G.W.R. Autotrailer 169 News and Restoration Blog

 Facebook Posts from 2016 24/01/2016 A quick 169 update, amongst much other work continuing on doors and flooring of 'section 2' we have this week cut all the inside tumblehomes on the 12 main uprights. A very slow and steady job on 5" oak beams 7' long! Small uprights  below large windows 17/02/2016 You can never have too many clamps! 10/03/2016 Just 3 more days to get yourself a closer look at the work we've been doing on 169. So why not pop into Williton on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and see for yourself what we get up to. Especially for the Gala, we have put most of the bits we've been making together so you can see get an idea of how it's all coming along. Our fundraising stall will be open for business along with lots of other interesting displays and stands. Here's a taste .............but there's more to see. 30/06/2016 Auto 169 Getting to grips with rebuilding the floor and 2 rebuilt vestibule doors

History from the Website There has been a lot of progress with the "kit of parts" starting to come together hence this page of photos of Autotrailer 169 as on view during the West Somerset Railway's 2012 Autumn Steam Gala.   First an outside view from the driving end.   Trial erection of the second bay's timbers. The inner end has been moved back in place, it will have to be largely dismantled   A closer look at the driving cab framework.   Looking across the cab with handbrake pedestal in place - and smartly painted.   An interior view with two seats temporarily in position and examples of some of the parts and the associated jigs. View from the saloon to the cab - and the Barclay saddle tank in front. Detail of the roof hoop construction. Some of the team showing visitors around the autotrailer - many thanks for donations received! Please help us to continue our restoration of this historic Great Western Railway Autotrailer

Website History pages (possibly not in chronological order) July 2012 Working party on Wednesday 11 July 2012 collected from store previously cut and shaped timber for the 2nd (mid-body) section. This was checked and stacked on the almost complete frame ready to be profiled, routered and finished. On 7 July a working party carried out a trial assembly of the driving end body framing, the collection of pieces of wood suddenly became identifiable as part of a carriage! May 2012 On 30 May the working party finally moved the remaining section of bodywork back on end of chassis where it belongs. The working party on 23 May continued efforts to move remaining coach luggage/ brake part of the body back to the original position, we did not quite achieve that goal so another working party is required - please get in touch if you'd like to help. We had a busy working party on 16 May tightening up nuts and fitting split pins to chassis end bogie /brake gear before moving remaining section of ...