Toplight Coach Group at the Swindon and Cricklade Steam Railway

GWR 7545 Toplight Coach Group News.

February 2005

We all had some time off at Christmas, but progress has been good. Ken Hapgood and Norman Whitworth have been making and fitting a lot of new frame sections for the end of the coach, much of this wood been donated from various sources.
At the time of writing the end framing is almost completed. The finished framing is being coated with Cuprinol clear preservative, before the panelling is fitted.
The first two new bolection window mouldings have been delivered by Peter Milne and are being fitted after 2 coats of Cuprinol. You can see one of these in the photos. They are sealed in the frame with poly-sulphide sealant

We intend soon to buy the first lot of panelling with will be 9mm marine multi ply "Gaboon throughout" meaning that hardwood is used for every layer.

Andrew Creaser has been working hard on the framing for bay four for making repairs to the bottom side and new waist, stop and intermediate rails. Cutouts have to be routed out ready in the waist rails for the bolection window mouldings.

Andrew also works at Faringdon college and four of his students have been working on parts in their spare time. The have already completed and delivered one of the battery boxes for underneath the coach (see photos) This has been stripped back to the bare wood and some parts replaced. All the metal handles and fittings have been removed and cleaned back to bare metal to remove the rust before priming and painting. On the inside of the box the upper part is painted white to make the visibility easier when connecting the batteries.

They are working at the moment on the toilet doors, one of which is being restored and the other being made from scratch as it was missing. The have been to the Steam museum in Swindon to do some research for this part of the project.

Mike Bradley is working on the corridor connection, He has needle gunned and painted the frame and he is making a new parts for the scissor mechanism. He has arranged for new bronze bearings to be made as the originals were bent. Mike also has made a start on the door handles and is making new springs for them. Mike has also been making and painting new brackets and footsteps etc.

I have been working on bay two of coach replacing the waist rail and making repairs to the bottom side and have started on the floor framing underneath the toilet. I have also installed a new motor and switch on the bowl lathe sander and a new fluorescent light over the bench. I have also removed some of the doors, this is done by taking the pin out of each hinge.

Nick Bailey has been made some doors for the screws cabinet and a stand so we can sell books and magazines.

Finally we have bought a thicknesser which we have already been using a lot. In particular this will be essential when we come to make the external 3/8" thick mouldings

The group is planning on visiting the Bluebell railway during the Branch line gala, so we can have a look at the work being done there.

Fancy getting involved? We can show you what to do. 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 on:-
James Faulkner tel 07715 322241 or James75452000@yahoo.com or Nick Bailey on (01242) 604522.


	GWR 7545 Toplight Coach Group News. February 2005 We all had some time off at Christmas, but progress has been good. Ken Hapgood and Norman Whitworth have been making and fitting a lot of new frame sections for the end of the coach, much of this wood been donated from various sources. At the time of writing the end framing is almost completed. The finished framing is being coated with Cuprinol clear preservative, before the panelling is fitted. The first two new bolection window mouldings have been delivered by Peter Milne and are being fitted after 2 coats of Cuprinol. You can see one of these in the photos. They are sealed in the frame with poly-sulphide sealant We intend soon to buy the first lot of panelling with will be 9mm marine multi ply "Gaboon throughout" meaning that hardwood is used for every layer. Andrew Creaser has been working hard on the framing for bay four for making repairs to the bottom side and new waist, stop and intermediate rails. Cutouts have to be routed out ready in the waist rails for the bolection window mouldings. Andrew also works at Faringdon college and four of his students have been working on parts in their spare time. The have already completed and delivered one of the battery boxes for underneath the coach (see photos) This has been stripped back to the bare wood and some parts replaced. All the metal handles and fittings have been removed and cleaned back to bare metal to remove the rust before priming and painting. On the inside of the box the upper part is painted white to make the visibility easier when connecting the batteries. They are working at the moment on the toilet doors, one of which is being restored and the other being made from scratch as it was missing. The have been to the Steam museum in Swindon to do some research for this part of the project. Mike Bradley is working on the corridor connection, He has needle gunned and painted the frame and he is making a new parts for the scissor mechanism. He has arranged for new bronze bearings to be made as the originals were bent. Mike also has made a start on the door handles and is making new springs for them. Mike has also been making and painting new brackets and footsteps etc. I have been working on bay two of coach replacing the waist rail and making repairs to the bottom side and have started on the floor framing underneath the toilet. I have also installed a new motor and switch on the bowl lathe sander and a new fluorescent light over the bench. I have also removed some of the doors, this is done by taking the pin out of each hinge. Nick Bailey has been made some doors for the screws cabinet and a stand so we can sell books and magazines. Finally we have bought a thicknesser which we have already been using a lot. In particular this will be essential when we come to make the external 3/8" thick mouldings The group is planning on visiting the Bluebell railway during the Branch line gala, so we can have a look at the work being done there. Fancy getting involved? We can show you what to do. 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 on:- James Faulkner tel 07715 322241 or James75452000@yahoo.com or Nick Bailey on (01242) 604522.