Toplight Coach Group at the Swindon and Cricklade Steam Railway

GWR 7545 Toplight Coach Group News

by James Faulkner

October 2005

The main task completed since the last report has been the fitting of the three missing partitions which were removed when the coach was in departmental use with BR.
The roof had sagged where these internal walls had been removed so we had stretch a length of string along the full length of the roof so we could see which bits were dipping.
We then jacked the roof up the required amount using a small bottle jack. Inserting acro props in once the roof was in the required position.

Ken Hapgood and Nick Bailey then made and fitted some vertical uprights from utile with a rebate in as per the original. The partitions themselves were made from two layers of 15mm multi laminate plywood. Ken and James did most of this partition work mid week as we decided it would be easier to do when the public weren't looking around.

Originally in 1907 when the coach was built at Swindon works, the partitions would have been fitted before the roof was put on but we were doing it the other way round so we had to carefully cut the boards to fit inside the roof profile which is much more difficult.

Andrew Creaser has been working on door five (they are all originally numbered starting from the Blunsdon end, so we just use the same numbering.) He has had to make some new horizontal rails and repair the ventilator bonnet on the top, by clamping and gluing any splits etc. The inside mahogany parts then require considerable care to strip of all the white paint and repair before re-varnishing. Often the door have been repaired in service life so there often patches etc in them already, by the time we do door 16, I am sure Andrew will be an expert! and should be ready for coach number 2, just joking. !
Some of the doors will consist of nearly all new material, so Ken is going to teach us how to make the vertical pillars.

Mike Bradley has been working on the battery boxes supports below. He has removed the straps holding the boxes to the chassis; they are quite badly corroded and will need some sections building up with weld. Both of the battery boxes themselves have been completed by Andrew Creaser, and students David, Nathan and Ross Harrison at Faringdon college. Mike has made some new end plates, so once the supports are renovated and painted we should in theory be able to put the boxes back underneath the chassis.

Mike has also started making and fitting new springs in the door lock/handles. And the striking plates (this is the part screwed to the body). He has also again been continuing needling of the chassis parts.

Tony Davies has been working on the window mouldings sanding and cuprinoling them. He has also been removing some of the old rusted body bolts.

Nick Bailey has been investigating a historic coach body we have been offered, he is looking into the possibility of doing this as a separate project.

Fancy getting involved? Much of the work is easy such as sanding and varnishing, wire brushing etc. we are actively looking for more people to get involved. You can contact us James Faulkner Tel 07715 322241 or James75452000@yahoo.com or Nick Bailey on (01242) 604522.


	GWR 7545 Toplight Coach Group News by James Faulkner October 2005 The main task completed since the last report has been the fitting of the three missing partitions which were removed when the coach was in departmental use with BR. The roof had sagged where these internal walls had been removed so we had stretch a length of string along the full length of the roof so we could see which bits were dipping. We then jacked the roof up the required amount using a small bottle jack. Inserting acro props in once the roof was in the required position. Ken Hapgood and Nick Bailey then made and fitted some vertical uprights from utile with a rebate in as per the original. The partitions themselves were made from two layers of 15mm multi laminate plywood. Ken and James did most of this partition work mid week as we decided it would be easier to do when the public weren't looking around. Originally in 1907 when the coach was built at Swindon works, the partitions would have been fitted before the roof was put on but we were doing it the other way round so we had to carefully cut the boards to fit inside the roof profile which is much more difficult. Andrew Creaser has been working on door five (they are all originally numbered starting from the Blunsdon end, so we just use the same numbering.) He has had to make some new horizontal rails and repair the ventilator bonnet on the top, by clamping and gluing any splits etc. The inside mahogany parts then require considerable care to strip of all the white paint and repair before re-varnishing. Often the door have been repaired in service life so there often patches etc in them already, by the time we do door 16, I am sure Andrew will be an expert! and should be ready for coach number 2, just joking. ! Some of the doors will consist of nearly all new material, so Ken is going to teach us how to make the vertical pillars. Mike Bradley has been working on the battery boxes supports below. He has removed the straps holding the boxes to the chassis; they are quite badly corroded and will need some sections building up with weld. Both of the battery boxes themselves have been completed by Andrew Creaser, and students David, Nathan and Ross Harrison at Faringdon college. Mike has made some new end plates, so once the supports are renovated and painted we should in theory be able to put the boxes back underneath the chassis. Mike has also started making and fitting new springs in the door lock/handles. And the striking plates (this is the part screwed to the body). He has also again been continuing needling of the chassis parts. Tony Davies has been working on the window mouldings sanding and cuprinoling them. He has also been removing some of the old rusted body bolts. Nick Bailey has been investigating a historic coach body we have been offered, he is looking into the possibility of doing this as a separate project. Fancy getting involved? Much of the work is easy such as sanding and varnishing, wire brushing etc. we are actively looking for more people to get involved. You can contact us James Faulkner Tel 07715 322241 or James75452000@yahoo.com or Nick Bailey on (01242) 604522.