Volunteers at Swindon and Cricklade railway are looking for help to rebuild a 58-year-old coach, which replaced another destroyed in an arson attack.

Skilled welders and steel fabricators are required to return the rare ‘Thumper’ to its former glory, and the heritage railway are offering free membership to anyone who can help.

“There’s a few of them preserved but not many of them – less than ten,” said Adrian Thompson, a volunteer on the project. “We are basically trying to get the railway back to where it was before the arson attack. It could have got people down, but it’s given people a spirit and that pride to want to restore it.”

The vintage diesel Thumper unit was destroyed in an arson attack in May 2016. Despite having only 15% of their £80,000 claim paid out by insurers, the team, made up entirely of volunteers, has determined to get the coach back into working order.

“We’ve got qualified welders and fabricators there at the minute, but because it’s such a small team we want some more to help us get the work done”, said Adrian.

“At the present rate of progress, it looks like we’ve got three years’ work to get it back into service. People have been taken off maintenance of other vehicles, building repairs and restoration of other carriages.”

Although progressing well, the rebuild has proven even more complicated than previously thought.

Unexpected challenges with the hidden steel and panel work have been uncovered as the job continues, said Adrian: “As we have been repairing it we are finding more and more work is necessary to bring it back to working order.

“The carriage is over 50 years old, it was built in 1959. We’re seeing the effects of it being in use for 40 years in British Rail.”

The coach was donated by a private individual following the blaze on the track near Hayes Knoll, in which the original vintage diesel engine was destroyed and three wagons damaged – with the total value of the damage estimated at £100,000. It had been in storage for 10 years in Pershore, Worcestershire, but the wear over that time has left the volunteers with an uphill task on their hands.

Acknowledging the commitment that comes with a project of this nature, Adrian stressed that there are perks for volunteers: “We’re looking to get the information out there so that we can work around when people can do it.

“As a railway, we naturally want the volunteers to be covered by railway insurance, so we want to offer people complimentary membership. And we’ve got a big marquee on site so we can use that for a barbecue to show our appreciation.”