Almost there at last! As you can see from the photos taken today, the Mineral Wagon is almost complete. Since our last update six months ago we had firstly to fit the top rail and fabricate and fit the retaining clips, once completed our thoughts turned to painting. 

Many many hours were spent researching the correct colour with several trial pots all of which were too orange. But thanks to the help of Rail Match staff and their model paints, together with the Dulux colour matching/scanning system we have come up with what we believe is the correct colour. For some reason when photographed it appears much more orange than it does to the human eye, both with print film and digital photography. Even in the sun at Washford it is a darker shade of brown to the human eye.

The wagon took several months to paint with three undercoats and much rubbing down between each coat. Due to the very damp cold spring it often took a couple of weeks for an undercoat to dry thoroughly so we waited for some warmer weather to arrive before applying the final gloss coat. While waiting for the better weather to arrive we took detailed measurements and designed the frame to support the tarpaulin weather cover and had the frame fabricated. This of course was not part of the original wagon but a protection to increase its life because it will be standing outside in all weathers. As the sides of a 7 plank wagon are so high we designed the cover so we can have a clear walk through without banging our heads, this will make it very useful for storing odd things that need to be in the dry. Like all the engines and trucks faces for a Thomas weekend that I found in the wagon today. The frame is in sections which can be easily dismantled like a market stall. 

During this period Edward escaped again to the warmer southern hemisphere for 3 months leaving just Pete and I to continue. On his return he paid the price though of having to repaint all the black ironwork under the chassis to cover up our splashes from the top. Now only the white ends to the brake handles need to be painted. About a year ago we approached Trust member Alan Cottrell to ask him if he would apply the lettering etc, as soon as he knew the top coat had been applied he came in for a few hours and made his usual wonderful professional job of the lettering and numbering. Thank you Alan it has really finished the wagon off. 

Once the frame was fitted Dr Peter Cattermole arranged for the tarpaulin supplier to visit and as you can see it is now on. Today we have been painting and making up the cleats for securing the ropes as well as clearing out for scrap all the rusted out steel from the old wagon which we have been retaining until now as patterns. Pete has made a mould from the original works plate which will be retained in the security of the museum. He will soon be making a fibreglass replica to be fitted to the wagon. The only other part to fit is the ticket clips.

There were quite a few visitors to the museum at Washford today and they all spent some time examining the wagon along with the other exhibits on site. The SDRT now has a fully restored/rebuilt 7 plank Mineral Wagon with side, bottom and end doors in working order on display. Hopefully with care and a coat of paint every few years it will be an attraction for many years to come.

And what next, well we have already been helping with the coach restoration and with luck will be able to move that on a little faster. Firstly though we are going to create and fit out a carpenter’s workshop in the loft of the shed extension so we can hopefully produce the accurate joinery/coachwork necessary for the coaches. Thank you to everyone who has supported the SDRT over the last few years, it is this support that has enabled us to continue the restoration work. Gerry Leyman.