The Great Central Railway is home to many unusual vehicles. Test Car 2 is one of them. Converted from a passenger carriage it was used to 'let go' or 'slip' wagons from the back of a short train to test how effective their brakes were. It was useful for evaluating new designs of wagons before computer modelling was widespread.

Rather than be converted back to passenger stock, the vehicle has been preserved at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire as it was, when in use for testing. You can hear the story and explore inside, accompanied by Dave Bower who worked on the vehicle, when it was in use testing wagons.

In July 2023 after a long restoration, Test Car 2 returned to the rails, albeit with wagons firmly coupled up to it!

Dave has published books about the test car which you can buy at
www.bowerbooks.co.uk/testcar2