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 bodywork back.
Recent progress at 169 unit 7 by Tony Brooks on down side front section re-doing joints and rebating and shaping uprights
April 2012
Work continues to progress, on Wednesday 11 April our working party re-worked and rebuilt several window sections after skills and manufacturing methods improved.
On the same day painting of final sections of the Underframe continued.
Photos © Ian Grady
March 2012
Work is continuing on producing components for the wooden framework, though the stock of them is steadily increasing there seems to be little to show for our efforts as one piece looks much like the other 20 of that part!
The underframe on its bogies with the luggage end body sat on rollers on it in the Swindon Shed at Williton on 17 March 2012.
The driving end frame is in our industrial unit and is largely completed.
A section of bodyside framing being assembled - top nearest the camera, drivers door jam nearest the wall.
The other side of the driving end frame, an internal partition and a jig for making components.
Two jigs used in making components, furthest from camera for cutting the corners the other for cutting the correct 15° chamfer to the inner edges.
A selection of old and new components on display at the WSR Spring Steam Gala.
Draw gear and guards hand brake at the luggage end of Auto 169.
Photos© Steve Huddy
December 2011
Despite all the activity on the loco work continues on the 'Auto' with steady progress on the wood sections and more seat components being produced.
Metal support brackets for the wooden framework have also been produced and galvanised. We hope to expose the last section of the frames shortly to allow completion of that work, and just for good measure the 12-ton stores van will be visiting Williton over the winter months for a repaint. Many thanks to all who help us at Williton.
November 2011
Work continues on the Luggage end Bogie which is now virtually completed and refitted.
Some joinery work continues although progress has temporarily slowed to allow us to concentrate on getting the major work on the loco boiler to get fully underway.
October 2011
Work on 169 continues steadily with the Luggage End bogie now nearing completion and should be refitted soon.
The joinery side also make steady progress although we are a little disappointed that we were unable to get some of the bodywork assembled for a public show during the Autumn Gala (although where we would have been located it might have been another logistics nightmare). However, we have run another successful fundraising weekend in the Williton yard and our thanks to Ray and team for allowing us space and the 'Gods' for at last allowing the sun to shine on a WSR Gala.
A donation of a large number of tools and timber has topped up our supplies and we now have a number of surplus hand tools, including carving and turning chisels of all sizes and vintage wooden planes of various and interesting types. If anyone is interested in that side of carpentry or wants something to restore and perhaps put on display, please get in touch as I'm sure we can supply something suitable for a small donation to our funds.
August 2011
Since the last report progress has continued in all areas with the trial fitting and drilling of the main timbers and frame to accept the bolts that hold the carriage body to the chassis. The process of ensuring the body sits centrally on the frames is quite involved especially when trying to use a mix of original and new parts.
After almost 2 days of deliberation, we (I) came to the conclusion that the original body was possibly half an inch 'lopsided'. The 'midweek' gang, who number 8 workers on some days, have managed to liberate the 'luggage end' bogie to allow that to be given the clean down and repaint treatment over the next few months. This also shows no obvious signs of needing any major attention at this stage.
In the joinery shop, the wooden construction of the second cab door has now reached completion until trial fitting can take place. Other fine-tuning work continues on the front saloon section and we shall soon be turning our attention to the driving cab windows. News from Chard is that Laurie believes he can complete the last(40th) of the turned seat legs before disappearing completely under a sea of shavings! One small woodturning job required on the loco and he can then put his feet up.
June 2011
Despite a few Bank Holiday weekends recently we have still made some good progress, with recent attention turned to some trial assembly of the flooring sections at the driving end of the carriage. To enable this we have had to join the first two main side timbers using long bolts with tapered heads screwed through the scarfed joints into threaded holes in a galvanised steel plate. Once the process was mastered we made steady progress and completed both sides in a day.
We are now ready to sort out drilling the timbers and fitting them to the chassis.
Other work has continued on the chassis trial fitting some of the auto operating support brackets. Woodwork progresses in our workshop with work on sides, door and seat components. Some of the roof timbers steamed during the latter part of last year have received the attention of our 'Glue Guru' and we now have 4 completed with a further 4 to finish. Then just a further 6 sets to bend and glue at some stage.
Off-site our turner continues to make steady progress with about half of the seat legs completed.
We hope to have the front of the cab completed later in the year and will be looking to purchase the first of the required glass. At present we are 'holding our breath' on the cost of such glass and would be pleased to hear of any suitable suppliers or any willing sponsors!
April 2011
A very successful Spring Gala saw many visitors to our display at Williton with lots of interest in our project. A good sum was raised for funds boosted by the generous donations of good quality and historic railway items. Thank you.
Progress continues in all areas with the Drivers end bogie almost complete and just awaiting an inspection by our engineer prior to refitting. Wood shavings are being created by the bag load both at Williton and at our specialist woodturning depot where seat legs and spindles are in bulk production by one of our (I suspect) more senior active volunteers.
March 2011 update
Work on the Drivers End bogie has progressed well and the pictures below show the bogie repaint nearing completion.
Above Bogie cleaned and almost completed Pictures © John Wood Above Axlebox cover, Anyone know what the 161 No means?
Many thanks to all our visitors to Williton over the Spring Gala weekends. There were many interesting discussions and a goodly sum was raised for our funds.
March 2011
Following a long wait, the chassis of our carriage finally returned to the Williton shed in late January.
Advantage of the limited stay was immediately taken when the drivers end bogie was removed to allow it to be fully
cleaned and repainted. With work being undertaken on up to 3 days each week by an enlarged workforce good progress is being made and because there is no major engineering work required we hope to have it ready to refit either before or just after the WSR Spring Gala.
Above images © Ian Grady
Meanwhile in the joinery shop progress is being made on the main bodywork and also the production of seating components
Above images © John Wood
January 2011
The first work of the New Year saw the final major components thicknessed down to finished size and the 'attention to detail' of the first section of the side of the coach is now nearing completion.
All moulding around windows and toplights is now finished and the 'infill' panels are fitted.
The picture below shows the latest situation with toplight window frames also in situ.
Please help us to continue our restoration of this historic Great Western Railway Autotrailer
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