Apologies for the lack of updates, with things being so busy it’s been difficult to find the time to sit and write things down!
London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)
Modest progress continues to be made, primarily on the interior tasks started and described in previous updates.
London North Eastern Railway 1937 Restaurant Buffet E9128E (REPAIRS)
Sadly the contract mainline lathe companies were unable to accommodate us and the Gresley bogies for tyre turning in the timescale we had available. So this week we have fallen back on the emergency plan which is to lift the vehicle several times in a phased programme to extract the pairs of wheels bit-by-bit for tyre turning in house.
This week saw most other tasks dropped with priority given to bringing the Gresley Buffet into the shed and lifting it up to extract the Sheringham end bogie, which is the one with bad wheel flats. For speed, we then utilized the road crane to lift out a spare bogie and split the frames from the wheelsets. E9128E’s own Sheringham end bogie frame was then lifted off the damaged wheels and onto the spare wheels. The re-wheeled bogie was then returned under the coach which was then lowered and reassembled in a reverse process of the disassembly. The vehicle was then brake tested and returned to traffic.
This temporary solution allows two of the worn and damaged wheelsets to now be turned back to a good profile. Phase 2 will see E9128E lifted again for the Holt end bogie to have the worn wheels swapped with the freshly turned ones before being returned to service again. Phase 3 will see those latter wheels (suitably turned) finally put back into the Sheringham end releasing the temporary wheels fitted this week. Only then will the vehicle be fully kitted out with good profile wheels which will hopefully give many years of trouble free service!
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
Other than the work on the battery boxes M14021 had practically stalled whilst we struggled to find an asbestos stripping contractor to remove the asbestos from the steam pipe. Unfortunately costs for this type of work have skyrocketed and the railway doesn’t feel it would be best interests to proceed with the work at this time. The coach has now been stopped and will soon be stored up at Holt until the project can be restarted.
British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)
Although a lot of work has been done to this vehicle (it has probably progressed the most of anything currently in the shed) most of the progress has been of the “more of the same” variety. Bodywork, welding, sanding and filling has been progressing down both sides of the vehicle through the guards area and down into the first two compartments and side corridor area.
Windows continue to be prepared and it won’t be long before more of them are refitted back into the coach. Some of the window surround woodwork which had been removed from the vehicle is being sanded back to wood ready for re-varnishing. Also being sanded down is the inside of the guards compartment which will receive a heavy refresh along with a few wiring modifications as we have discovered a potentially unsafe design which was introduced when the accessible saloon modifications were undertaken in the 1990’s.
British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)
The rear saloon bodywork has now been re-protected on the inside with several coats of bitumen paint meaning this area can now have its interior paneling refitted. Some of these have bowed outwards with damp so are currently being weighed down on a flat surface to try and force them back.
The first passenger doorway has had all its furniture fitted back on the inside. Because we replaced the door with an old drivers one out of the spares the passenger spec internal woodwork had to be transferred from the old door to the new, with all the adjustments that come with such a transplant. We are still having a few fit issues with the lower panel but we are nearly there.
The middle section of bodywork is now almost complete, with the new laser cut window bottoms tack welded into position. All the other smaller patches are also tacked so a session of full welding and grinding back is required to complete this section externally.
The second passenger doorway has been stripped out and corrosion swelling dealt with in the upper regions. More serious repair is required in the lower regions before we can proceed.
The third doorway (the drivers door) has also been stripped out for assessment and will need similar treatment to the previous two!
Midland & Great Northern Railway 1881 4 Wheel Tool Van 12 (REPAIRS)
Most frustratingly a guard left the handbrake applied on our oldest piece of rolling stock whilst being used at the Mixed Traction Gala which caused wheel flats and the need to take the vehicle out of service.
This happened some years ago to the same vehicle and it was put into a queue to be repaired for several years. We didn’t really want history to repeat itself this time so the van has been immediately brought to Weybourne instead of being put back on display at Holt for the wheel to be attended to. Unlike in 2016, we now have some spare wagon wheels which allows us to do a quick swap and turn the flats out in the lathe later, rather than having 12 on jacks for a long time during the turning process.
The vehicle is now in the shed ready for lifting, and the two “new” wheelsets have been needle gunned back to metal ready for repainting. One of the four axleboxes has also been dismantled, inspected and cleaned ready for use again, with the remaining three to follow.
Hopefully it will not be long before this interesting vehicle is back in service.
Southern Railway 1939 Parcels & Miscellaneous Van S1359S
Recently purchased from a private owner, the M&GN Society’s new van will be staying in its normal home in the cattle dock at Weybourne and has for the past month been repurposed from a store into an extension to the bookshop. Doors have been modified and extensive shelving fitted to the vehicle itself, which compliments modifications to the fencing and gangplanks to allow safe public access from the platform. It has now been loaded up with books and other items and is open for business on selected days.
British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918
No progress to report.
British Railways (LMS Design) 1949 20 Ton Brakevan B950133
No progress to report.
Maintenance
We are now in “A” examination period, which in layman’s terms is keeping our regularly running rolling stock checked and safe, with any other time used keeping on top of the steady stream of faults coming in. We are also continuing the tackle issues with the dining train kitchen cars such as broken switches on the generators and some improvements to the gas systems and valves.
Workshop
Replacement door seals and filters have been installed on our woodworking extraction machine which enabled it to pass the inspection and reassure us we are OK for the foreseeable future in this area.
