2426 Churchward Toplight Third - Restoration

The 1910 built toplight third 2426 is now resident at Bewdley. The roof has been covered and broken windows replaced. It is being converted to act as a workshop for 5043 and a varnish shop for us. It needs substantial structural repair and we have made a start on the north end. Parts are being made such as door locks and commode handles. It is mounted on 8 foot American bogies and drawings are slowly being found to aid restoration which is following on from 4786.

2426 Churchward Third Restoration Appeal - how to help return the Railway's oldest coach into service.

The oak lavatory door is now varnished. Front side. Photo: Rob Massey.

And the rear side. Work continues on the other, Mahogany, door. Photo: Rob Massey.

View of the south end with the floor, the end bar removed and the first section of the bottom-side on the compartment side. This has also exposed the top web of the headstock for repair. Photo: Rob Massey.

The old end bar and end of bottomside. The newness has definitely gone off:) Photo: Rob Massey.

Door no. 16 has been removed. Its condition is reasonable.

Further bogie parts for cleaning: bearing, spring hangers and bolster safety brackets.

One of the nine new bolections for the corridor side windows.

Some of the mouldings removed from the south-end which will act as templates for replacements.

Much work has gone on exposing the south-end framework removing bolts, screws and pins. The sides will also be prepared along to the first of the external doors as the bottom-side repairs will go up to the first doors on each side. Photo: Rob Massey.

The first vestibule door has been assembled after completing the mortices.

Dave and Mike working on the mahogany lavatory door vacant/engaged latch and its hinges.

Cleaning of the blind brackets has reached 48 out of the 80 to be done. Photos: Dave Smith.

Further blind brackets polished.

Sicissors gangway frames.

John Ashton admiring the first set of scissors gangways. Photo: Dave Smith.

Blind brackets polished.

Stiles and strike posts for vestibule doors.

There is continued progress with the gangway metalwork. Timber packers has been fitted to the north end and most of the drilling for the scissors brackets is complete. Photo: Dave Smith.

The north end headstock is now fully painted. This end is also being prepared to fit the timber packing behind the corridor connection. This is in undercoat and will be fitted shortly. Photo: Dave Smith.

The compartment sliding doors progress. Photo: Mick Haynes.

Compartment sliding doors with top and bottom runners added. Photo: Mick Haynes.

Blind brackets fitted. Photo: Mick Haynes.

Internal droplights being varnished. Photo: Mick Haynes.

Buffers in undercoat. Photo: Dave Smith.

The compartment door fittings being cleaned and polished.

Cleaning painting the underframe progressing, in red primer to the right and grey undercoat to the left. Photo: Dave Smith.

The dynamo sling bracket offered up for drilling. Photo: Rob Massey.

We've almost completed the solebar cleaning apart from the sections behind the steps. Photo: Dave Smith.

The repairs to the internal droplights are complete and the first coat of varnish applied.

We've successfully removed the second north-end buffer - finally!

Compartment doors assembled and backs fitted.

Gangway door. This is from a contemporary GWR diner, dia H15 Lot 1115 no. 9526.

Five compartment sliding doors in various stages of assembly.

Sliding door assembled.

Corridor side solebar progress.

Two of the four spare lavatory doors in our possession are being stripped down and new interior panels are being cut.

A buffer guide removed from the south end to expose the strengthening plate which will be partially replaced.

Work has also begun to strip the solebar on the corridor side.

Set of parts for compartment sliding doors.

Mortices cut and cross pieces ready for trial assembly of the doors.

Photos: Mick Haynes

Vestibule handles polishing up nicely. Photo: Dave Smith.

The underframe cleaning has concentrated on the vacuum pipe. The photo shows the dynamo tensioning stay, the tie rod and the dynamo pulley. Also visible are the three holes in the underframe which will take the bolts of the dynamo bracket. On Toplights these had to be cranked to avoid the vacuum pipe. Photo: Dave Smith

The new section of reinforcing plate behind buffer shank fitted ready for welding.

The first of the four Queen posts has been stripped back and painted.

Thanks to help from Graham Phillips, the buffer has been removed and the area cleaned and primed ready for the new plate. The buffer has been cleaned and greased and the guide has also been de-rusted.

Work is continuing with the construction of 8 toplight compartment sliding doors. Six and a half BE doors have been de-constructed so far. The set of parts now awaiting paint removal has grown and cleaning off has begun.

Progress has also been made on manufacturing GWR “original style” blinds. Here's an original blind with a sample of the new material on the left side. We're very pleased with this and we will order a quantity of material to make new blinds.

More of the solebar has been cleaned off and the battery boxes and being bolted to the brackets.

The headstock is being cleaned back and primed. Some repairs will be necessary here.

Both the new battery boxes are in position although are still to be bolted in.

We've started cleaning the solebar.

Work is continuing on Churchward Third 2426 with sections of the underframe cleaned and primed.

Metalwork has been prepared to construct a new scissors gangway.

Part of the corridor side frame before work started.

A new corner post in place.

Internal paneling ready for reinstatement.

Photos: Mike Walker

Frame repairs proceeding well.

End repairs to the compartment-side northern corner.

End frame repairs complete.

New toilet flooring.

2426 Churchward Toplight Full Third was released from duties at Hampton Loade on 15th September and is seen here at Kidderminster shortly after arrival. Photo: Bob Massey.