This Spirit tail lamp, looks better for a bit of attention and can now be seen in our James Taylor Coal office at Toddington, The plate is dated 1941, stamped G R and the Crown, could be  post office, but they are usually stamped GPO.

Manufactured by S.N.L.W. limited.

 Now the AA box is nearing completion I have found some photos taken during the restoration where the idea was to save as much of the original build as we could.The box had had various updates over the years before being sold off.

The roof was in need of a new base frame and one upright corner post before replacing thre of the side with 2mm steel sheet the original front panel is back on a hard board inner with a galvanised tin outer panel.

:uckily a friend informed me off a large AA box sign for sale on the web which Greg promptly paid for and collected this was used to make a silicone mold from which I made 3 more from resin.

The original is now top front on the box, the location sign boxes were made from picture frame beading with glass panel shot blasted one side and then primed to replicate the opaque originals.

 Wednesday 19th October.

A windy morning threatening rain but outside rasks achieved.

The Austin Morris has had the repainted wings trial fitted and pilot holes drilled in the wings and body ready for  some rivnuts to be fitted as it is easier than working inside the body box sections with spanners. 

After the team work on the wings next it was the rear roller shutter on the iron horse needing a quick sand and a coat of red paint which despite being a brand name is water based and not very red and dries translucent so an order will be going in for some coach enamel.

Whilst the shutter was in progress Greg got working on the cab roof  sanding down and varnishing to protect the paint.

The Austin Morris cab which gad been filled a long tjme ago finally got attacked with sand paper to smooth it down and get some primer on the see the levels.

 The Scammell trailer coupling mechanism was well rusted and in need of attention.

The rust was removed by wire brushing, rather than painting, it was coated with, Prolan, rust proofing fluid with some black Cementex mortar dye added to it.

Prolan is tacky after application, but hardens when polished, a brilliant finish is achieved, that can be recoated without preparation,for additional protection if necessary, in the future. 

 October 12th

After missing a week I got back onto the scammel and refitted the rear lights all did not go as planned as one bulb holder was longer than the rest and the mounts had been tweaked to suit it. 

But we have gone from this

To this

Then finished off the chassis and did the wheels after a cab clean it looks a lot better

Greg has been busy making architrave and replacing the rotten wood around windows on the buildings it was then time to attack the platform scales for a disassembly coat the mechanism with some used engine oil and a repaint but a light shower interfered with the painting. Greg has photos to add for these tasks as I forgot as normal.

We need a video of the scammel in action now it drives and everything works.

 Is it worth restoring ? This Tin plate GWR rail network map was given to me in the 1970's by Tim Petchey of Winchcombe Railway museum,it had been folded in half, and pulled from a fire during the demolition of Chedworth Station , on the Midland and South western Junction Railway.

It has hung around the workshops for many years, I thought, if I'm not going to do something with it then no one will,

I made a frame, cleaned and protected it with rustproofing wax, Prolan, and fixed it to the inside of the Foss Cross building, we have, out of sentiment as it came from the next station down the line from where it originated.

Did the restoration achieve anything? that will be in the eye of the beholder, the article has a little more meaning, I think.

A recent, Heritage Spot.

This could be a Lancashire Boiler, used in 19th century industry. now seemingly used  as a storage tank, with the firebox apertures plated over, this example is at Kinnersley near Severn Stoke and Croome park Worcester. These boilers were often used to power Beam engines, in mining, blowing houses.