Restoration of Scenery Van
Thought to be one of only two left in the country this classic wagon once had the distinction of carrying elephants during the days of the travelling circus. Now serving as the Eythorne Tea Bar and shop and as the creepy carriage at Halloween and Santa's grotto at Christmas this beautiful example of engineering has been receiving an overhaul for the past year chiefly by the Thursday Gang. In September of 2007 work began on stripping down the roof for repair which involved removing all old pieces of felt, filling holes and repainting with Bitumen
as well as having new steel plates and gutters fitted. The pictures below show the 'Guv' as it is known during it's various stages of recovery and work remains ongoing to restore it to it's former glory.
May 2007
The Thursday Gang led by Stan Court begin work on the huge task of rubbing down, repairing and repainting the non-platform side of the Scenery Van
September 2007
Within a few months it is amazing to see how far the restoration has proceeded with the entire bodywork painted on one side and the bogies beginning to look brand new
October 2007
Work begins on repairing the roof, as can be seen from the photo no easy task as a lot of the steel panels had rusted away on the edges and many holes needed to be filled where the temporary felt protection had been nailed down
May 2008
The pictures below show the transformation rally taking shape with the roof now completely repaired and repainted. The new steel edge panels fitted and shaped with proper drainage guttering due to huge efforts by Ron and Alan Coe. Exterior paintwork on the platform side of the Guv has now begun in ernest by the Thursday Gang
July/August 2008
Progress is quite astounding as the pictures below show ,the Thursday Gang are working miracles. The platform side of the GUV has been rubbed down,primer added and the green exterior paint beginning to bring this wonderful wagon back to it's former glory.
East Kent Railway
Registered Charity No. 1095790
Station Road, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent, CT15 7PD
