Picture one shows how some Australian railway enthusiasts carry out their restoration projects - in a eucalyptus forest!

I left the former “red livered Mark 1 coach out in the yard in January scarcely in primer paint and returned to find it once more outside but now looking entirely splendid in its brilliant green livery. Here Alan still works at getting that undercoat right.

Frank Kent working on the step irons of MK 1 No. 63

4 & 5 show progress being made with the green livery on the Mk 1 No 63 coach. The vehicle is now back in service in its striking green livery and BR Crests

On my return to the railway on the last Tuesday of March, welcome sunshine plays on the coaching stock including this ‘all new’ No 63 Mark 1 coach

Fresh from rebuilding at Rolvenden, Bodiam enters the C&W dept. for painting here shown in undercoat condition. Behind her the Great Eastern and (furthest) the Woolwich coaches receive attention too

Alan Brice completes the fiddly bits of 'Bodiam's' red lining out

“Bodiam was taken to Tenterden in early March for painting; during the Open Weekend, Meg Gooch could be found in C&W exercising her sign-writing skills on the side tanks.” (Info: Terrier Trust.)

Bodiam taking on more recognisable form after her rebuild

11 & 12. If anything could be said to be a “great leap forward” , this must be it! The GWR railcar, after years of work on her supporting structures, enters works briefly to have the roof re-sheeted with steel plating

“Andy Webb’s and the team have now turned their attention to the preparation of the steel roof sheets.” (March 06 Wagon Ways report) Here the railcar roof “nose” gets a good coat of primer

GER Brake: Following dogged volunteer efforts led by Ken Lee this coach was ready to return to traffic by 20th March here helped by Lesley Collins

The GER brake (left) with an undercoated Mk 1 No 63 to its right.

The finished “GER brake” carriage once more outside and ready for service : painting undertaken by by Alan Brice and signwriting by Meg Gooch

The SE&CR Birdcage Coach, in the words of my grandmother is “making haste, slowly!” - restoration having to be fitted in between other more pressing projects

The “Wagon Ways” March report explains that “Exterior paneling has reached an advanced stage and the first coats of primer have been applied. Julian Coppins is making progress with the interior, one compartment beginning to shape-up nicely

The “birdcage” aspect of the coach shows up nicely in this shot taken from the shed balcony

An interior detail of the “Birdcage” showing the interior partitions being re-panelled

“Stores PMV. This has been on the ‘short’ bay for some time following the discovery of a leak. Now that the interior has dried out, the roof has been resealed and the weathered paintwork on one side is being renewed.“ (March 06 Wagon Ways report)

SR brake van No. 103 is programmed into the C&W schedule for the coming months. Here the C&W staff are rendering the vehicle down almost to its bare bones before work can start on repairs and renewals

Paul Rand working in the workshop

Another locomotive enters the shed for attention to its paintwork - this time a diesel shunter - BR 03 class Diesel Mechanical 204hp 0-6-0