Trustworthy, administrator
11,900
edits
Changes
m
remove redirect
1399 was brought to the SVR from Worcester on 18 September 1967 having been privately acquired by Mr SHP Higgins. It was initially restored to GWR wartime brown livery and saw regular use in works trains.<ref>SVR Stock Book Sixth Edition.</ref> During the winter season, when works trains were run each Sunday, the late Charlie Greenacre developed the idea of cooking a midday stew for the 20 or so members of the Bridgnorth PW gang and a mobile "kitchen" was assembled in 1399 for this purpose.<ref>SVR News 99, ‘Charlie Greenacre, an appreciation by Roger Norfolk’</ref>
By 1980 the ownership had been transferred from the late Mr Higgins to the ‘1399 Group’.<ref>SVR Stock Book Seventh Edition</ref> Ownership would in turn be assumed by the [[Great Western (SVR) Assoc. |Great Western (SVR) Association]]. A major overhaul at Bewdley began in early 1984,<ref>SVR News 71, Spring 1984</ref> with the intention of converting the vehicle internally for use as the [[The Great Western (SVR) Association Shop]] and also for its possible use in the upcoming ‘Rocket 150’ celebrations at Swindon the following year. As often, the overhaul became ‘''a real nightmare job''’ requiring repairs to much of the wooden frame and replacement of many steel sheets.<ref>SVR News 173, Autumn 1984</ref> The work was completed by summer 1985; the cancellation of the Swindon event meaning it could be moved to its new permanent home in the cattle dock at Bewdley for use as a sales stand to begin.<ref>SVR News 77</ref>
In 1999 1399 was to be moved into the [[Bewdley Goods Shed]] so the GW(SVR)A could re-canvas the roof.<ref>SVR News 130, Summer 1999</ref> Further restoration work was also required which was completed during 2001-2 including repanelling and repainting, fitting of new steel panels to the doors and new gutters.<ref>SVR News 142, Winter 2002-3</ref>
