Friday 5 December 2014


Over the last month we have re started on the BR STD brake van, all the step boards and brackets have been removed.  The STD has had 90 rivets put into the ballast boxes on the ends, 2 coats of sealant paint and the 4 new corner plates welded into place.  The next stage is to fill the boxes with the old ballast then concrete over the top.  With this done we have a working platform to start rebuilding the bottom frame when the toad has been completed. 
Painting has carried on the toad inside and out, the inside had had 1 top coat showing the finished colour of chocolate and cream.  When it’s finally completed inside we shall apply the 2nd coat.  The hinges are progressing for the door, we have temporally removed the wall to allow these to be fitted in the coming weeks. 
The 2 cabin sander cheek plates have been fitted, these will need to be trimmed when the sanding boxes are finally fitted.








Monday 3 November 2014


We have currently run out of timber required to finish the veranda end wall. I was informed we did not order this end and have been using off cuts from the sides and cabin end to construct the veranda end – only about 5 outside planks are needed to allow completion.  

Andy has been very busy machining the new hinges, about 5 are nearing completion, after a few minor tweaks they will be fitted to the toad on the “upside” and the cabin door.  The 2nd batch of hinges have arrived and will be machined later for the down side.

Martin and John have been busy with the timber, now we have run out, the roof hoops are being sanded to make them flush with the angle so the roof planks can be screwed into them.  We are going to get the next batch of timber in early 2015.  Quotes are currently being obtained for the oak widow frames as well

Last weekend the overhauled vacuum cylinder was fitted to the veranda end, with the assistance of Marcus, Jon, and Roger it was lifted into place with the crane. Unfortunately it did not fit 1st time, the timber and plate under the cylinder required to have about 20mm removed (using the oxy torch for the plate) so piston and inlet pipe did not hit the floor.  After a few hours work it’s now fitted and fully functional, it was tested using several vacuum pipes connected together as the train pipe is not fully fitted yet then connected to the shed pilot on the other road.

Bob and Dave have been busy priming the inside, the next task is to undercoat it.

Also included are a few pictures of this year’s gala













Monday 6 October 2014


Work has carried on the with timber for 17464, The back of the cabin has been completed as well as repositioning the end roof hoop forward so the planks can fit behind .  Originally we did not order the timber for the cabin door end but it was discovered we have had several off cutes from the sides left over which has allowed us to construct 50% of this end.  The hinges have arrived and are currently being machined for the doors, we cannot fit any more timber until theses are fitted. 

Painting of the chassis has carried on, so far the steel panels on the “up” side have been top coated when time allows, also the vacuum dummies have been fitted.

For a while it has been known the vacuum cylinders on 2 of the box vans were not holding the vacuum for the required time, a program of vacuum cylinder overhaul has commenced, last weekend one was completed and tested awaiting fitting before the gala.  This years end of season gala subject to availability should have with us 5521, 42xx 4270, Beattie well tank 35085, the group has been asked to provide a long heavy freight!

For the 1940s weekend the wagon department provided 2 freight trains 1x pre grouping “ammunition train” and 1 x van train, the picture shows the “ammunition train” at Avon Riverside with 5521. 












Tuesday 9 September 2014


Progress over the last month or so has slowed down due to a few of the team having their summer holidays.  A number of small jobs have been done but not really news worthy.  Last Tuesday and today we have cracked on the with vacuum pipe.  2x new GWR swan necks have had a 2” bsp thread cut in them.  We have replaced the missing middle pipe that runs between the brake valve T section and the Oldland end, this required bending 2 x 45 degree bends in the pipe to join both ends.

Wood work wise today (09/09/14) John and Martin cracked on with the Oldland end wall.  The old frames have been assembled temporally and are going to be repaired in due course.

Dave and Bob have started undercoating the running side, hopefully this will be top coated very soon.  Dave has also undercoated the fully completed hand rails. 

Andy has made a replacement hook used for securing the screw couplings to the chassis preventing them being caught on anything when the van is in service.  The picture shows the original one and new one








Monday 4 August 2014


Work is progressing on 17464 at a steady speed now, the double skin timber sides are nearly finished and awaiting fitting the last 3 planks each side after this the ends can be started.   Due to hardwood window frames being damaged these are going to be replaced. 

The vacuum cylinder is now at the Severn Valley being overhauled.

The hand rails both side are nearly completed just the finishing touches on the veranda end to complete

Hopefully now the sides nearly completed we can make a start on painting the top coat and sign wiring it out when the weather permits.






Tuesday 22 July 2014


The draw gear has now been finished and fully fitted, Andy has made new pins and the holding bars between the draw bars and hooks. 

We are currently looking at the vacuum pipe, we have several bits but unfortunately the bit from the setter pipe to the Oldland end is missing so we will have to bend a new one and connect it up.  The vacuum cylinder is about to be sent away for overhaul.  So far the bits we got have been panted and are temporally fitted.  We have 2 brand new swan necks but unfortunately they need to have a thread cut in them which is causing a bit of a head ache.

Since the timber has arrived Martin and Jon have been carefully measuring and cutting it to size, they have put a chamfer down one edge of the outer planks to allow rain water to drain off and not get trapped in the joints.  After a few days of preparing they have fitted most of the Down side.