We start the month in the Birdcage Guard's van with Julian working on the fitting of the compartment doors which due to a twist in the coach's body are not square.

Fitting out the compartment: Top coat appears on the exterior of the carriage. However this work has had to stop due to cold weather affecting the paint finish and so time is spent on the interior fitting out.

Coach interiors looked like this at the beginning of the quarter, with the heating pipes and controls appearing down the train.

By January '08 the next big task was underway - attempting to identifying which seats fitted where. I'm told this is a three man marathon with these heavy and awkward items being lugged around to find the best fit.

The end compartment is "2nd Class" in days when this was significant. Army ownership saw the special seating removed so Julian is busy recreating it with help from others - like this beautiful turned item by Ron.

"Up above" progress has also been dramatic this quarter. This particular Tuesday Julian attends to the glass in the guard's viewing windows.

Shortly after this, the roof canvas is placed on the roof and tensioned in place so it stretches correctly.

The canvas being stretched, No one can work inside the coach for a bit as the tensioning ropes foul the doors.

Allan starts on yet another coat of roof paint. These wonderful mobile towers make the task far less awkward.

Two roofs renewed - the Mark 1 being reconstructed at the other end of the shed looks good too - well this end at least.

Julian trims off the excess canvas after roof painting is completed - another milestone!

A shot of the roof with the airvent flanges fitted in place.

Early BR southern red stands out in this view.

The coach end has its first coat of black paint.

Next the Ashford coach which has had to play second fiddle to work on the Birdcage. The only obvious changes have been the panelling of the remaining doors on this side.

The Ashford coach underframe saw progress with the modification of the waiting van chassis shown here jacked up and awaiting welding.

Meanwhile inside the C&W shed, work on the Headcorn end of the Mark 1 coach continues.

The bogie is removed for attention including its wheel sets. Here the bogie is being re-assembled.

The condition of parts of the Mark 1 can be seen here only too clearly. This door awaits attention.

At the other end of the workshop, a replacement door is being worked on. A new door frame is being built to fit the pre-formed door skin.

Other tasks have to be undertaken around the works. Boris sees to the repair of the failed sump pump for the inspection pit.

Another task is seeing to the charging of the carriage batteries and then reinstalling them. Boris trundles charged batteries back to their correct places.

It's a happy day! New gear arrives at the works donated to the railway with some very welcome equipment included.

Winter means the focus of work shifts from restoration to the annual maintenance of the working fleet. Paul gives a Mark 1 axle box some attention.