|
Work began in earnest at the beginning of the month. Ideally
4365 would have been moved to the station area at Swanage but
the operational pressures means that this is unlikely to be
possible until the autumn. Undaunted, if 4365 wasn't to come to
the volunteers, then the volunteers would have to go to it!
The first task was to remove the considerable quantity of bits
and pieces that had been placed in 4365 such is the shortage of
storage locations around the Railway. This ranged from surplus
rolls of carpet through shelving to a kitchen sink!
Fortunately we had been able to arrange for a BG to be
marshalled adjacent to 4365 and material that might have a
future was placed there with the balance put aside for disposal.
Much of this was hard work; the challenge of manoeuvring carpet
and shelving through the corridor next to the compartments and
around the brake compartment cage should not be underestimated!
However, there was one high spot when two rolls of authentic
moquette were located.
The second working weekend coincided with the start of work
by Lee Sharpe, the professional restorer who is assisting us.
Whilst he stripped steel sheeting from the outside of one wall
of the saloon, volunteers stripped fittings and panelling from
the inside. These components have all been put to one side as
most will be returned to the coach in due course.
The opportunity was also taken to strip out the seats as much
of the floor will need replacing. Whilst the floor is in
acceptable condition now - although some repair work would be
needed - it will not last for the fifteen years that we expect
before the next major overhaul. It is also much easier to
replace it now with the interior stripped out than in a few
years time.
Early inspection of the structure in the saloon area has been
highly encouraging with the timber sound and even the metal
support brackets - a notorious failure point in these coaches -
in good condition. |