7511 - wow, look at you now

7511 was one of the earliest Stanier period vehicles, from 1934.

Many of its fittings hark back to Period I and Period II influences of the 1920s, and the brasswork on these doors are a fine example. The south lavatory sports a decorated set of locks and handles from 7511's surviving toilet door, while the north end has a plain set of identical size that survived from 7571 of 1935.

Another feature that continued through several decades was the carpet. Reproduction carpet (made in Kidderminster, of course) has been laid during November. It has been painstakingly designed from photographs of corridor vestibule coaches and is as accurate as we can possibly get it.

With the carpets installed, we will shortly be able to fit the tables. These have been receiving a lot of attention from carpenters Dave Dorney and Ron White at Bridgnorth, while at Kidderminster, our table-top expert David Higgins has been fitting the green leather cloth to the centre panels.
A sample of a rich red curtain fabrichas been trialled with the carpets and a table in-situ, to the satisfaction of all those who viewed it.

Externally, the coach roof is now in its final coat of silvery grey. Gangways and end panels are also in final gloss; black for ironwork, and crimson lake for the body panels, which are also varnished over now.

The lamps for the tables have been completed by volunteers at Kidderminster: Geoff Leigh, machining; 'Cutnall Green Fred' on soldering; and David Fort, polishing and wiring up. These have all been securely installed onto the window sills of 7511 in the manner that restaurant department Open Firsts were treated by the LMS. (Ordinary non-dining Open Firsts had a candle-stick type lamp that actually stood on the tables).

The lamp shades continue to develop slowly. Twelve panels of white acrylic, stitched with brass wire to a skeletal frame, make up each shade; representing about ten hours work for each shade - if you don't make any mistakes and have to start again.

A batch of correct-pattern LMS style No Smoking totem transfers have been fitted on 7511's main windows, fourteen in all, and the second original litter bin from 7571, with LMSR monogram, has been found at last, and installed in the north lavatory.

So what's still to do?

Lamp shades, brass feet for table legs, shaping the table leg ends to take the feet, fitting the green cloth covered panels into the table frames, make 28 curtain tie back brackets in brass, sew 14 pairs of curtains and tie back tags.

Somewhere half-way through this list, we will be able to send the coach to Kidderminster for bogies, brakes and steam testing, after Christmas, then paint, line and letter the sides - with lots of gold leaf.

The railway books on sale in the marquee are a very small part of the fundraising which has enabled this glorious transformation. As one of the 'tenants' of the original 'Gilt Edge' sleeper coach, I look forward to a far more comfortable journey in this beautiful coach on its outshopping.