650 Restoration

Collett open brake Third. Likely to be the next carriage in the restoration programme, meanwhile work is progressing in the background.

650 Brass Castings
650 Interior

There has been good progress on 650 over the last month.

The exterior has been painted in all over brown and the ends black ready to go outside in the New Year. The floor is down in the saloon, the Guards van and the Luggage van and is almost ready in the two toilets and the south end vestibules. The main frame has been cleaned and painted. Next we plan to begin on the interior of the Guards Van rebuilding the electrical cupboard.

November 2011

650 is now back in the paintshop for a little more contract work on the floor and windows.

This is a view down into the floor of the saloon with new cross members and gusset corners being installed before the floor is finally screwed down.

The west side of 650 now with the sliding windows and large side windows installed.

The painted underneath of the floorboards before fitting.

Two shots of the new floor in 650 during the exhibition for the Behind the Scenes event.

March 2011

The east side is now complete with the new roof edge and doors. Work continues with the window frames and the roof cappings - it is expected to leave the paintshop in April.

East side roof edge and window sliding quarter lights.

South end corner cappings.

The window frames.

The east side paneling is progressing well.

And the last section of cantrail (or top rail) is now in place - all the east side cantrail has now been renewed.

January 2011-2

Good news! The SVR Guarantee Board has approved our request for support towards 650 ongoing east side repair, so should allow completion of bodywork and repanelling of the east side and ends. Any contributions towards the 650 Appeal are still very welcome though!

The first panels going on east side...

...and all east side doors are now re-built.

Progress on main stringer repairs - knee irons now in place...

...and the north end corner repair is now complete.

Further progress on the body framework and some side panels...

...and with the doors on the west side.

Work on the east side repairs are progressing well. Main stringer and cantrail repairs are underway around the both sides of the Guard's compartment.

The re-panelled west side which is pretty well complete. The new roof edge is also in place.

Work has now begun on the east side with repairs to the top cant rail and knee irons. All the panels have been removed and some are even reusable!

November 2010 - 2

With the framework complete, new body panels are now being made and fitted.

There's also an updated on SVR Engineering.

November 2010 - 1

The contract repairs to the framework is continuing in SVR workshops.

The first new panel.

Old paneling removed to allow access to the framework.

West side view of repaired bottom and top stringers around the Guard's compartment.

October 2010

With full time staff at work on this project work is cracking on! Many of the minor repairs to the wooden frame work have already been completed but more substantial re-building is underway around the guard's compartment.

Any additional help towards this project will be gratefully received!

September 2010

650 has been moved to Bewdley and will enter the Bewdley workshop to be assessed for contract work to make it watertight.

We have taken this opportunity to fill a gap in the their work programme. Once assessed and costed we will agree a specific set of work to bring the coach up to a watertight condition. Hopefully the Bewdley C&W paintshop volunteers will also enjoy working on this vehicle.

The amount of work undertaken will clearly depend on funding available so we would be very grateful for any contribution to the 650 appeal to take advantage of this opportunity and help return this useful coach back into traffic.

650 arriving at Bewdley Station 29th September 2010

Keith Scott repositioning the activating bars on the brake shaft for 650.

The handbrake assembly, made by Keith Scott, bolted up to the underframe.

The brake shaft and vac cylinder going up on 650.

The new battery box stretchers.

The two new longitudinals in place, bolted up and ready for riveting.

650 having it's luggage van doors fitted.

We have finished riveting the solebars and have now cut out the defective longitudinals.

Carriage lifted to do the queenposts...

...the defective longitudinals in place...

...Eric had burning out the rivets...

..and on the floor after Colin had knocked them out.

Rivets in 650 underframe prior to rivetting...  

...Eric peening them over...

...Colin heating them up...

...and the finished result. This completes one end, the other end and then the queen posts will follow.

650 has moved into Kidderminster carriage works to have the underframe riveted up plus other work as a contract job by the SVR.

Bent longitudinals to be cut out and replaced.

Battery box bearer burned off at gusset plates, a legacy from having its underframe stripped when taken out of service and lifted onto Kerne Bridge station platform.

Currently stored inside Kidderminster carriage shed, 650 is likely to be the next carriage in the restoration programme following on from 9103.

Replacement trussing has been built for the underframe. The completed frame work is in place and awaits final riveting.

Some parts have been sourced and are in store to rebuild the art deco style interior.

Further brass fittings and parts for the interior have been obtained and manufactured.

Some repanelling and frame repairs have already been undertaken. This work was mainly carried out while stored at Foley Park sugar beet factory.

Currently resting on temporary accommodation bogies, its own are under overhaul in the mechanical shop at Kidderminster.

New pins and bushes have been manufactured for the brake rigging.

Work continues on the overhaul of the bogies. Kidderminster mechanical shop, June 2004.