New here / Winter Project / Am I Mad?

[pinsanon]

Hi guys.

I'm from Buckinghamshire, UK and firstly I'd better add that you could write down my entire knowledge of all things railway on the back of a postage stamp - heck, I don't even need a postage stamp. I know nothing!

So how about this for a winter project?
Winter Project Pictures (it will take you to a flickr website and you can also got to flickr, search "pinsanon" and look at my most recent 'set' if you're concerned about hitting links from new users!

I have no idea about it's age or anything! I presume it was a parcel van or something (you'll have to bear with me as I don't even know the correct terminology for anything yet!). It has double doors either side, and looks like it might have been red once upon a time (royal mail?). It's not on wheels and I presume the tree growing through the middle wasn't original..!!!

Anybody who can shed any light on my new office would be great! The wood is pretty rotten, but the metal work looks like it might be solid. There's a couple of 'plates' either side but can't make anything out on either and there's no lettering or anything on the body that I can make out!

If it'll cost me more than it'll ever be worth to restore I might still do it, as I love getting my teeth into something new, but if it's beyond all hope then I might let the tree grow some more!

Thanks for your time.

Pins Anon
UK

[robbo]

link here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinsanon/

nah! worse hve been restored but i wouldn`t want to do it over the winter months. Nip down to your local perserved railway - probadly got a set of wheels for it waiting

John

[John H-T]

Welcome pinsanon,

Looks to be an interesting project. Is the framework OK and what is the floor like? Obviously needs a new roof!

Anyway welcome to the Forum and keep us posted.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

John, I did a slight edit to your link to get it to work!

[DSY011]

Welcome To the Railway Forum Pinsanon. Don't worry about not knowing any thing about railways. The forum will try to help with any questions you have. You are not the first to say "I know nothing". I was a footplate man and I still know very little about the railways. There is a lot more than the loco, coaches and wagons. Stick with it and you will learn what you want to know.

[pinsanon]

Me again.

Apparently it's a 12 ton Box Van. BR Standard Goods Van. Made in high numbers in the 1950s and some were used until the 1980s. Not so common now but don't change hands for much money.

http://www.scalefour.org.uk/parkside/PC07A.gif looks about right (although just a black and white sketch of a model!).

To the guy who asked about the floor, I presume there won't be one. There must have been about 5 foot of leaves on the inside and if that's been repeated every winter for donkey's years then imagine it's completely rotten.

Cheers

Pinsanon

[6678bjm]

Hi and welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy it. Good luck with your project.
Regards