Just days after 814's
final operating day of 2003 the team start to strip the
coach in preperation for its winter repaint. Here we see
Frank McGuigan taking down the carriages second apparatus
net.
Pete
Silver starting to remove the beading. Note that the
lining has already been removed.
Frank taking it easy!
"Big
Pete" dismantling the main carriage apparatus net
frame.
27th September 2003
814 is now inside the
workshop, which will allow the repaint to be undertaken.
11th
October 2003
Frank moves various apparatus parts from
814 into storage.
Work on
preparing 814 for repainting can clearly be seen in this
picture.
15th November 2003
Paul
Hancock gets to grips with sanding down the bodywork
Pete Silver sanding
down the bodywork.
22nd November 2003
During the week Pam
Silver has applied the undercoat to the upper part of the
carriage.
Frank is seen here
sanding down the second apparatus side of the coach.
29th November 2003
Seeing these pictures
of various handles from 814 just shows how dedicated the
team at Didcot are. They could have just repainted them
black and put them back on the coach, but NO - they have
been cleaned back to bare metal to be repainted. So when
you look at this coach next year and think it looks good,
remember that there is a team behind the coach that take
pride in looking after it to the highest standard
possible.
There is
far more to restoring coaches (especially TPOs) than just
the vehicles. Here we see Pete Silver repairing a leather
pouch. In "days of yore" prisoners would repair
/ make mail sacks - this is no longer possible, so Pete
is repairing a leather pouch so that it can see more
years of usage.
TPO 814 has not been neglected during this
period, as can be seen, the painting of the vehicle
continues. To latch on to a phrase "probably the
best restored carriage in Britain".........
14th December 2003
December has seen work
stop on TPO 814, since it has been in use during the
Santa Specials / Thomas events, as well as the TPO team
being involved in these events.
Instead of overalls and working on carriages
Pete Silver gets in the festive mood during the Santa
Specials at Didcot.
The new year will see work resume
on the overhaul of 814, so that it is ready for a return
to traffic at Easter.
31st August 2003
Pete
Silver starting to remove the beading. Note that the
lining has already been removed.
Frank taking it easy!
"Big
Pete" dismantling the main carriage apparatus net
frame.
27th September 2003
11th
October 2003
Work on
preparing 814 for repainting can clearly be seen in this
picture.
15th November 2003
Pete Silver sanding
down the bodywork.
22nd November 2003
Frank is seen here
sanding down the second apparatus side of the coach.
29th November 2003
There is
far more to restoring coaches (especially TPOs) than just
the vehicles. Here we see Pete Silver repairing a leather
pouch. In "days of yore" prisoners would repair
/ make mail sacks - this is no longer possible, so Pete
is repairing a leather pouch so that it can see more
years of usage.
TPO 814 has not been neglected during this
period, as can be seen, the painting of the vehicle
continues. To latch on to a phrase "probably the
best restored carriage in Britain".........
14th December 2003
Instead of overalls and working on carriages
Pete Silver gets in the festive mood during the Santa
Specials at Didcot.