Late Autumn 2021
Throughout November and December, work has continued on the compartment side of GSWR No 731. After the damaged No 1 end framework had been repaired and panelled, the remaining mid and cantrail panels were fitted after the framing had been treated to a dose of preservative.
This meant that the compartment side was now structurally complete: filling and sanding will be the next exciting episode here. Then attention was turned to the doors, There are 7 of them on this side, and they all needed repaired. We number the doors beginning with the corridor side door at No 1 end (the end with the dynamo). Door frames were repaired where necessary, and all the doors treated with preservative.
One door, No 10, had not had its GSWR waist panel removed, although the 1972 panel below that was beyond hope and needed to be replaced. This was very important, because that waist panel with its mouldings gives us the line for the mouldings and beading on the other doors. All doors have now been panelled and the side of the carriage looks relatively complete. However there is still a huge amount of work needed, such as fitting all 84 mouldings and all the beading. Lockdowns notwithstanding, it is our intention to complete this on both sides in 2022.
Please donate to the 731 fund if you can. Thanks!