163 in desperate need of restoration! can be seen standing in the Cambrian Railways Society yard in Oswestry.
The fold under steps can be seen in this picture and as you can see most of the glazing is missing.
The roof vents have been removed to ease sheeting over.
The coach departed Oswestry very early one morning in the summer of 2005 on it’s journey up the M6 for its restoration at the Appleby Training and Heritage Centre in Westmorland.
The Appleby Training and Heritage Centre has restored several unique vehicles and their web site is well worth a visit. Their workshops are situated close to Appleby station on the Settle & Carlisle railway line. In the background you can see the Cambrian Railways H.Q / station building during its 
restoration
The coach after unloading was placed in a "poly tunnel" (Heavy gauge polythene sheeting over a metal famework) 8ft high wooden walling was then fitted to prevent damage to the sheeting, also doors were fitted to each end. The entire structure is completly weather proof.
During the last 18 months all 
the exterior steel panels and interior wood panelling were removed to leave a wooden skeleton. The bowed-out sides and dipped roof were all pulled back into shape. The body was then removed from the chassis,and as the chassis required no remedial attention apart from renewing the sandboxes it has been shotblasted and treated with several coats of red oxide, primer, undercoat and black paint, and now looks in ex-works condition.
Meanwhile, attention again turned to the body, which was standing on a framework supported by acro props which allowed full accessibility. 
The lower framework had rotted away and was replaced with hardwood, as was any other framework in poor condition.
The floor was the next job to be tackled, The Decolite surface required removing, the rotted floor boards down each side were replaced, and an additional decking of plywood was fitted all over making the floor very rigid. Then the body and chassis were reunited.
The windows in the luggage compartment had been plated over, they were uncovered and will be restored to the original design.
All the guttering channels had rotted away and were replaced.
Now that all woodwork had been repaired the outer steel panels, which were all in good condition, were refitted after the massive job of filling all the screw holes in the framework with oak plugs.(2500 per side). Filler was then used to cover the screws to give a flush, clean finish before several coats of primer were applied.
The major structural restoration now being complete, attention has turned to the interior and work is just commencing on this major task.
The interior has been emptied of the remaining fittings and the roof lining removed. The roof framework was found to be in good condition.
A full rewiring job will be carried out which will include a hearing loop to be used when the coach is used as a classroom, also 240 Volt sockets will be fitted out of sight for use when the coach is static and being used for educational purposes.
The battery boxes will be replaced and new batteries will be fitted.
The dynamo will not be used as line speeds will be too low for battery charging.
(24 Volt battery chargers will be used when out of service.)
All new brass roof light fittings are being cast and machined, and the glass shades are to be hand blown to the original style.
The light fittings over the length-ways seats have also had to be made.
When the coach was being used as an office in Bristol the interior was painted, all of this paintwork is being removed and will be restorded to its original finish.
All of the seating frames need to be renewed and the upholstery material has had to be woven to the correct G.W.R design.
One item we did have to buy was a replacement gong and operating mechanism.
We also needed a new G.W.R style brake valve which we are having made, and we've also been supplied with a replacement steam heating valve.
As you can see, the chassis looks like new. All of the auto-gear is in place and operational.
One of the buffer casings was found to be cracked and a new one has been fitted.
While we had the chance with the body being off, all the wheel sets were ultra-sonically tested
It may not look it, but the chassis is on rails!
What a difference a "lick" of paint and many hours of hard work can make. All the glazing will be renewed and will be laminated.
The end you can see is the guards/luggage compartment with its newly uncovered windows.
If you look at the first picture on this page showing the same end of the coach, you can see what a dramatic change there has been. 
The "poly-tunnel" can be seen in the background.
The coach will soon be moved into a new building where it will be painted and finished.
Future developments on the restoration programme will be added here in the near future, and for further information see the Appleby Training & Heritage Centre website.