The volunteer team at the Apedale Valley Light Railway have been very impressed by the ex-Ffestiniog coach no.117; we now recognise that large, high-capacity coaches are they way of the future. It is hoped that we will augment No.117 with a second ex-FR coach in due course, but that has led to a debate about what to do in the interim. We are told that 117 was known as a “Tin Car” when it ran in Wales, which got the thinking cogs turning. We have therefore procured a more basic coach body for the next one; it needs some work doing on it – like cutting side windows, fitting seats and the like. However, on the bright side the structure seems sound and the end doors give an air of spaciousness. It’s a bit higher than would be ideal, so it will be mounted on a pair of low-floor bogies which came from Southend Pier. The team can be seen making a few delicate tweaks to the first-fit of the bogies in the photo. All being well, this new coach will be introduced into service on 1st April 2017.
