Update May 2008

4690 continues to have its internal alterations done in Kidderminster paintshop. The lavatory compartment has been completed with all plumbing made and tested, primrose yellow formica cladding with cream beading 1950s style on all walls. The floor is tiled with correct pattern tiles and scotia. The ceiling has been built to include a detachable panel (LMS style) for access to the new stainless steel tank. The carriage electrical installation has been altered to provide swan-necked lamp over the mirror, plus a vestibule and corridor lamp with the familiar white cones.

The seating and wheelchair areas have had all decorations and new veneer panels completed, including a safety-rib that prevents wheelchairs from rolling out of the doors by mistake. These will also prevent draughts from annoying wheelchair users sat nearby. At mid-May the double doors were having detail fitting out done using reclaimed Iroko planks. On completion they will bear a strong resemblance to LMS Third class dors with horizontal varnish finished planks, instead of the painted cream, brown or grey of BR luggage doors. Contract work on other vehicles has meant that 4690 has been in and out of the paintshop several times over the last six months. The next contract job beckons, and so 4690 will be making one final outing before its finishing paintwork is done in June.

7511 saw good progress during April and May, with the new table lamps, the first batch of four having been soldered and polished, just requiring switches and wires to complete them. The oak window frames have been completed and were being installed complete with wired-in lamp plugs at the rate of two per weekend. Book sales and scrap aluminium continues to fund progress on 7511 without drawing funds from the main Trust accounts.

32919, Stove R, has kept Alan Minton busy doing assessment, costings and inventory of parts, and we have asked for a quote for timber frame repairs from a local railway-orientated contractor. Funding is also being investigated with a view to seeking grant aid.

In the future: A strategy has now been put forward whereby our BR Mk1 Brake Second Open No 9220 should be heading for an overhaul after 2008/9 winter. Its temporary repaint a couple of years ago hides a good deal of essential repairwork required on doors and gangways.

Update April 2008

With the reopening of the railway on Good Friday, our various vehicles resumed working for their keep. The LMS vehicles that had been marooned at Bridgnorth all winter finally got to visit Kidderminster for well-deserved maintenance. Our 2300 1946-built Corridor Third, needed a new floor for one battery box and this was tackled by the 'train repairers' in the Carriage Shed. 12992 and 24617 fared better but needed a good clean inside and out.

The BR Maroon set which had sheltered in Kidderminster Carriage Shed for many months now includes Brake Second Corridor 35219 which had been refurbished in 2007. It previously ran with the Teak LNER vehicles, but is now permanently allocated to the Maroons - which set has come on leaps and bounds in the last three years.

In Kidderminster paintshop our Tourist Second Open No 4690 has been in and out at various times between SVR contract work on a variety of other vehicles. Development of the interior is now well advanced, and you can hardly tell which bits BR built in 1957 and which bits they didn't.

Update by Chris Thomas

January 2008

TSO 4690 is back on the railway and internal fittings are now being installed. This vehicle will now be able to carry passengers in wheelchairs - so a wheelchair-accessible toilet is being installed alongside the extra-wide doors. The vehicle is designed for up to three wheelchairs to join able-bodied passengers within a 'normal' passenger ambience. We do not feel that wheelchair-bound passengers should be discriminated against, so we will do all we can to help them.

LMS Open First 7511 really is now taking huge steps forward. We are on the finishing stages, although these take time. We are not about to skimp; this will be a vehicle to be really proud of. Come and see us at Bridgnorth - cash and expertise are both very welcome. Can anyone make us some curtains? We are very fussy - we only need fourteen pairs of curtains to a particular size, pattern and fabric, but having got this far, we must get it all right. Oh, and would anyone like to sponsor the gold leaf for the external lining?

The Rolling Stock Trust has also been busy looking after our existing carriages. We have purchased no less than seven new sets of carriage batteries, and slow-speed charging equipment to go with it. No point in buying new batteries if we do not look after them.

We are now working up plans for the full restoration of Hawksworth first class sleeping car 9084. This will  be largely for the benefit of the SVR's volunteers, but one compartment and the attendant's pantry will be restored 'as new' for controlled viewing.

