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Initially there was some confusion over the identity of the coach, which the published records had incorrectly described as an LNER Diagram 23 Vestibule Third. The maker's plates were missing and none of the internal fittings were still in place, but the toplights over the doors and compartments and the fact that it was a 'mirror image' of the normal LNER layout suggested it was of GNR rather than LNER origin. Furthermore it was 9ft wide rather than the standard 8ft 6in, meaning it could only be one of the 10 GNR Diagram 164K Vestibule Composites.<ref>SVR News 113</ref> By 1996 it had been confirmed that it was either No 69 or No 2701, both of which had been converted to camping coaches in 1958. SVR News reported that "''In the absence, as yet, of any further firm evidence, we have decided to refer to the carriage as No 69. Murphy's law will undoubtedly ensure that it turns out to be No 2701!''"<ref>SVR News 118</ref>
The 1998 SVR Stock Book still referred to "''Our example, assumed to be No 69…''".<Ref>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> By spring 2000 Murphy's law had proved correct as the Coach Fund had finally established the identity as No 2701, the number being found on the underside of a door. They had also completed restoration of six Gresley Teaks and had secured a set of teak panels for 2701, the outside of which was mostly plywood. Although the Fund had exhausted its finances, 2701 was moved from storage at Eardington to [[Bewdley North Down Yard]] on 17 April 2000 for restoration to begin.<ref>SVR News 132, 133</ref>
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An initial survey revealed that 1701 2701 was still mounted on its original underframe and GNR bogies,which had been built in 1921 by the Leeds Forge Company.<ref>SVR News 136</ref> Restoration began in mid-2000 and in October 2000 filming took place for an episode of the 2001 TV series “[[List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway#TV Documentary | Off the Rails]]” featuring Vince Henderson, with the restoration of GNR 2701 being one of the items featured. However progress was initially slow due to the lack of funding. The Coach Fund reported in 2001 that "''We could probably restore 2701 for about £20,000 but that would mean doing everything the hard way, and would probably take 20 years''." They therefore investigated the possibility of attracting grants, and on 12 September 2001 the [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]] awarded a grant of £84,300 towards the cost of restoration.<ref>SVR News 137</ref>
With funding secured, official permission to start work on 2701 was received on 22 December 2001. The coach made a short trip to Kidderminster to be placed on accommodation bogies while its own bogies were overhauled. The bodywork was then stripped almost to a bare framework so that the contractors C&L Walker could replace all the waist level 'stringers' and carry out other framework repairs.<ref>SVR News 140</ref> By early November 2002 all the brackets, panels, and glazing had been re-fitted to the sides and ends. All the internal doors had been refurbished or replaced, with the four 1930's pattern sliding doors replaced by older ones retrieved from 24068.<ref>SVR News 143</ref>
