Carriage & Wagon Report, October 2004
by Richard Johnson, 17th October 2004

At the time of the last report, we had just finished the Open First 3045 ‘Marguerite’ and put it back into service. Immediately afterwards we brought the RBr (Restaurant Buffet) 1675 back into the shed. This turned out to be a very good move, because it enabled us to concentrate on finishing off all those jobs which we all tend to leave to someone else.

All the panelling in the corridor was completed and has been painted in executive grey. We decided to do this, because much of it was originally distorted and rotten and has had to be replaced. It was not feasible to replace it with formica of the original pattern, so repainting was the best option. The flooring in front of the buffet counter has been re-laid, and a whole host of minor but important items inside have been attended to. Only minor plumbing work is now required underneath, and it is finished, (hopefully!). The plan is to run it in on the services after the Santa trains in late December for a ‘shake down’, so that will be your first opportunity to travel in it.

Presently occupying all our time in the shed is the TSO (Tourist Second Open) 4772 which we acquired from Paignton earlier this year. It is now largely complete underneath, having been lifted on the carriage jacks whilst the RBr was inside. Work continues to smarten up the inside, and externally it is being transformed into chocolate & cream. Five of the exterior doors now work perfectly. When we obtained the coach, all doors had swollen up (as they do) and were stuck solid. Two were so rotten that they had to be taken off and thrown into a skip. The coach arrived without any internal tables, but we have acquired a full set of 16 and they will be fitted before it leaves us to go into service The plan is to have the coach available for the first of the Santa trains in early December. It is always good to know that there is a plan!

With the entry into service of the RBr and the TSO, it will release the RMB (Miniature Buffet) 1811, and the SK (Corridor Second) 25451 from the Chocolate & Cream set. 25451 is in need of a refurb, having run for 10 years since we last did it. It will re-emerge in Carmine & Cream and be the fifth vehicle in that rake. 1811 will be refurbished later, and held as a spare buffet.

The Southern Railway brake van 55126 (see picture) has been completed mechanically and externally, and operated in the freight train on the Diesel Gala on the 16th & 17th of October. In addition to a thorough repaint, several of the windows were replaced, new doors to the guards cabin were manufactured and fitted and new flooring was installed throughout. It needs to come back to us to have some internal finishing, but it was too good an opportunity to miss, to see it in operation.

Work is continuing on the 1932 Great Western Mink G 112850. This is a 20 ton 4 wheeled goods van, which is being put back into its original GWR colours. I read somewhere that these were the longest 4 wheeled vans ever built, and it is quite possible. Longer vehicles tend to have bogies, to enable them to negotiate curves as well as to distribute the weight better. The braking system underneath this van has now been completed. Some missing rodding has been replaced, and a refurbished vacuum brake cylinder has been fitted. There is still an amount of body woodwork to be completed, and a new canvas roof covering has to be fitted. Quite apart from looking very attractive, when completed it will both become a very useful stores vehicle, and will be available to be operated in demonstration goods trains.

New roller shutter doors have now been fitted at both ends of the shed, and the old rickety steel framed clad doors were taken down and cut up. Had we left it any longer, it is likely that they would have fallen down of their own accord. With the advent of colder weather we have tried out our new space heater for the first time. It is much more efficient than the old one it replaced, and should keep everyone warm throughout the winter, so no excuses.