The Ferry Van, referred to in the text  


A new door for FO 3045. This is what is meant when it is said that we strip it back to the wooden frame. There is nothing original here.  


The Mica Van referred to in the text  

Following on from the last report, we have once again been making good progress on all fronts.

The GWR 'Toad' Brakevan 17392 has now been completed. It is painted in overall Great Western grey, and marked as based at Croes Newydd, which you will know as a large depot just outside Wrexham. Welsh speakers amongst our ranks tell me that it means 'New Cross'.

Much of the bodyside planking had to be replaced as it was rotten. The roof was secured and repainted, and the axle boxes and brake gear was overhauled and adjusted. It is the only GWR Brakevan we have which is fitted with a vacuum cylinder and is thus fully fitted. It is now ready for a starring role both in the forthcoming Gala, and for diesel gala Brakevan rides.

As soon as that was finished we embarked on the overhaul and repaint of the white GWR Mica van. This was built just after the First World War to carry meat. It has zinc sheeting inside, and there are hatches in the roof where once ice would be poured through to keep the meat fresh. After this, the GWR MOGO van was also given a quick repaint and refurbishment. All this was done to bring together a rake of GWR wagons for the forthcoming Gala.

Work on the BSO 9000 is still continuing. We are reaching the end of a very long road with this coach. The corridor connection has been refurbished and has now been re-hung. The last major job to be done was the rebuilding and re-panelling of the north-end entrance vestibule. Once this was completed, new flooring was laid both here and in various other areas inside. There is still some exterior paintwork to finish and the doors will require final adjustment. Hopefully it will be in service for the Gala. That has always been the plan. It will be touch and go.

Over the two months of January and February whilst services were not running, much time and effort went into dealing with outstanding work on our service coaches. The work undertaken included:

The brakes and brake gear on all service coaches was thoroughly examined and adjusted. Where necessary, oil axleboxes were overhauled and refilled with new oil. Brake blocks were replaced where necessary. Then, in a day long operation, all coaches were parted from each other and the buckeyes and buffers were checked, gauged and lubricated.

In addition to all this, all the coaches on the mixed rake had a thorough external clean with our new pressure washer using special cleaning chemical, followed with polish. Most of the coaches had not been so thoroughly cleaned since they were last overhauled and repainted. Much of the grime is so deeply embedded that nothing will remove it short of a repaint, but it was a sterling effort and they are much better than before the work started.

Following on from this, as the mid-week carriage cleaning gang now come under the auspices of the department, we obtained for them some brand new cleaning equipment, including two industrial vacuum cleaners. That should make a substantial difference to what they are able to achieve throughout the next few months. The group has done a great job over the years in attempting to keep our coaches clean. It is one of those areas which are often just taken for granted.

We are well into the refurbishment of the Elegant Excursions FO (Open First) 3045. We thought that it was going to be found to be in a poor condition and we were not disappointed. Four of the window units have so far had to be removed to allow for substantial bodywork repairs. That involves drilling out all the rivets which hold the window unit in place to allow it to be lifted out. Then, sections of the body framing and panelling can be cut out for renewal.

Through one of these removed windows we were able to take out all the fixed seating to give access to the inside to allow the work to be done. Before the seating is replaced, new veneered panelling will be fitted, together with new carpeting.

All of the exterior doors have been removed, and are being stripped for rebuilding. Sadly, the first one attended to has been found to be in a very poor and rotten condition. Experience now shows that it is better to replace defective frame members with new, rather than try and repair them. However, this does take time. We are expecting that it could take up to nine months concerted effort to refurbish this particular coach, such was its original poor condition.

The department has been growing in numbers, and we have recently welcomed two very experienced welders and sheet metal workers. To complement their skills, we have obtained a substantial fly press which by the use of various tooling allows sheet metal to be formed to various specific sections. It was collected by road from near to London by two members of the department, and required a degree of ingenuity to lift it on and off the Building Services lorry which was used to collect it. It is now bolted into the concrete floor of our workshop, and is a very useful addition to our machinery collection.

Once the running season recommenced, work started again on the B R Ferry Van 787004. The major defect with this van when we started work was that the large central bodyside sliding doors were in the process of falling apart. They are made entirely of a wooden frame covered in sheets of ply. The door frames have both now been repaired, and with a new ply covering are as good as new. After several further weeks work the van was finished. Not only will it be available for storage, but it will be able to be operated in a demonstration B R goods train.

So, it has been another very busy time for the department. We have had the  pressures of trying to overhaul and refurbish enough wagons for the gala; trying to finish the BSO; trying to make maximum progress on the FO and trying to ensure that our service coaches remain in an operational condition. A huge amount of effort by all members of the departments has seen us make good progress on all fronts.