M35148 Returns to Service

After a period of twelve months undergoing overhaul, we are pleased to say that Mark 1 BSK(D) M35148 has been returned to traffic, which also means we are now back up to full strength for brake vehicles for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)

Window frame fitting continues with another one well progressed. The passenger door woodwork sanding, staining and varnishing has also done well with more layers applied meaning they are starting to look rather smart now.

London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)

The leading man of LS Engineering made another visit to us this week, to discuss the timescales for the vehicle's completion of contracted works and delivery to the railway. This is of course not a "return to the railway" given 16631 is a new acquisition. It has not graced NNR metals yet. Given the vast majority of us have never set eyes on 16631 yet it will be very exciting to see the vehicle in the flesh as it were.

London North Eastern Railway 1937 Restaurant Buffet E9128E (BRONZE)

With 35148 completed and returned to traffic (see below) we have taken this buffet car in for much needed repairs and a repaint, which amounts to a Bronze level overhaul. 9128 was the only member of our proposed five-strong LNER Mainline set to be restored and in traffic, so its removal means that three of the five members of this development are being worked on at the same time!

9128 was pulled from traffic a year early (originally planned to be repainted over winter 2024/25) owing to concerns raised about its condition and vulnerability. The wooden structure and canvas roof, when compared with its Mark 1 steel built counterparts, was seen as too much of a risk to push the vehicle "beyond its sell by date". So when paint fade, split paneling and evidence of water ingress was spotted, 9128 queue jumped a Mark 1 so that we could get to it in time before more costly damage was done.

We tackled mechanical works first, with the first job undertaken being the removal of the failed generator that expired towards the end of the Santa Specials last year. This was replaced with another generator that had failed previously on the vehicle, but had been reconditioned and repaired in the workshop over the winter. It has been reconnected and tested successfully.

9128 then entered the works in the gap vacated by 35148. It was immediately lifted off its bogies allowing us to dismantle the Holt end bogie and replace the two worn out wheelsets with two that had been removed from the vehicle earlier in the year and reprofiled in the lathe.

We also took the opportunity to replace the oil splasher seals in the axle boxes as access to these is impossible with the axles in the bogies. A good inspection and oil round of sections of the bogie hard to access with the body on followed before we lowered the body back down and remade all connections.

With mechanics complete, 9128 was moved into the staging area for the top-to-bottom refresh to commence. The roof has been thoroughly inspected and around two dozen areas of compromised canvas identified. Luckily, most of these are split paint with the bottom canvas layer intact, so will be a minor inconvenience. A few areas require a bit more attention with some canvas patching required. The worst area is a corner on the Sheringham end which was letting a large amount of water to track down into the framework and paneling on the end of the vehicle. This has sadly written off one vertical panel at that end. The old panel has been removed, in pieces, and the area behind now left for a while to dry out. A spare side panel from a donor vehicle which is split in half has been selected and can be cut down to size to replace this end panel nicely, so the end will remain consistent and teak paneled.

The rest of the coach ends have been chipped of any loose paint which was starting to hold water against the paneling. This has been dug back to solid paint and is also drying out before we prep it for repainting. At the Holt end, things are better but a small hole has been punched through a panel, so this will be cut out and spliced.

The bodysides appear in similar, mixed, shape with a few holes appearing here and there on the upper panels which are still timber. The lower aluminum panels are in contrast still pristine and have simply been lightly sanded ready for gloss paint. A test panel at the Holt end on the seaward side has been glossed to see how it will look. We have decided two coats of gloss are required on the lower red panels.

Rubbing down of the upper cream panels is now ongoing with a good effort being pout in already. There are far more fiddly bits in this area all round the windows so will take longer than the red sections. Several sections of the new beading fitted in 2018 have sadly taken on water and been reduced to mush. These areas have been identified and are being removed for replacement.

One section of upper paneling on the landward side where the kitchen is located was found to be worse than everywhere else, so these have been completely stripped off, along with all associated beading. The plan here, given it is a large 8 foot section, is a sheet of aluminum composite similar to the lower panels will be let in and then the beading refitted.