There were four of these vehicles built (the last GW-design main line coaches) and 9084 is by far the best of the group. We'll do our best,  but the bodywork needs some £35k spending on it, as post-war oak frames did not exhibit the quality of pre-war oak, even if the internal decor was, and is, striking, of an art deco design.

7819 Hinton Manor currently resides at the MacArthur Glen shopping complex at Swindon (for those less than 30 years old, this is where the GW works used to be - they closed, formally, in 1985). She is safe there, but we would like to return her to steam and SVR service.

When she first came to the SVR, Ray Tranter was the leader of a very thorough restoration. Not only did 7819 run tens of thousands of miles on the SVR, she also ran on the national network, reaching Plymouth, Aberystwyth and Portmadoc, among other places.

Sadly, Ray Tranter died last June, and his funeral (attended by a very large congregation of SVR supporters) took place a matter of a few hours before the SVR was washed out by rainfall worthy of Noah.

We have deliberately kept a low profile on fundraising while the SVR recovers, but we hope to launch a 'Ray Tranter Memorial Appeal' for 7819 this summer, the proceeds of which will go to Hinton Manor. Please start saving your pennies, pounds, kruger rand, etc, as we estimate that around £300,000 will be needed. It would be nice to get 7819 in service before 7802 and 7812 run out of their boiler tickets (2017 for 7812) but success depends on you.

No apologies for the 'begging bowl', as preservation is a very expensive club. Nothing gets cheaper, but if others can make an old Vulcan bomber fly (all credit to them), surely we can do the same for a Manor?

October 2007

Despite earlier hopes, the entire railway north of Bewdley remains closed, though considerable progress has been made, and many of the lesser areas of damage have been fully repaired.

Brake Second 35219 has been fully repainted externally. Inside, it already carried the Trust's newly-made BR 1950s upholstery, so it is now almost 'as built'. All it needs now is a railway to run on.

4509 was completed internally in the early summer, and it now looks very well indeed.

Major restoration works on 7511 and 4690 have taken big steps forward - to check out the updates click here.

Loco 7819 is now resident under cover at the McArthur Glenn complex in Swindon, where it will remain for a few years until its turn for overhaul comes up. It will run again - look out for the launch of a major fundraising exercise next year, once the SVR itself is back in one piece.

We are investing in low-speed charging equipment for the battery chargers on our carriages, which will help the batteries themselves to become, and remain, fully charged. We have also bought no less than seven complete new sets of carriage batteries, which will last much longer if they can be kept charged. Good lighting is not just a safety issue - it also allows passengers to see the quality of the restoration work.

July 2007

Three of the Trust's coaches, in set L, are now marooned at Bridgnorth: 2300, 12992 and 24617. Their next duty is likely to be Bridgnorth - Hampton Loade shuttles, hopefully by mid August.

Travels further afield will have to await the completion of major civil engineering works at Highley, which could easily take three months.

The damage to the SVR is both widespread and severe. In some cases the damage was made even worse by further extremely heavy rain on Monday 25 June, which washed away further areas of embankment, and deposited more soil and vegetation in the cuttings.

Massive effort is going into the reinstatement works, including new or enhanced drainage. Land use has changed significantly since the Severn Valley Railway was built, which in some cases has led to a faster run off of water, much of which then hit the SVR.

Please support the SVR Flood Damage Appeal, to help us get our railway back intact as soon as possible.

March 2007

The big news is that the LMS & BR Coach Fund have become part of the Trust. This means that their eight coaches (LMS 24617, 2300, 12992, 7511 and BR 9220, 25346, 25498 and 16267) are now Trust property and therefore as safe (legally) as anything can be these days. Of the eight, seven are runners, and the eighth, 7511, is in the final stages of a very thorough rebuilding at Bridgnorth.

This is a most welcome move by the Fund, who now carry on as the LMS & BR Coach Department of the Trust, with the vehicles secure and the added  benefit, as part of a charity, of Gift Aid on donations.

The Rolling Stock Trust has been asked to loan 7819 to Swindon for a few years. This has been the subject of much discussion, but it has been agreed to loan the loco for four years, possibly extended to a maximum of five. It will replace Hagley Hall, which is to come back to the SVR. The Rolling Stock Trust has reached agreement with SVR that the loco will not lose its place in the overhaul queue; this was a condition of agreeing to the loan.

