925, four carriages were supplied to the Clay Cross Company, being built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co.

Their construction followed street tramway practice, being fitted with that style of longitudinal seats in two saloons, separated by a partition with a sliding door. There were six droplight windows in each side and two in each end vestibule. The main saloons seated forty persons and tip-up seats in each vestibule could accommodate up to three extra passengers.

The bodies were carried on a pair of ex. WD two foot gauge bogies. These were taken from "D" class WD wagons purchased by the Clay cross Company as WD 1st World War surplus.

After the initial opening, passenger traffic was brisk, but soon started to drop off. It was later found that a single carriage would suffice for most of the services. The passenger ceased in 1936.

The carriages were stored at Clay Cross under cover in the carriage shed. At the start of the Second World War No's 1, 2 and 3 were removed to Clay Cross works and used for storage and a canteen. No. 4 languished in the carriage shed.

However in 1952 the three carriages in the works were removed to the company sports ground, where they used as stands. In 1953 carriage No 4 was moved from the shed and set up along the side of the bowling green. It remained there in the company of the "Where The Rainbow Ends" cafe, until the Golden Valley Light Railway at Butterley was successful in securing it for preservation. It is now stored awaiting restoration to original condition, in the GVLR Running Shed at Swanwick Junction.