The interior is not planned to receive a great deal of attention, however one item that has been attended to is the fitting of "First Class" signage to the passenger windows, to try and raise the appeal of the vehicle as passengers are currently avoiding it!

As readers can see, a large amount of work has been done to 9128 in just a matter of days as we are heavily prioritising the vehicle given its importance to the catering operation.

British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)

Talks are currently ongoing to resume the contract major welding works to the carriage ends. The final (toilet) window has also been stripped down and all old screws holding the glass in place removed and cleaned up.

British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)

Works to complete the vehicle were progressed last week - thanks to Richard Coleman who took a series of photographs covering the final days of preparations before we rolled the coach out of the shed.

Finishing touches to the outside included removal of all masking tape, painting of guards handrails and refitting of the polished passenger handles.

Small items like bolt heads and bump stops were also picked out in their various colours.

On the inside, the floor in the accessible saloon was deep cleaned following a year of workshop abuse and residual muck from its latter days in service. The colour of the floor changed from black to blue!

The remainder of the coach was treated to a fresh coat of green floor paint, which was the final task and one which we wanted to do last so that no footprints appeared in it whilst the paint was soft.

Numerous other snagging jobs were also done but they are too great in number to list! The coach was finally ready and taken from the workshop and placed into the main running set in time to debut at the Closure of the Line Anniversary event.

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)

No progress to report.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

A series of splits and holes have been cleared out and filled on the landward side.

British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 "Fruit D" W92097W (SILVER)

The team are still progressing with replacement timber and priming as they go along...

Maintenance

C Exams are now, by and large, finally over so we return to monthly A exams and rectification of faults as they come along now that we are running daily again.

Graffiti Attacked

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)

A good week of progress with the main achievement being the successful fitting of the first window frame unit.

The two passenger doors have also moved forward with the locks now successfully fitted permanently.

The internal woodwork for the same doors is in dismantled form with staining and varnishing in progress. The slatted lower door card is being treated in component form.

London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)

No progress to report.

British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)

No progress to report.

British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)

The week was dominated by trying to get the coach ready in time for the start of the season's operations on Good Friday. Regrettably we fell just short with a few more days of work still required to finish everything off, so we had to move the target to the following weekend which is the 60th Anniversary of Closure event on Saturday 6rth April.

The C examination work was completed on the vehicle so that when we are finished it can enter service immediately. All final touches to the paintwork on the exterior was completed allowing the coach to be returned to the staging area where the last coat of varnish was quickly applied.

On the interior, the area has now been leaned out of all mess left over from the restoration work. Some further items of emergency equipment in the guards van were bracketed up and given proper marked homes.

The sliding lights have been lubricated and made to work smoothly. Not really practical to list has been around 100 little items that were loose, unfished or needed adjusting, all around the coach to try and reach that fully completed state!

With the varnish now applied we only have a few more jobs such as refitting the handles to the outside and painting the floors inside before this vehicle is returned to traffic after just over a year out of service.

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)

Work to adjust the fit of the cab doors and the replacement of the internal window rubbers (on the bench) both continue to progress.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

No progress to report.

British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 "Fruit D" W92097W (SILVER)

No progress to report.

Maintenance

Exams have now been undertaken or completed on the A set, Vintage set and Quad set to allow for the Easter running. With the season upon us now there is little time left for exams, and the remainder of the dining train and B set are set to be completed next week, which should set us up sensibly for the Spring and early summer. It was nice this morning to see the railway reawaken with three sets in traffic including the oldest ones!

Not expected was a Graffiti attack at Holt earlier in the week, on stored Mark 1 15997, which had much of one side covered along with some nearby signalling equipment cabinets. No pictures of the "before", as out of principle we will not be giving those responsible any audience for their efforts. We will however show the picture of the vehicle after the graffiti was removed, and are proud to state that the display was destroyed before a single public passenger train passed the vehicle - so their "art" in the end had an audience of zero. Returning coaches like 35148 for service on time for the season's start would be made easier if sad instances like this weren't required to be dealt with...

