Photo:
J R Fairman - Quainton on 11th April, 1970

The site of the New Restoration Building is to the left of the picture. The good news is that work has started on Phase 1 of this project. You should refer to the Spring 1976 issue of Quainton News for details and a plan of the complete developments in the up yard.

At the end of May earthmoving equipment cleared the area in the yard and the positions of foundations were pegged out ready for the holes to be excavated during July for the concrete bases for the stanchions. For those members unable to visit Quainton regularly it should be explained that Phase 1 comprises a building with a width of 21 metres and a length of 27 metres. It will be situated between 6024's boiler and the yard hedge and will be followed in due time by Phase 2 which will extend the building in a northerly direction.

The main contractors, Messrs Taylors of Banbury are the steelwork fabricators and erectors who recently built Didcot Carriage Shed and they have sub contracted the site clearance and foundation work to Harmsworth Construction Co. Ltd., of Common Farm, Beckley, Oxford.

The contract was let as soon as possible following the cash being available because prices of building materials are rising very rapidly. For example, cement went up 12½% in June. Four parallel rail tracks will be laid inside the building and the finance has been provided by the future occupiers exactly as was the arrangement for the Brill restoration building.

In the new building two roads will be used by the Ivatt Trust for their stock and the Trust is therefore paying half the total cost of the construction. 60 ft of one road will be occupied by the Sentinel Group while the Quainton Railway Society will use the remaining 30 ft of this road plus the whole of the fourth road. The money from Society's funds will be supplemented by a very generous £900 loan from a member which has made it possible to make such a good start.

When Phase 1 is finished the Society will have covered storage and restoration for such valuable potential money earners as the Cinema Coach, for reconditioning and painting the newly arrived Mark I coaches, and for the major task facing us on the overhaul of Wightwick Hall.

One useful facility which will be associated with the new building is the existing locomotive inspection pit because the rail track which now passes over the pit will be extended into the shed to the road nearest the hedge.

Then there will be the water tower, and next the wheel drop. Yes, it's all happening in the up yard!

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1977 and so does not reflect events in the 36+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
The New Restoration Building in the Up Yard - Quainton News No. 32 - Summer 1977