Home / Building Construction 41
Creation date / 2018
Here's the result - all the insulation is completed, with one of the father & son team posing proudly by their efforts. 
Yet there's no time to stop...attention is turned to the second loft space above the west-end of the Panel.
The front entrance continues to progress, the latest addition being the rather smart reclaimed railway lamppost on the right...looks like yet more work for David and fellow electricians! 
In the same day as the insulation being completed, the plasterboard is up to complete the second loft space - fantastic work!
Inside the Bristol East Panel room, the lamp body awaits its turn to be restored to working order.
The Simulator Room as you've never seen it before! The walls are painted, the electrics tested, and the ceiling is up and plastered.
Meanwhile, electrician David continues to finalise the wiring in the early signalling area, in readiness for fitments.
A taste of what's to come: in one day, the suspended ceiling grid is fitted to the Swindon Panel room.
From another angle, some ceiling tiles are already shown in final position - shows just how far we've all come.
Now for some panoramic trickery! From a vantage point next to the window, the extent of the ceiling grid can be seen.
They say the camera never lies...yet, don't worry, the ceiling grid isn't bowed! Another panoramic shot from behind the Panel, looking towards the Bristol East Panel room. 
The rest of the ceiling tiles remain carefully stored, as installing the lighting fitments will come first.
Let there be light! (1) - GWS electrician David Brown test fits the first LED fitment to the Panel Room suspended ceiling.
Let there be light! (2) - Stephen Lear admires the latest loft installation.
The second loft space (above the east end of the panel) is similarly fitted, meaning both loft spaces are nearly completed - excellent work!
The main row of lights, which will sit directly above the Panel frontage, are installed prior to moving the panel to its final position. 
In readiness for the move, equipment and materials in store behind the panel are moved forward...just a few trips up to the new loft then!
The new roller shutter is installed behind the front doors, and is tested in situ.
As if the double doors weren't enough for the GWS volunteers, the simulator room's door is intalled, and just awaits some final fittings. 
Meanwhile, in the 'Bristol Room', Chris Chalet of the GWS Bristol Group continues the hard work of preparing the Bristol East Panel interactive exhibit - good stuff!
More restored exhibits take their place in the Brunel Room.
The result of very careful planning and design work, the new air conditioning units in the panel room are installed...
With the air-conditioning units in, surrounding ceiling tiles start to be installed, having been cut to size accordingly.
Ever more ceiling tiles become fitted in place, with the 1980s panel room atmosphere truly starting to take shape.
The Bristol Room's well-disguised air-conditioning unit is also installed.
...which in turn are linked into the building management system to keep us all cosy (especially in March!).
New boards are fabricated and painted, ready for future displays.
The panel room double doors' lintel is expertly fashioned.
The previously-seen display boards are fitted into their final positions, with the displays themselves well underway.
Excellent restoration is evident on these reclaimed GW doors, in readiness for their installation as our panel room external access doors.
A view from the entrance foyer into the 'Brunel Room', as newly-redundant scaffolding makes its way out of the building.
Building works continue apace, as does work on the installation of new exhibits - these broad-gauge relics really do look the part!
Not to be forgotten, the panel room suspended ceiling is pushed ever closer to completion, courtesy of Jamie Karslake.
David Brown and Richard Beacham tackle the installation of conduit through the lamp post, which will illuminate the way into the new centre. 
With the lamp post in shot, the sandbag wall for the air-raid shelter steps is rebuilt around the new electrics cabinet.
The Frome North Box plate is mounted to the wall, joining the growing number of restored Brunel Room exhibits.
Another great moment, as the reclaimed GW doors for the panel room are installed, with some fitments already in evidence. 
Around the corner, a final view of the finished side walkway, complete with air-conditioning equipment (well-hidden from most views by the carefully-placed wall section on the left).
An updated building front entrance view, as fencing and railing posts continue to be worked upon.
GWS Civil Engineering Manager demonstrates the fully fitted-out double doors, set of keys in hand!
Taken a mere ten days before the Grand Opening, the Swindon Panel Box plate is seen in its final position, with the home signal waiting to greet our first visitors!