Star Peter steams in to see vintage railway carriage work for TV series
We have been used to see him leaping around our television sets on election night. Now presenter Peter Snow is enjoying a more leisurely life in his series on Great Rail Restorations.
His investigations have brought him to Llangollen to see the restoration of a vintage carriage at the railway's Pentrefelin Carriage and Wagon works.
The teak-bodied carriage, built in 1912 by craftsmen on the Great Northern Railway, was used on East Coast Mainline express services for over 40 years.
It was then relegated to departmental duties by British Rail and was finally taken out of use in 1977.
Channel 4's programme follows the restoration project through all the stages of a major refurbishment by members of the Llangollen Railway's workforce, led by the railway's chairman Peter Lund.
Viewers will be able to see the restoration in progress and how a number of challenges have to be overcome to turn a near wreck into a coach which now features an open saloon and three second-class compartments in the livery of the former London North Eastern Railway.
Despite the restoration, current safety regulations ban the public from riding in the coach.
Liz McGuinness, the railway's business manager, said: "The programme will make fascinating viewing for rail fans as the spotlight is placed on the Llangollen Railway."
"The broadcast of Great Railway Restorations is the culmination of the enormous efforts devoted to this project by the employees and volunteers of the Carriage and Wagon department of the Llangollen Railway.
"The six months allotted to the completion of this project meant that there were many late nights involved to get the job finished. It is such a shame that current safety regulations deprive the public an opportunity to ride in this historic carriage."
Part one of Great Rail Restorations will be screened tomorrow at 8pm.
