2024 roundup

Another year over in Carriage & Wagon, so time to look over what we've done this year. There's always more than you think, and inevitably some stuff has to be missed out here otherwise it would get a bit unwieldy! But here are the highlights...

We'll start off with the RBr 1675, which continues to be something of a saga! However, much as it might not feel like it at times, it has made great strides this year.

Outside with most of the welding complete we stripped the body mostly back to bare metal before a lot of filling, sanding, painting, and repeating.

Inside we had the new kitchen surfaces fitted, all looking very smart now.

The servery is looking pretty complete...

And the passenger saloon is looking smart too with its new floor and oak panelling, all the radiators are in too.

Winding the clock right back to the beginning of the year, the woodwork team did a superb job with the new bar fitted in the new Cotswold Halt. With a tight deadline to be done before Cheltenham Gold Cup, the team delivered on time!

The first wagon of the year went out in February, as we finished off our our little collection of static wagons for Toddington in the form of the GWR creosote tank 43930.

After that in quick succession we had GW/SR van 144678 and GWR ply mink 65643 in for repairs and repaints. These were completed and back in the goods train in time for the May Steam gala.

The new coach project for 2024 has been SO 4798, which is having substantial window frame and end metalwork repairs, and an upgrade inside to make it a bit more interchangeable with a First Open.

The team have been working their way along the coach cutting out steelwork and replacing, with the carpenters following behind.

The main wagon project of the year has been the GWR Mica B 79636. Works have been a fair bit more extensive than anticipated, it was supposed to be a straightforward external re-plank but ended up being a bit more complicated.

Bending new handrails for it was an interesting challenge though!

GWR Open C 99879 was also fully stripped back to a bare frame for grit-blasting and full restoration.

The frame is now all painted, with a brand new curbrail welded together.

We managed a quick repaint on SO 4790 over the Summer, which was looking quite tired, and even managed to do a quick panel repair too.

It emerged in crimson & cream livery, as part of our plan to phase out maroon and replace with crimson & cream.

Along with that, BCK 21272 arrived new to the railway, recently repainted and overhauled.

All it needed was a bit of a spruce up inside, which we soon dealt with. Both should be in front line service next year, having been on the subs bench for the latter half of the year.

The upholstery team continue in their entrepreneurial endeavours, with glasses cases, bags and cushions flying off the shelves.

Contract work for other railways also continue, the Dean Forest being a valued partner again.

Up at Toddington the Wednesday evening wagon team started on the restoration of GWR Open A 31554.

Finishing with the other longer term project in C&W, FK 13326. After a major rebuild at both ends, its protected refurbishment is finally nearing completion, with painting well on the way to completion. It should be in service for the beginning of the new season.

A quick look at the blog stats for the year, 228,000 views this year, and over 300 comments, which is quite incredible. Thanks to everyone for your interest, it makes writing all the blog posts thoroughly worthwhile.

Always a hostage to fortune looking too far ahead in C&W, but 2025 should see the RBr finally finished (!), 4798 will probably be there or there abouts by the end, and of course the FK will be out for the beginning of the season. On the wagon side, we should see the completion of the Open C and Mica, and hopefully the water tank at Toddington we'll finish off too. The plan is at least one of the air ministry tanks brought up from Cheltenham will get done. As for anything beyond that, watch this space!

In the meantime, happy new year, we're all looking forward to another year of C&W.