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Restoration, which included repainting in LMS 1946 Crimson Lake livery, was carried out at Bewdley and was completed in early 1973.<ref>SVR News 27</ref> On 11 August 1973 26986 visited the Derby Litchurch Lane Carriage Works Open Day in the company of [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773 | LMS 8233]], [[LMS 12992 Corridor Third]] and [[LMS 2886 Six-wheel Passenger Brake (later 32919)|LMS Stove R 32919]], the journey being made in steam.<ref>SVR News 29</ref>
Two years later 26986 was one of the three SVR carriages which attended the [[Rail 150]] celebrations at Shildon in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1975 | 1975]], travelling there on 11 August behind [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773 | 8233]] and [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106 | 43106]]. It is the only one of the three carriages still based at the SVR.<ref>SVR News 36</ref><ref group="note">On-loan "Clapham Buffet" GWR 9361 9631 later returned to the NRM, while LNER pigeon van 4236 was subsequently swapped for LNER 24105.</ref>
26986 was withdrawn from service in Autumn 1982 after being vandalised by an air rifle. During preparation for the repairs several rotten 3x3 timbers were found. The Coach Fund therefore decided that 26986 should take the place of [[LMS Brake Third Corridor 26880]] at their stores vehicle at Bridgnorth, allowing the latter to be rebuilt as it was thought to be in better condition despite having spent a number of years stored at [[Eardington]].<ref>SVR News 65</ref> By winter 1987-88 the LMS set was without a brake, so 26986 became the 'big winter job'.<ref>SVR News 87</ref> The renovation eventually took around a year, during which time the defective corner posts and centre rails were replaced, while the vestibule floor was also removed and replaced by a galvanized steel floor covered with tongue-and-groove boards. The external panels were all scrapped and new panels cut out and welded together to form a continuous skin. The seats were removed and sent away for reupholstering and the interior woodwork was stripped and re-varnished. 26986 was finally repainted and lined out in LMS 1947 style, returning to service in late 1988.<ref>SVR News 90</ref>
