GWR 7545 Toplight Coach Group News

Mar 2006

by James Faulkner

(large Pictures for news added shortly)

The first thing to report is that another Toplight coach has been acquired and should have arrived at the railway by the time you read this, it was owned by the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway and has been derelict in a siding at Toddington for many years. With approx 20 Marks 1s already in service, further ones being restored, plus goods vehicles etc, they had no resources or intention of restoring the Toplight and have tried over many years to sell it, pass it on etc so it was now "crunch time" and it was facing burning and then the scrap man this summer if no one wanted it, so we have made the "now or never" decision to acquire it, even though we are not ready yet to start another project. It makes sense to acquire another similar coach as a great many parts are common to both so it makes it easier when getting new bits made and will allow us to swap parts from one to another, use spares we already have etc.

The GWR have donated it to the group so we have only had to pay for movement costs.
I am bracing myself for the familiar phrase "petrol and a box of matches" which hasn't been heard recently for the Toplight already under restoration so we must be making good progress !
Nick Bailey and I are both GWR members and looked at the Toddington one originally (which is how we know each other), before I acquired the one at the SCR (and then became a member of the SCR to restore it), the reason at the time being, it was a brake coach, more bits on it and most importantly it was close to where I lived.

The Toddington example No 3898 is an all 3rd class, (diagram C32) , built in the last batch in 1920 and then converted to a camping coach in 1958. It was built with a wooden frame with steel panels from new, so will eventually be restored in the same way. There is a fully restored operational one (No 3930) which is absolutely identical (same diagram number etc) on the Severn Valley Railway, and approx four other un-restored ones including another from the same batch which is at Blue Anchor on the WSR.

Initially the plan will be to "tart it up" removing peeling paint etc outside over this summer, screwing back any loose panels, putting boards over any broken windows, repairing any leaks etc and then giving it a quick repaint. It will then be used for storage as we are running out of space inside the coach already being restored.
As a group we will probably have a working week on the two coaches in the summer, so if you would like to get involved then let us know.

Long term the coach will then be fully restored, making repairs to the framework and re panelling etc, (using galvanised steel and no mouldings) so externally it will look original. Internally however it was stripped out when converted to a camping coach so only a few partitions and the toilet sinks etc survive, so what we intend to do is fit a TSO style interior using the many seat components acquired from the EMU vehicles being scrapped at Caerwent (see separate article). This will be done is such a way so as not to destroy any original bits that are there but will save a considerable amount of time, money and effort in trying to fully recreate all 8 original compartments, corridor etc from scratch, The original interior could still be re-constructed at a later date if required.
There is a 1930s GWR Collett coach on the South Devon Railway which has been restored in a similar way.

Work has still been continuing on No 7545 in the Hayes Knoll shed, The mouldings are now complete on the end and the gangway at the Blunsdon end has partly been re attached, the other bits will be painted and re hung over the coming months. The thread places and scissor straps are new to replace corroded or damaged bits and the rest is original, but will include a brand new "bellows" which was acquired by the coaches previous owner (Reg Palk) from Swindon works in the early 1970s

Finally the website has been redesigned in a new more professional looking format with 3d mouldings and writing same as on the side of the coach, it looks quite cool. Thanks must go to Paul Bennett who does the GWR Severn Valley Association website for doing this new format for us and Mark for updating it.

Fancy getting involved? Much of the work is easy such as sanding and varnishing, wire brushing etc. We are would desperately like it for more people to get involved as the main limiting factor in any of this is a shortage of skilled volunteers. You can contact us James Faulkner Tel 07715 322241 or email James75452000@yahoo.com or Nick Bailey on (01242) 604522 or speak to us when we are working on it.