The good news is that the main construction is now complete and we only have a few minor jobs like the ticket clips and the top rail safety clips to fit. 

All the side and end planking has now been fitted and looks pretty good. The last job was constructing and fitting the end door which took a several weeks. The floor was removed for the final time, we hope, a few weeks ago and the wagon washed inside and out to remove the dust prior to painting. While it was out we checked all the bolts in the frames and although we tightened them up at the end of the summer they were all only finger tight again due the timber shrinkage. So another day was spent tightening them up again. Apparently oak dries out at about 1 inch a year so as the frames are 5 inches thick and we have had them for 3 years now they will take another 2 years to dry out completely. The bolts did up about 2 turns each on average to give some idea of the problem. This will be an ongoing problem for the next couple of years and have to be checked every six months or so.

As we are now coming up to the stage of preparing to paint the wagon thoughts have turned to what colour it should be, originally when new it was Bauxite as it was an LMS wagon. In latter years it was of course grey and even at times possibly unpainted. The favoured colour at present amongst those who have been consulted is Bauxite, so unless anyone has any better ideas, that's probably what it will be! And no we are not considering Prussian Blue to match 88.

So what was planned as a 5 year project is coming to completion about 18 months early and once again there will be a 7 plank mineral wagon with side, bottom and end doors to be inspected by those who are interested in the past. Hopefully with a little care and as it will not receive the abuse of daily use it will last for 50 years or more before another restoration is necessary.

The Wagon Team

Pete Davis, Edward Lobjoit and Gerry Leyman.