March News Part 3

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)

The long running task to transform the six original brass sliding light frames along with two more acquired examples back to their 1950's glory has reached it's conclusion with further cleaning, polishing and lacquering this week. This has created a full set resplendent again and is a big step forward in reglazing the vehicle and working towards watertight shell status.

Others have been busy making a good start on internal woodwork associated with the two central passenger doors which have recently been adjusted to shut and lock correctly. Drop lights have been fitted and tested first paving the way for visible cladding woodwork to start.

Sliding vents at the top have been stripped and a start made on re-varnishing them. Vertical planked lower door cards have been selected from donor examples and are now ready to be prepared.

London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)

No progress to report.

British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)

No progress to report.

British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)

The body repaint has taken a backseat for the week until the vehicle is returned into the staging area. However the lower half of the body has been lightly keyed up ready for varnish as it was easier to access from ground level.

The repainting work to the underframe and bogies has pressed on very well and is now complete with all areas fully glossed. Smaller items such as steam heat pipes and battery charging sockets have been picked out in their various colours.

Inside the vehicle, brackets for guards van emergency equipment have been made and fitted, completing the area other than the fire beaters which still needs to be ordered. A new ambulance cupboard sign has been fitted which has been created in the original style of the BR examples but is branded NNR and lists accurately the contents that our railway actually stocks.

The Holt end vestibule continues to be a focus with the new ceiling beading now fitted. A strap has been fashioned for the fire extinguisher and there now just a few more blanking plates (that cover redundant electric heating components) to finish painting and fit to the walls and then this area will have caught up with the rest of the interior.

The varnished window poles for the corridor have also now been fitted. Internal glass has been cleaned.

With a reentry into service so close we have also given the coach around 75% of its "C exam" to check everything and ensure it is ticketed to go back into traffic as soon as we have finished with it. The coach failed it's vacuum leakage test very badly so a day was spent changing various seals and replacing all of the flexible hoses which had all become porous. 

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)

The vehicle has reached the milestone of the paint preparation work having been completed - somewhat ahead of schedule! It is now all rubbed down and ready for paint when a slot becomes available.

Some minor details continue to be finished off such as refitting of gutters and door bump stops. The two cab doors continue to see minor adjustments and internal woodwork to finish them. Work to replace the internal glass window rubbers has now started and is set to be a long process. Two windows have been completed so far.

Inside, the cab refurbishment continues with the ceiling now filled, rubbed down and undercoated.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

No progress to report.

British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 "Fruit D" W92097W (SILVER)

No progress to report.

Maintenance

Exams continue with the dining set now one of the focusses, including the latest battle against vacuum leakage. Of the four dining cars, one is excellent, one fails badly and the remaining two are in a middle "OK" category. The one which is the main culprit will be looked at first.

An Empty Bay Road

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)

A continuation of the window cleaning and lacquering job, which is now around 75% of the way there!

London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)

We have received another comprehensive image update from our contractor LS Engineering, who continues to make excellent and exciting progress on the BTO. The two doors which we supplied from a donor vehicle to replace 16631's originals (which were missing when the vehicle was purchased) have been test hung and found to be too short at the bottom! We believe this to be a consequence of 16631 being Cravens built rather than in the LNER's own workshops - and during this restoration this is not the first difference we have found when trying to use parts from different, supposedly standard, Gresley coaches. Our spare roof hoops were also unusable on 16631 for the same reason. Luckily the doors are all good for hinge and body alignment so it will be a simple case of an easy modification to the bottoms of the doors to make them match the rest of the body.

Droplights for said doors are being prepared on the bench for fitting.

The end gangway faceplates are having the new bellows material attached and other preparations prior to fitting.

On the mechanical side, steam heat pipework is also progressing well ready for fitting.

Termination of vacuum brake piping has also been done on the vehicle ends with the pipes on the sides now also at an advanced stage. The upward pipe to the guards compartment with setter valve is also in place.

Finishing with the interior, some woodwork has been prepared and in some cases fitted to the newly glazed window apertures. 

British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)

Bodyside metalwork cleaning on the landward side has continued really well with a greater section than usual recently completed. This landward side is now over halfway meaning that the coach as a whole is now 75% stripped of old paint.

