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SR Maunsell Hastings-line Brake No. 3687 of 1931
After a long period as a low-priority back burner project, this carriage entered the works in August 2019, shortly before lockdown, and some of the team behind the SRCG have since worked alongside David Wigley to bring this project to its conclusion. The body is now essentially finished and the bogies overhauled and largely re-assembled; a little work underneath the coach remains to be done. The coach is now waiting for time on the jacks so it can be completed.
You can see more on the coach's web page, via Carriage News, on Dave Clarke's photos and Alex Morley's photos.
SR Maunsell Restaurant Car No. 7864 of 1932
Unique as the sole surviving SR catering vehicle, 7864 has been the major focus for our fundraising over the last decade and a half. Requiring a complete rebuild, this coach entered the works in February 2024 as the first project properly under the auspices of the SR Coach Group; several tons of teak (second hand) has already been obtained to rebuild the body. Some preparatory work was done in 2023 with the asbestos being stripped from the vehicle, a start made creating the new first-class dining seats and some surviving interior doors and other components being restored.
You can see more on the coach's web page, on Dave Clarke's photos and Alex Morley's photos.
SR Maunsell Composite Brake No. 6575 of 1929
One of the Bluebell's first two coaches, restored in 1981, and withdrawn from service due to a leaking roof in November 2000. It is seen here as repainted into Bluebell Blue to recreate the early days of the BRPS, for the 50th Anniversary in May 2010. It remains in good condition, although with some water damage to the interior, and some structural repairs required, particularly at the brake end.
We have started to overhaul the interior components of this carriage as a background task, but its full overhaul has yet to commence.
You can see more about this coach on its web page.
SECR Hundred Seater No. 971 of 1922
A start is being made on overhauling 971's doors as labour is available, to get ahead on this time-consuming part of any overhaul so that when space for it in the works opens up, the overhaul can be completed more quickly. The vehicle served the Southern Railway and BR for 40 years, and the Bluebell for 45, and in spite of receiving no major body overhaul in that time, remains in generally good structural condition. The body now requires similar repairs to that undertaken on 1098 about 30 years ago, where the bolts holding the knees in place have corroded and split the teak bottom-sides, but also a re-trim, floor, partition and roof repairs.
971 was taken out of service in 2007 ostensibly for the metal panels to be renewed, and it has remained partially stripped in that way since, as seen here. The railway considers the overhaul of this coach a high priority, so we hope space and resources can be allocated in the works to undertake the bodywork repairs starting in not too many years time. It will not principally be an SRCG project, but we will undoubtedly be involved.
You can see more about this coach on its web page.
Planned Project
Bulleid Open Third No. 1482 of 1950
Overhauled 25 years ago, the late Roger Williams and his team had been undertaking an intermediate overhaul prior to his passing. This was done between periods of traffic demand for this useful open carriage. Three quarters of the windows had been removed, the frames repaired, and re-bedded. Along side this, a re-trim of the seats from BR "Candy-stripe" into a reproduction of the original Bulleid moquette has been taking place when the vehicle has been available for our trimmers to access the vehicle.
The plan is that, from March 2024, the vehicle will enter the works and Tim Preston will re-form the Bulleid Gang, and cut their teeth on the completion of this intermediate overhaul.
You can see more about this coach on its web page, and photos of the work undertaken over recent years in Dave Clarke's album.
Following on from this, a major overhaul of one of our other Bulleid coaches is planned, with the work being funded through the legacy which Roger Williams left to the Bluebell Railway Trust for the purpose.
Last updated by Keith Leppard, 6 February 2024
