9103 Restoration - 2008

Details of the ongoing restoration work throughout 2008. The previous years restoration progress can be viewed at:

• 9103 Restoration
• Restoration progress 2004
• Restoration progress 2005
• Restoration progress 2006
• Restoration progress 2007

Now the winter weather has arrived we are concentrating on the interior of the coach. Here the first of the new toilet washbasins has been fitted and is being plumbed in.

Up on the roof the gutter plates have now been completed, with a special sealer bedding them in. The roof will be painted once the weather improves.

Below the washbasin a heater is plumbed in, the first of our vehicles with these.

The stainless water tank outlet for the toilet.

September 2008

Work on the roof has progressed well over the summer.

Our Swedish volunteer Max from Uppsala setting up the base for the shell ventilators.

Barney about to offer up the end piece of wooden gutter.

The gutters installed on the east side.

Barney, Don and Max at work on the beautiful Saturday of the Enthusiasts week end.

Our grandstand view of the Gala with 9017 and 3440 passing! More images of the Gala will follow when time allows!

The north end roof tank offered up for fitting.

Don, Chris and Barney and Chris working on riveting new galvanised strips over the joints in the roof panels. This mod should ensure no further roof leaks, the familiar hoops will be added on top of the new sheets to retain the original appearance but with reduced possibility of corrosion and leaks.

One of the riveted strips in more detail.

Pete machining the new water tank filler castings in Bewdley machine shop.

The graining has now been applied on the corridor walls and ends. The end sliding doors have been moved from store at Kidderminster for final painting and varnishing before hanging.

The patterns for the water tank fillers made in Bridgnorth's Volunteer Pattern Shop...

...and castings produced from them.

May 2008

The final roof sheet fitted back in position at the south end of the coach. Here the roof tank batons are being trial fitted ready to receive canvass and the 2 new stainless steel water tanks.

Photos: Mick Haynes

Mick and Don take advantage of the sunny weather to progress the fixing of the water tank batons on the north end of the coach...

...and the south end.

The north end has now reached final undercoat stage. We will now flatten finally before the finishing coat and then reinstate the corridor connection.

January 2008

Work has progressed on 9103's roof over the recent months and now 70% has been reinstated...

The top stringer is in very good condition - thank goodness! All screw holes are being drilled out and hardwood dowels glued into place.