Thousands of hours of work will come to fruition on Sunday when a restored railway carriage is relaunched at the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

The 98-year-old Birdcage has cost £25,000 to restore having been bought by the K&ESR in 1969.

Restoration began in 2005 after many years out of service.

It was built in 1910 in Ashford and was nicknamed the Birdcage because the raised guard’s lookout resembles an Edwardian home for canaries.

The restoration was paid for from an appeal organised by the Kent & East Sussex Locomotive Trust, who own the carriage, and a bequest from one of the railway’s members.

A group of railway photographers paid for the paint.

Railway general manager Graham Baldwin said: “The magnificent standard of workmanship is a tribute to the generosity of the donors and the skills of our carriage and wagon department, not least the volunteers who have put thousands of hours into this splendid achievement.”

The carriage will be launched at 11.30am.