London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)
The main focus has continued to be cleaning the brass window frames and associated trim. More experiments have been done and an Autosol Metal Polish now appears to be the front runner. Two windows have been found to have dezincification that is too advanced so various trim items have been swapped out for some spares to greatly improve its prospects.
London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)
Contract works continue at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
The seaward side battery box continues and has had its framework repairs now completed. Repairs and rebuilding of the box itself is also moving forwards steadily.
British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)
Inside the accessible saloon, the undercoating of the double doors is now complete. Joining them in undercoat, though not too visible in the photo, are the surrounding trim sections which go above and down each side of the door aperture. We are awaiting a delivery of cream paint before we proceed with these into gloss.
Inside the guards compartment, more items have been black glossed, including some table surfaces which were previously cream but have been changed to black as its more hardwearing. Again, the lack of cream paint is holding back the remaining wall glossing at present.
In the corridor and compartments, all of the refitted window woodwork has been sealed in with mastic in the lower areas where condensation is likely to run downwards. This allowed the remaining two passenger compartments to have their final coat of varnish sealing everything in. This means that all of the compartments are now fully varnished and therefore at an advanced stage.
The four passenger doors have had all their upper woodwork fitted to them, which looks very nice. The lower door cards, which are new replacements, are next to fit.
The exterior of the vehicle is now physically complete, so this week has seen the first section on the landward side sanded filled and paint prepped. The whole vehicle is certainly “getting there”!
British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)
Some more work to the middle doorway on the seaward side has been completed. The gutter has been removed whole and thankfully will be able to be reused. The metal behind was very corroded so has been stripped out and a new piece dry fitted.
British Railways 1950 12 Ton Box Van B755094 (Maintenance)
The remedial painting on the landward side has now been completed, just as well as the weather is steadily getting worse. The vehicle now returns to its sleepy occupation as a stores van.
British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 “Fruit D” W92097W
No progress to report.
Maintenance
Availability of the wheel lathe has returned so we have now restarted the project to get a good set of wheels on the Gresley Buffet car (E9128E). The vehicle is currently running on one bogie with original (worn) wheels and a second bogie with good wheelsets acting in a temporary capacity. We are now turning the first of two axles which were removed from the vehicle in the Spring with the intention of refitting these to the coach this winter and releasing the remaining two worn axles for turning.
