The Kent & East Sussex Railway has released an update on the restoration and ongoing conservation of GWR Railcar W20.

The work is being funded through the railway’s ’20 for 20′ Appeal, which has already passed the halfway mark less than a month after its launch.

In early September, W20 arrived at the railway’s Carriage & Wagon shed at Tenterden. The first task was to make W20 weatherproof and watertight by permanently fitting the roof sheets, installing the saloon glazing and window surrounds, and working on the cab end.

The roof sheets

The original roof sheets were removed in 1994, since when replacement sheets have been loosely laid over the vehicle’s roof. The roof sheets are once again in place for the first time in28 years.

Glazing

Installing W20’s glazing with the necessary surrounds has proved to be a complex task. The railway’s own carpenter has replicated the wooden frames in-house, and in classic GWR fashion have been fitted using a large number of separate components.

During installation, the team found the task was even more of a challenge than first though, as the railcar’s side framework was bowed due to the many years that it had been stored without its protective external skin. Before the glazing could be fitted, suitable measures had to be taken to hold the frames in alignment.

Cab end panelling

Until now, the cab panels have only been temporarily attached. Before they can be fixed to the frame permanently, joint strengthening brackets need to fitted. An external contractor is currently fabricating these, after which he will fit them and oversee cab re-panelling of the cab.

Robin Coombes, K&ESR General Manager, said: “We are delighted to report that donations and pledges to the ’20 for 20′ Appeal have so far raised a little over £12,000 which means we are more than halfway to our target already,”

“Many thanks to all those who have so generously contributed so far. Please keep donating and spreading the word about the Appeal to enable the completion of this project in time for the railway’s 50th anniversary.”