On the carriage front, 4509 is having its toilet floors replaced before going back into service for the summer. 35219 has just entered Bewdley paint shop and will emerge in shiny maroon, to replace the decidedly faded purplish hue which has developed over the years.

4690, owned jointly with the SVRA Wolverhampton Branch, will now go to Ramparts of Derby for the structural work required for its conversion to a wheelchair carrier. When complete, the vehicle will retain 52 conventional seats, be able to accommodate three wheelchairs, and have a wheelchair-accessible toilet. This is all part of the SVR's aim to be able to accommodate wheelchair users in each train.

4399, another TSO, is also Trust property, and will be converted to another miniature buffet car, RMB. Both designs share the same body shell, though with some alterations in the windows. It is likely that this will be started at Bridgnorth once 7511 is complete.

Fundraising for 9084, our GW-designed first class sleeper, has reached the stage that we are now able to book it in to Ramparts for the steelwork to be done early in 2008. The vehicle is almost complete, in original condition, internally and we propose to keep it so. While it is likely to be used for volunteer accommodation, we hope to be able to have the attendant's compartment and one sleeping compartment available for - carefully controlled - public viewing.

ALL this costs money! The Rolling Stock Trust Company Board has agreed expenditure of around £25,000, and 9084 will cost at least that much again. Our appeal leaflet is to be redesigned, and we are working on a list of the great and good with the intention to make direct appeals. All donations, however small - or large! - are always welcome, and Gift Aid forms can be copied from this website, be emailed to you as as a jpeg, or sent to you by post. Please don't hesitate to ask!

Updates by Hugh McQuade, Restoration Expert

December 2006

On return from Ramparts works, Derby, 4509 ran during the busy months of August and September in a basic maroon undercoat. Following the September Gala, 4509 was again withdrawn for further attention to complete the job,

Externally, some filling up of welds and buckles was followed by a full repaint to 1957 BR Maroon. Missing destination board brackets were manufactured and fitted to complete the 'as new' appearance. A great deal more time was spent on the interior, however.

Dark and damaged varnish was burned off all of the seat ends, and in the vestibule surrounding the lavatories. The veneers were restored using sanding and scraping techniques, then washing with oxalic acid. The saloon ceilings were repainted and the whole impression now is of cleanliness and light.

A new set of batteries was purchased for 4509 and installed, along with a slow speed charging device for the regulator box. This gadget enables charging to begin at about 18mph and continues as the train decelerates down to about 3mph. Previously, charging cut in at about 28mph and dropped out at around 21mph.

All of the tables in 4509 have been renovated, and two missing ones reinstated from scrapyard spares. Restored again as GE4509, the coach returned to traffic on 4 December in the BR Maroon 'set M' on Santa duties. Further work in the lavatories and two remaining vestibules will be carried out during the quiet January to March period.

Our other serviceable BR Mk1, Brake Second Corridor (BSK) No 35219 has had its four compartments reupholstered, using the replica 1947-53 period moquette. Asbestos under the seats was removed at the same time. Again, a new set of batteries has been purchased and fitted, along with another slow speed charger. 35219 did not come out of traffic for this work - it was simply fitted in between duties at Kidderminster, sometimes even in the platform at Kidderminster Town Station.

One of the first passengers to benefit from this work was a certain S Claus, who reserved one compartment as a changing room.

October 2006

In the paintshop is Mk1 Tourist Second Open (TSO) No 4509. After a contract repair at Derby, the interior required full redecoration. A volunteer job 20 years ago left it with 'hint of mahogany' varnish on seats and vestibules, lower walls and window frames. This has been getting burned off, scraped off and sanded off, then washed with oxalic acid to reduce stains from sooty water and bruises from luggage over 50 years in traffic.

The doors have been stripped and serviced, to take care of worn droplight guides and hinges. With the window frames out for varnishing, we discovered that many of the securing nuts and studs had been left out by the contractors. These have been retapped and installed to ensure no leaks occur any time soon. The paintwork as supplied by the contractor was a basic maroon undercoat to enable 4509 to be used in service in August. Further filling was needed to bring it up to the SVR's usual standard.

