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restoration completed, used in 2018 Goods Gala
|caption = GWR Toad Brake Van 17410
|construc = GWR Swindon
|status = Under restorationOperational
|wagno = 17410
|othernos =
==17140 in preservation==
It arrived on the SVR in November 1970, purchased by a group of working members known as the 17410 Fund, and was restored the following year, after which it saw regular use by the PW Department. Following withdrawal as surplus to PW requirements and in very poor condition it languished in Bewdley yard, but in December 2015 its restoration, by the [[The LNER Carriage Group|LNER Carriage Group]], started. In early 2016 the 17410 Fund transferred ownership to the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]] for restoration and continued preservation on the SVR.<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwr_toad_17410.pdf Public Notice GWR ‘Toad’ 17410], dated 1 September 2015, accessed 10 November 2015</ref> The van is known to many on the SVR as "Don Wilcox's toad". Once restored its hoped to use it as a fitted brake van on demonstration freight trains, filming and photo charters, and for brake van rides, for which it will be most suitable.
===2015 restoration===
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.
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 September 2017 both sides and ends had been refurbished with new Douglas Fir planks.
==Gallery==
Floor_plate_MC.jpg | At the van end the rust under the floor plate has been cleaned out, and the plate seam welded in its correct position.
17410_side_water_excluder.jpg| Two steel strips riveted to the top of the lower van sides were meant to keep them rigid and exclude water. After 70 years they were doing neither.
GWR_17410_20180602.jpg| Return to service in the 2018 Goods Gala (right)
</gallery>
