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→2015 restoration
A new pair of veranda side doors and replacement opening window frames were made, and the end hatch restored. The layers of paint were removed from the interior, when it was found that its first, "as built" internal finish was scumble grained in imitation beech and cedar with a light oak ceiling. The number 17410 was stenciled opposite the guard's seat in pink lettering, with the word "CARDIFF" (presumably its first allocation) below. Its later (presumed BR) interior finish was off white (ivory) and bauxite with a white ceiling.
During the summer/autumn of 2016, the vacuum brake cylinder and handbrake pedestal were removed to safe storage and the rotten steel veranda sides and underfloor platework were consigned to the scrapheap. A considerable amount of (very necessary) weld repair was then carried out by a skilled volunteer on the exposed section of underframe, ballast bins and bases of the cabin and side door posts.<ref>[https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/svr-wagons-2016.631598/page-5 NatPres forum SVR Wagons Thread]</ref><ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwrtoad17410prog2016.html 17410 restoration updates on www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk]</ref> A heavy job completed in early October was the emptying, cleaning, strengthening, painting and re-filling of all eight underfloor ballast bins.
New veranda side and end plates,underfloor support plates, kerb rails and corner posts were made and fitted by Mawley Engineering Ltd to replace the thoroughly rotten originals. However the very prominent waist level angle irons, the two vertical "T" sections at the end, and the two side door slam posts were in good condition and were refurbished and re-used. The new structure was seal welded to prolong its life expectancy, but volunteers undertook the time consuming job of drilling the new steelwork for snap head rivets to maintain the authentic look.
Fortunately the steelwork at the van sides and end was mostly restorable, and after emptying many broken drawhooks and worn out brake blocks from the sandboxes and ballast bin (under the end windows and hatch), the rust and life expired end section of kerb rail were removed. The floor plate (and hence the end of the body) had been lifted about half an inch by rust scale which was removed prior to the said plate being seam welded to the headstock to prevent a repetition. A replacement kerb rail and floor strengthening angle iron were also welded in place, and the ballast replaced. The steel lower van sides were starting to suffer from rust due to water ingress through the failed seals. A new sealing system was used, involving steel angle seam welded to the top inside edge of the original steel plates. It is invisible, saves much "original fabric", and hopefully will improve 17410's longevity. By May September 2017 the new floor was installed; , made from 3" thick Douglas Fir tongue and groove boards. By September 2017 , and both sides and ends had been refurbished with new Douglas Fir planks.
The restoration was completed in time for 17410 to be used as brake van in the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#June 2018|June 2018 Goods Gala]] [[Demonstration Goods Train]]. The Fund raised around £10,000 for the work through the Charitable Trust.
==Gallery==
