# The Hawksworth Saloon

> The Hawksworth Saloon (W80976W) is a Great Western Railway inspection saloon built at Swindon in 1948 to a Frederick Hawksworth design, once the Taunton Inspector's Saloon. Owned by the West Somerset Railway Association (registered charity 1041901), she is being refurbished for a return to service on the West Somerset Railway, with the aim of 2027.

Key facts:
- Number: W80976W. Also known as the Taunton Inspector's Saloon.
- Type: Great Western Railway inspection saloon, Diagram Q13, Lot 1701, designed under Frederick Hawksworth, the GWR's last Chief Mechanical Engineer.
- Built: Swindon Works, 1948. At work on the Minehead branch by 1949.
- Owner: West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA), registered charity 1041901. Bought in 2011, restored in 2012 in British Railways (Western Region) chocolate and cream.
- 2022 to 2025: on loan to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.
- 2026: returned by road to Bishops Lydeard on 25 July, hauled to Minehead by D9526 on 4 August, then sheeted over and moved into covered storage after rain revealed more work was needed.
- Aim: return to service on the West Somerset Railway in 2027.
- Donations go to the Hawksworth Fund, a restricted fund for this saloon. Donate: https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/donate/
- Contact: info@wsra.org.uk, 01823 433856, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3BX.

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/): overview of the saloon and the appeal
- [Her story](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/her-story/): history, key dates and photographs
- [The restoration](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/restoration/): the work needed and how donations are used
- [Visit her](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/visit/): where she is and whether she can be seen
- [Donate](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/donate/): give to the Hawksworth Fund
- [Privacy policy](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/privacy-policy/)

## News

- [Under cover for the winter](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/under-cover-for-the-winter/): 2 November 2026, Heavy rain revealed more work than expected, so she has been sheeted over and moved into covered storage.
- [Hauled to Minehead](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/hauled-to-minehead/): 4 August 2026, Diesel D9526 took the saloon down the line to Minehead.
- [Home again](https://www.hawksworthsaloon.co.uk/home-again/): 25 July 2026, After three years on loan to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, the saloon returned by road to Bishops Lydeard.

## Related

- [West Somerset Railway Association](https://wsra.org.uk/)