Looking along the carriage through the first class section. The Buffet Car is a carriage of two halves; the other half consists of a small third class section and the buffet counter and preparation area. The high standard of the work can be seen here in the turned seat legs and period upholstery.

A close up of the enamel builders plate, carried on the inside at each end of the carriage. The Buffet Car has been restored with the aid of a grant from the PRISM Fund, run by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council, with further financial support from the Welsh Highland Heritage Group.

One corner of the first class section. As originally built, the carriage was an all-third class saloon, with this partition and the first class section added in its early life. The low back perimeter seating means the first class section feels remarkably roomy.

Note the bracket in the corner; as originally built, the carriage was several inches taller, however, the roof was lowered to allow it to fit the lower bridges and tunnels of the Ffestiniog Railway (which was linked with the Welsh Highland from 1923). The cutting down was a very basic job, and this bracket was added to give strength. Nowadays, it serves as a cosmetic reminder of the carriage's past!

The view from the first class compartment into the small third class area, with buffet counter and staff area beyond.

One of the shelves adjacent to the counter area. The Buffet Car was in remarkably good condition after being outside for over 40 years, and this meant that a large amount of original wood could be re-used. Specialist restoration was carried out by Magnay & Yates Ltd, based in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, with other restoration, assembly and finishing done by the volunteers of the WHHR in Porthmadog.

A view from behind the counter, with suitable period tea cups once again in place. This view illustrates the basic nature of the conversion to Buffet Car in 1927: the partition to form the counter sits alongside the middle of a window!

Around 2,500 hours of volunteer time has gone into restoring the Buffet Car, which has set a new standard in carriage restoration for the company. Attention to detail includes these heritage lamp lenses with turned wooden surrounds.

A panoramic view around the buffet serving area, showing counter and the seat along the end. PICTURE: Andy Goodwin

The original window bars are now back in place on the doors, though the enamel plaques indicating "third class" are still to be fitted.