British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)

The repaint continues with all the bodyside lettering now applied to the ends, sides and underframe, bringing an end to the signwriting.

The two coach roundel transfers have been applied, another sign that this vehicle is very much on the home straight now!

The bogies have both been removed from the coach and taken outside for steam cleaning. Whilst out they have been inspected and greased up in normally inaccessible areas. Some failed axle box oil seals were also replaced in an attempt to stop the oily wheels that this vehicle suffers from. This task entails the axles to be removed from the bogie frames which includes quite a bit of dismantling and reassembly work.

With the coach lowered back down onto its bogies, ride heights have been checked and set and the underframe (with bogies included) has been returned to the team responsible for cleaning down all the visible surfaces and repainting them black. Different parts of the vehicle are all at different stages but the task is progressing well. The Holt end bogie is fully cleaned and in undercoat.

Reassembly of the Holt end vestibule is now completed except for beading of the ceiling. Ceiling strips are now in the process of being machined and test fitted prior to final sanding and painting. All the walls have had their final varnishing coat and damaged "do not lean out of the window" transfers replaced and sealed in with varnish.

As part of the varnishing work, the sliding compartment doors and corridor window poles have both received a final coat.

An in-built battery charger has now also been fitted inside the guards cupboard and tested successfully, and will be used for this year's Santas and Norfolk Lights trains. A mains socket has been provided which will allow charging to be done without these staff going trackside after dark. The conversion is similar to that done to dining car 3116 last month, so we now have two vehicles on the new system.

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)

Work on the doors continues, with the final door (middle passenger door on the landward side) now repaired and sanded and filled horizontally on the bench. It was then refitted to the vehicle and is now back in place and closing properly. The more heavily disturbed drivers door continues to have its woodwork fettled, weather strips fitted and grab handle returned to place.

Body prep is now almost complete, with current attention on the areas of green bodyside on the roof - a design feature peculiar to the Metro Cammell DMU's. There are strips above gutter height and at the cab and corridor ends that are steel and coach painted rather than being included in the main roof itself. Unfortunately this design creates some very exposed upward facing areas which tend to get hammered by the sun and the elements. This vehicle is no exception with large areas of paint breakdown and surface corrosion. Luckily it has not gone through yet so has been treated, in some cases filled, and sanded back to a good finish ready for painting.

At the rear of the vehicle an old patch covering a missile scar which punctured the roof in BR days has been removed and cleaned up ready to refit - it had been letting some water in. At the same time, some cosmetic treatment has been done to some of the toilet water pipes, though we have not gone over the top as these are long out of use and unlikely to be reinstated.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

No progress to report.

British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 "Fruit D" W92097W (SILVER)

The first gloss coat has been applied to Holt end, which is the most advanced side externally.

Most of the rotten timbers have also been replaced at the Holt end, other than all the doors, which can only be done when there is fine and dry weather and the wagon can be pushed out into the open!

Recently all the tables, chairs etc. have been moved from the Sheringham end, after a vacuum clean, to Holt end in order top facilitate the start of remedial work to the Sheringham end.

Maintenance

Our quest to get the main service coaches vacuum tight had spread to TSO 4958  this week, which is now behaving correctly once again. Sister 4236 was the next target but new seals haven't cured the problem so further investigations, probably to the "direct admission" valves is due next. Much brake testing has occurred to get a coaching set ready for the March weekend services, as we draw ever closer to the start of the main season.

Workshop

The upholsterers' latest project, station bench seats, are doing well. One particular example has been extensively repaired with a new leg made and fitted. It has been stripped, stained and revarnished. With a solid frame to now work from, springs have been resecured to the bottom and tied up in a suitable mesh which can be further built on with padding and material.

Outside in the yard at Weybourne, we were treated to the extraction of all the vehicles out of the "bay road" next to the station, including the model railway van from the very end which very rarely moves. We prepared the vehicles for movement and this included refitting a coupling to the model railway van, which had been pinched a few years ago to replace the worn out example on the Quad set. This swapped, three static freight vans were removed allowing some rare photographs to be possible of both the empty track as well as the vans which are normally very hemmed in by fences and buildings.