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Restoration and Sanding gear update
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}}20 ton 'Toad' Brake Van 17410 was built at Swindon in 1940, one of a batch of 100 financed by the War Department but taken straight into GWR stock. The diagram number was AA.21, lot number 1370. It was vacuum fitted with screw couplings. An original stencil on an internal wall suggests that its first allocation was to Cardiff, but when last in SVR service it was lettered in late GWR style grey livery and allocated to "Bristol RU".
==17140 in preservation==
Much of the steelwork, the entire wooden floor and most of the side/end/roof planking needs replacing. The tyres need to be turned to remove flats. Vacuum cylinder, brakegear pins and bushes must be refurbished. A new stove and roof canvass will be essential.
It is intended to restore it to as near original condition as reasonably possible, and in GWR livery, but BR bauxite has not been ruled out as a possibility for the future.
New veranda side and end plates,underfloor support plates, kerb rails and corner posts were made and fitted by Mawley Engineering Ltd between 18-20 October 2016 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 have been refurbished and re-used. The new structure was seal welded to prolong its life expectancy, but volunteers have commenced the time consuming job of drilling the new steelwork for snap head rivets which will 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 is being tried, 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. In May 2017 the new floor was installed; made from 3" thick Douglas Fir tongue and groove boards. The planking for the side and roof repairs arrived later that month. By 11 July September 2017 both sides and ends had been refurbished with new lower planking and a start made on replacing the end Douglas Fir planks which were generally worse.
To finance the restoration The SVR Charitable Trust is seeking donations and component sponsorship, both of which can be Gift Aided. A form can be accessed by clicking on the link [http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/Donations_and_Gift_aid_TOAD_17410_form.pdf SVR Charitable Trust TOAD Donation Form].Thank you.
