Carriage & Wagon Report, February 2007
by Richard Johnson, 14th Febraury 2007

There are three main themes to the report this time; the refurbishment of the maroon RMB (Restaurant Miniature Buffet) 1876; the continuing work done on the TSO (Tourist Standard open) 5042 and all the work done on the service coaches throughout the closed season.

Starting with the RMB 1876, this came into our workshop at the end of November, as the previous occupant SK 25743 departed complete. The job to be done on 1876 was the same as 25743; a full interior and exterior refurbishment and repaint. After six years continual use on the railway, the exterior was in remarkably good condition, save for the faded paintwork. Work on that has progressed nicely in the usual way, and at the beginning of February, is largely complete.

We found two significant holes in the roof, and both had allowed large amounts of water in with consequent damage to the interior. One, over the buffet area had allowed water to run down behind the wall panelling and rot the servery floor. The other at the toilet end, had had the same effect on the vestibule corridor between the toilets.

The answer in both cases was to rip out the rotten flooring and replace with new strong plywood. At the same time the whole of the area behind the buffet counter has been stripped out; plumbing and electrics have been replaced and the area totally rebuilt. A brand new modern ultra violet water steriliser has been installed, for the drinking water supply. All ceilings have been repainted, and interior door panelling has been removed refurbished, varnished and replaced. The internal formica panelling has had a thorough clean with sugar soap.

Although when we brought the coach inside we thought that the seating and moquette was in pretty good order, closer inspection showed that many of the armrests and side panels were wearing thin, and would need attention. Over a period of several weeks, our upholstery team has removed, recovered and replaced virtually all the side panels and armrests. This has transformed the interior. As a final job the moquette will have a deep clean with our shampooer.

The coach will shortly go outside to be lifted on our jacks so that the buffers, buckeyes, bogies and braking system can be refurbished and lubricated. It will be replaced in the shed with the BSK (Corridor Brake Standard) 35308, which has already had an amount of work undertaken on it, in preparation for a major overhaul. That coach has never actually been refurbished internally since coming to the GWR, although it has been running for 17 years, so there will plenty to keep us busy there. Not least, the disabled area is in the middle of a major revamp.

Secondly, TSO 5042 is a coach which arrived only a few months ago. It only had four large windows complete when it arrived; the rest having been smashed at the depot where it was stored. Also, four passenger doors and all the top sliding windows were missing. Rain had damaged the interior and it was filled with junk and masses of broken glass. Much work on it has already seen a major transformation. Four replacement doors have been fitted, and all the large windows have been replaced together with most of the small ones. The large windows are held in position by two separate rubber sealing strips which slot into the aluminium frame. As we got to the last one, we got the hang of it.

We shall continue working on this coach whilst it is outside, before it takes its place in the shed and is put into maroon. By the time it comes in, the amount of work needed to complete it will be much reduced.

And thirdly, as this is the winter period both service sets of coaches are parked at Winchcombe and a significant amount of servicing has been undertaken. Brakes have been adjusted and where necessary, brake blocks have been changed. Axle box pads have been examined, and oil has been topped up in the boxes. Internally, the coaches have had a thorough ‘wash and brush up’ and the moquette is being steadily cleaned with our industrial shampooing machine. Our upholstery team has spent several weekends attending to a long list of damaged seats and armrests, literally on the age old principle that a stitch in time ……. All of the seats in the Chocolate & Cream BSK 34676 have been reupholstered, together with a couple of really worn ones from the SK 24949. They now look exceptionally smart, and it is quite amazing what a transformation newly upholstered seats make to a compartment.

With all this concentration on the service coaches, not a lot of time has been able to be spent on wagons. The converted Toad, which we fitted out as a store for our rolls of moquette, was finished and has been parked up outside where it is handy. The B R Brakevan which featured in an earlier report has finally been stripped of asbestos by contractors (after a wait of 9 months!), and work will now recommence on rebuilding that.

Finally, at the end of January work began by S & T on the clearance of their yard, which – for those of you who are not familiar with geography – is adjacent to our shed. Once cleared, we are told that P/Way will start to extend two of our sidings across that land. Whilst they will initially provide parking for about six coaches, they will form the first actual part of the layout for our long awaited carriage shed.