The finish we produce is as a result of the need to get a really smooth surface to prevent dirt and icy water from lodging in brush marks and cracks. This also enable cleaning to be less aggressive. As a spin-off, you see these showroom finishes which are impressive when new!

The Rolling Stock Trust has financed improvements to 4509 which are allowed under charity funding rules. A slow-speed charger unit has been installed in the regulator box. This will allow the batteries to take charge for more time while the vehicle is moving. Tests indicate this may be as low as 3-5mph! And a new set of batteries has been obtained at a very advantageous rate, so that 4509 will be electrically well set up.

The old batteries still have plenty of life in them, and will be used as fleet spares for other Mark 1s in the Maroon set.

PRICE LIST: Batteries £325. Charger Unit £48. Destination Board Brackets £192.

The Rolling Stock Trust's Mk1 Brake Second, 35219, is about to have its original seats reupholstered and returned to the vehicle. These have been in storage upstairs at Kidderminster for five years - with rather thin cloth. Reproduction 1947-1950s moquette had already been purchased by the Trust earlier in the year. 35219 will regain its original seats after the October half-term week's running, and has already gained a slow-speed charger, funded by the Trust. A set of new batteries is also to be provided in October, releasing another set with life left for use this winter as fleet spares. 35219 still requires a small amount of welding and a full repaint - maybe as part of the overhaul of set N in 2007.

PRICE LIST: Reupholstery (contractor costs) £2,400. Moquette £18/metre (40m) £720. Slow speed Charger £48. Batteries £325.

July 21: TSO 4509 was sent away to Rampart Carriage & Wagon Co, Derby, by the SVR to have welding done, particularly around the gangways and lavatory areas. Other tasks to be included were rebedding of all main glasses and roof vents, strip off all paint from roof sides and ends, examine for corrosion and patch weld as required around windows and door edges. Before departure from SVR, the Kidderminster Carriage repairers based in the Carriage Shed, Gary and Shane, removed all of the upholstery which is only about 12 years old, for safekeeping and to give Ramparts a clear field of vision. In order for 4509 to be released from traffic, it was agreed that it would be filled, primed and returned in undercoat, capable of being quickly put into service for the busy August-September period, and later withdrawn for proper finishing and interior redecoration by Kidderminster Paintshop. As received at Kidderminster on 12 July, 4509 immediately presents a better image than before it left. About 95% of the repair work needed for its full overhaul has been taken care of at Ramparts, leaving plumbing, tiling and trim tasks to do in the lavatories. It will require ceilings to be painted and all of the seat sides stripped bare and revarnished, plus a good rub back on walls in the saloons to make the interior look like a vehicle that has just had £26,000 spent on it.

May 24: TSO 4509 is due to leave the SVR on Wednesday for Rampart at Derby, where it will receive repairs to the bodywork, gangways and doors. It should return to the SVR after 4-6 weeks, when it will be repainted and, hopefully, re-upholstered before it returns to service.

May 21: The Rolling Stock Trust has become the owner of Mk1 BSK no M35219, formerly the property of the 6000 Loco Association and Steam in Hereford Ltd.

The 6000 LA and Steam in Hereford have now wound up, and have distributed their remaining assets to a number of non-profit-making organisations, including the Trust.

35219 has been on the SVR for some years now, but was used by the 6000 LA as their support coach; it has covered thousands of miles on the main line behind no 6000 King George V.

The Trust is now making plans for the vehicle to be repaired, repainted and re-upholstered.

Our sincere thanks to the 6000 LA / SIH for this generous gift, and we look forward to their members visiting for a trip in the coach.

May 1: The Rolling Stock Trust has funded the manufacture of 350 metres of new upholstery fabric to a BR 1950s pattern, as part of its aim that its vehicle should be restored as closely as possible to their original condition.

We plan to use this cloth in both 4509 and 35219, while some will be sold to Steve Downs for use in his LMS brake third 26680, which is now nearing completion at Bridgnorth.

April 5: Launch of new website.