With scrumbling completed, the interior of the guard’s van presents a pristine appearance.

Another shot of the guard’s compartment from the outside this time.

The magnificent coach interior, now complete with view through to the toilet cosmetically restored.

The lettering and fittings are now completed on the coach ends.

The Birdcage now in the vintage set and ready for service.

The Birdcage restoration project has always played second fiddle to work on maintaining the passenger fleet. Here the Woolwich and the Great Eastern coach are in for attention

April 2008 and Mk 1 coach number 63 is seen gleaming again after repairs to its bodywork and a repaint.

The DMU in the C&W shed to restore the exterior finish to the same standard as the Robertsbridge end coach completed last year. (See picture 14 too) Work done by TREATS.

Having repainted RU no 69 to a fine standard earlier in the year, Barbara’s paintwork was looking decidedly dilapidated in the Pullman rake.

Having made repairs and rubbed down the exterior completely (picture 18), the first coats of fresh paint are applied.

The end of a 3 year story as the Birdcage Coach is prepared finally for it’s first run. The pullman car Bar-bara now takes its place at the Robertsbridge end of the C&W shed. How about joining the C&W volunteers to help make other long-term dreams come true.

What a treat the Pullmans look again - Barbara once more back in service.

Work progressing nicely on Mark 1 number 86, in for patching, repainting and internal corridor re-varnish

Mark 1 No 86 appears transformed as the undercoats are applied during late July.

Work on the Ashford Coach get back into gear as the Birdcage returns to traffic. Here Ken works on the interior - paneling the ceilings.

Attention to paintwork continues on Class 08 shunter undergoing a major overhaul. It is seen here alongside the Birdcage coach and the sheeted form of the GWR railcoach.

External condition of the Birdcage at the beginning of April 2008

A similar date shows the condition of one of the carriage compartments - still many months of work ahead!

And now a shot of the guards compartment with work in progress on the 30th April

The 30th of April sees the main areas of woodwork finished and awaiting the refitting of the seating

The now weatherproof coach can be taken outside while other pressing work is attended to inside the shed.

Inside the shed in late May and a Pullman coach is now receiving attention at the Robertsbridge end of the shed.

The priority now is fitting out the Birdcage interiors.

In tandem with work inside and outside the carriage, fixtures and fittings are prepared - in this case the posters to adorn the compartment walls.