NOTE to retrospective readers: The section in red was constructed as an April Fool’s joke!
London Great Eastern Railway 1907 Quint Articulated Set 74
As hinted in last week’s update, we have now fully completed the work on the set. Satisfied that the wheel profiles were correct for the original 4-coach formation, it was back into the shed once again to undertake the final part of the puzzle. The M&GN Society’s long term aim has for some time been to utilise Great Eastern 295 and run it with the Quad-Arts in matching teak to bring wheelchair accessibility to the set for the first time. With recent quotations for bogie overhauls having risen, instead the recently acquired articulated accommodation bogie has been utilised to its full potential and the body of GER 295 centrally placed to create a Quint-Art set perhaps decades earlier than would have otherwise been possible.
It is anticipated that the centre coach will be locked out of use for a few days whilst we complete the finishing touches to the bodywork, however the disturbance to the rest of the set for the tyre turning was too great an opportunity to turn down when it came to undertaking the body lifting works. The set will be in service this month so come on down and see for yourself… you’d be a fool not to!!
London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)
Back in the workshop the Thompson has seen some detailing work to the large sliding door at the brake end of the passenger saloon to widen it further in a way that the draught strips can be more easily fitted. The upper pelmet has also been added and surrounding pillars tidied up.
At the opposite end of the coach, the mini-bulkhead wall separating the bar counter from the saloon has been fitted and rapidly a framework made up for the counter behind.
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
The landward side battery box refurbishment continues with the box itself taking the focus now that the doors are complete. The right hand side is particularly bad with around two thirds of it having now been cut away with timber being prepared for its splice replacement.
The battered framework for door #8 continues to be soothed back into life with repaired parts being prepared ready for the framework to be reconstructed.
The corridor end metal oops for the gangways have now both been completed having been brought up to black gloss.
British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)
All four of the windows have now been removed from the wheelchair saloon, which has made a good start.
The apertures are in reasonable condition despite the eruption corrosion and we have caught most of it in time. Some small areas have been chopped out and replaced, with other being cleaned and rust treated. A start has also been made on cleaning up the doorways, which bizarrely have shown very poor outer weather strips but on closer inspection don;’t have the more normal heavy corrosion beneath. So far so good.
At the Holt end, most of the vestibule ceiling has been removed. this had suffered from leaks in the past and had become a damaged and untidy mongrel of repaired pieces. The opportunity of this overhaul will be used to replace what requires replacing and improve this area in the process.
British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)
Unlike 35148, the DMU has been sinking deeper and deeper into the mud with more problems with the bodywork and doors pointing to the conclusion that this one isn’t going to be a particularly fast turnaround! Nevertheless we plough on! The first doorway has been a major focus this week with more rot chopped out and one side pillar completed with new lower framework and skin welded in. The door was test fitted again but has found to be too out of shape to re-use so it will probably have to be swapped out with a spare.
Whilst we await laser cut window bottoms to arrive, the exposed framework is being needle gunned to stabalise it.
The removed windows also continue to be cleaned down to give the aluminium some life again.
The passenger seats are all having their water damaged sections at the bottom of the feet de-rusted and repainted. So far, they have been needle gunned, rust treated and primed where required.
British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51188
The ambulance cupboard picture frame has been undercoated.
British Railways (LMS Design) 1949 20 Ton Brakevan B950133
The M&GN Society’s brakevan, despite having last been refreshed as recently as 2016, has been taken out of service again for more remedial work, a necessity for wooden wagon stock that is kept outside sadly. It has been taken on by “Team Pete” at the museum at Holt station, who have turned out several wagons now including the Southern Railway brakevan.
There is a lot of work to be done, the timbers on the balcony corners need to be replaced as bolts have rusted and split the wood. A start has been made on preparing these for removal.
Also started is the heat gunning of old paint from areas where it has become unstable.
Metropolitan Cammell 1965 4 Wheel Petroleum Tank 53083
The “Devil Tank” was stopped late last year as it was reported to have a compressed “oleo” buffer. Following tests to ascertain it was benign the vehicle has been removed from the freight set and tripped to Weybourne for a buffer swap.
