London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)
The brass window frames are now being lacquered, as part of the long quest to get them fit for service once more. Apparently this lacquer is particularly expensive so hopefully it will be worth it!
London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)
The replacement vacuum pipework continues to be prepared with further layers of paint on good areas and several sections taken through into the Engineering side to be built up with weld over the weaker bits where the pipe has previously been sat in damp securing clamps.
Reclaimed battery box lids have also now emerged out of storage and are being repaired, cleaned up and repainted where required.
It was requested that it be pointed out that 1866 & 16631 are parallel projects so if one progresses well, the other tends to slow down and visa-versa.
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
Needle gunning of the sole-bar continues steadily and the process has now passed the half way point now that the seaward side and Holt end bufferbeam are both complete. Accordingly, attention has now turned to the landward side and around 1/3rd of this solebar has now been gunned and primed.
British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)
The exterior repainting of the coach has progressed with both corridor ends masked off and undercoated then glossed in black. The opportunity was also taken to undertake all the fiddly parts of the ends as well including the final black glossing inside the corridor connection/tunnel itself. A start has now been made on undercoating the landward side in red with all the window frames done ready for the main panels to follow.
Inside the vehicle, the Holt end vestibule ceilings continue to be built up and fresh panels to board out the ceiling have been cut to size and the rear faces painted to fight any condensation.
Painting work in the corridor adjacent to the guards compartment has now been completed with the area resplendent in cream.
Other, smaller, jobs have including refixing signage to the corridor which had been removed for varnishing.
British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)
Cab refurbishment and mundane bodyside welding works continue.
British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 “Fruit D” W92097W (SILVER)
All the timber has now been stripped of paint to expose all planks that need replacing. On the Holt end four planks have been removed and three small sections cut out ready to insert sound timber.
A start has also been made to cut rotten timber from the doors, but this is quite time consuming as the van has to be moved outside to get access to both sides of the doors. A plan has been formed for holding the doors together where all of the vertical planks need have the bottom part cut away.
Any rusted steel work is being chipped and treated with rust converter as and when exposed.
As repaired sections are completed, sanding down prior to painting is being completed.
The paint has been ordered and painting the repaired sections will commence soon as sections are repaired, weather conditions allowing of course!
New Member of Staff
We would like to welcome Neil Elvy to the small team of paid staff in the department. Neil will be starting in February and we hope will enjoy NNR C&W life!
