GWR Super Saloons

GWR Super Saloon
A similar design was used for the Centenary stock, shown above.
In service	1931–1967
Manufacturer	Great Western Railway Designer: Charles Collett
Built at	Swindon Works
Constructed	1931–1932
Number built	8
Number scrapped	3
Diagram	G60 (2), G61 (6)
Fleet numbers	9111–9118
Operator(s)	Great Western Railway (1931-1948) British Railways (1948-1967)
Depot(s)	Old Oak Common and Laira
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel Body-on-frame, non-integral
Car length	61 feet 4 1⁄2 inches (18.707 m)
Width	9 feet 7 inches (2.92 m)
Doors	hinged slam
Maximum speed	100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight	35 long tons (36 t)
Train heating	Steam
Braking system(s)	Automatic vacuum
Coupling system	Drawhook
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The Great Western Railway Super Saloons were eight railway carriages developed to service the boat train traffic from London to Plymouth. Built to the maximum loading gauge to be more opulent than the rival Pullman Company coaches offered by rival railway companies, and all named after members of the British Royal Family, their success was short lived due to the onset of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Taken out of service by British Rail in 1967, today five of the original carriages survive in preservation.

The original backers of the GWR had adopted Isambard Kingdom Brunel's plan to speed trans-Atlantic Ocean passage for both passengers and freight by providing a direct route from London westwards to the connecting ports located in the West Country and Wales. However, many of the financial backers were based in Bristol, itself a major port, and so although the company eventually developed Brunel's plan, the only major high-speed railway connection was eventually developed to Plymouth.

Post-World War I and with the United States now economically booming, new developments in Ocean Liner design and construction brought about new, faster ships with more luxury capacity. These nouveau-riche first-class passengers were used to speed, quality and service; mixing with commuters and third class passengers, let alone mail and freight, was not what they wanted. What the new passengers required were high-speed dedicated boat train services.