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{{Infobox wagon|image = GWR 17410b 20180626.jpg|caption = GWR Toad Brake Van 17410|construc = GWR Swindon|status = Operational|wagno = 17410|othernos = |designed = |wagtype = Brake van|capacity = 20 tons|telcode = Toad|brakes = Vacuum fitted|built = 1940|years1 = 1970|events1 = Entered preservation on SVR|years2 = 2016-2018|events2 = Restoration |years3 = |events3 = |years4 = |events4 = |years5 = |events5 = |years6 = |events6 = }}[[File: GWR_17410_20150320GWR 17410a 20180626.jpg |thumb|200px300px|right| GWR Toad Brake Van 17410, June 2018]]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. When 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".Early in its life the sanding gear was removed, and its place was taken by additional ballast. It is believed that the additional adhesion weight would have been of more use to a fitted brake van. Many other preserved vac. fitted Toads have undergone the same modification.

==17410 in preservation==It arrived on the SVR in on 24 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. A new pair of veranda side doors have been made, and replacement opening window frames are under construction. The layers of paint were removed from van is known to many on the interior, when it was found that its first, "SVR as built" internal finish was scumble grained in imitation beech and cedar with a light oak ceiling. The number 17410 was stenciled opposite the guardDon Wilcox's seat in pink lettering, with the word toad"CARDIFF" (presumably its first allocation) below. Its later (presumed BR) interior finish was off white (ivory) and bauxite with a white ceiling.

===2015 restoration=== Restoration by the [[The sanding gear is currently missingLNER Carriage Group|LNER Carriage Group]] began in December 2015 with the aim that once restored, it could be used as a fitted brake van on demonstration freight trains, filming and photo charters, and for brake van rides. In early 2016 the 17410 Fund transferred ownership to the GWR drawing has been located. It appears that several other groups are short of sanding gear [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]] for their Toads, restoration and its hoped to join with them in a scheme to construct a batchcontinued 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>

It is intended to restore 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 to was found that its first, "as near original condition as reasonably possible, 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 GWR liverypink lettering, but with the word "CARDIFF" (presumably its first allocation) below. Its later (presumed BR ) interior finish was off white (ivory) and bauxite has not been ruled out as with a possibility for the futurewhite ceiling.

Much progress has recently been made on stripping During the summer/autumn of 2016, the vacuum brake cylinder and handbrake pedestal were removed to safe storage and the vehicle prior rotten steel veranda sides and underfloor platework were consigned to restoration, the rate scrapheap. A considerable amount of which will depend (very necessary) weld repair was then carried out by a skilled volunteer on fundraising for materials. Much the exposed section of the steelworkunderframe, the wooden floor ballast bins and much bases of the cabin and sidedoor posts.<ref>[https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/svr-wagons-2016.631598/endpage-5 NatPres forum SVR Wagons Thread]</roof planking needs replacingref><ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwrtoad17410prog2016.html 17410 restoration updates on www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk]</ref> A heavy job was the emptying, whilst tyrescleaning, vacuum cylinderstrengthening, brakegear pins painting and bushes must be refurbished. A new stove and roof canvass will be essentialre-filling of all eight underfloor ballast bins.

As of July 2016, the rotten steel New veranda sides side and end plates,underfloor platework which supported the sandboxessupport plates, vac cylinder curb rails and corner posts were made and handbrake pedestal had been consigned fitted by Mawley Engineering Ltd to replace the thoroughly rotten originals. However the scrapheapvery prominent waist level angle irons, plywood templates madethe two vertical "T" sections at the end, and prices the two side door slam posts were in good condition and were being sought for their replacementrefurbished and re-used. By September of that year a considerable amount The new structure was seal welded to prolong its life expectancy, but volunteers undertook the time consuming job of (very necessary) weld repair had been carried out on drilling the exposed section of underframe, ballast bins and supporting new steelworkfor snap head rivets to maintain the authentic look.

In early 2016 Fortunately the 17410 Fund transferred ownership to 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 [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd|SVR Charitable Trust]] for restoration end windows and continued preservation on hatch), the SVRrust and life expired end section of curb rail were removed.<ref>[http://wwwThe 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.lnersvrcoachfundA replacement curb rail and floor strengthening angle iron were also welded in place, and the ballast replaced.org.uk/gwr_toad_17410The steel lower van sides were starting to suffer from rust due to water ingress through the failed seals.pdf Public Notice GWR ‘Toad’ 17410]A new sealing system was used, dated 01/09/2015, accessed 10/11/2015</ref> The van is known involving steel angle seam welded to many on the SVR as top inside edge of the original steel plates. It is invisible, saves much "original fabric"Don Wilcox, and hopefully will improve 17410's toad"longevity. Once restored its hoped to use it as a fitted brake van on demonstration freight trainsBy September 2017 the new floor was installed, filming made from 3" thick Douglas Fir tongue and photo chartersgroove boards, and for brake van rides, for which it will be most suitable.<ref>[http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/svr-wagons-2016both sides and ends had been refurbished with new Douglas Fir planks.631598/page-3 NatPres forum SVR Wagons Thread]</ref>

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 of the total £20,000 project. ==Gallery==<gallery>GWR_17410_20150320.jpg|Before restoration, March 2015Underfloor_bin_1.JPG |Ballast bin17410_CARDIFF.JPG |17410 CARDIFF on internal wallRefurbished_seat.jpg |Refurbished Guard's seatBalcony_230816_small.jpg | Dismantled Balcony in September 2016 Toad_New_side_and_end.jpg |New sides and end to the veranda.Toad_inside_new_floor_plates.jpg |New underfloor plates.Toad_refurbished_door_pillars.jpg |Refurbished Side Door Pillar.17410_veranda_new_side_door.jpg |Newly constructed side door in position.Seen here before the new side panels were fitted.Toad_Handbrake.jpg | Handbrake pillar and sandbox corner brackets.Further_welding_and_straightening.jpg | New side panel is now seal welded to curb rail.Side_doors_now_close.jpg | The new side doors have been made to close correctly.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> ==See Alsoalso==[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]]<br>[[Rolling stock currently under restoration]]

[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=9641 17410 on the Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey]<br>

*[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=9641 17410 on www.vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]<br>*[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/gwrtoad17410.html GWR Toad 17410 Restoration pageon www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk]