January News Part 3

Great Northern Railway (later M&GN) 1887 6 Wheel Third 129 (BRONZE)

The brake testing continues on an ad-hoc basis as it is having to be slotted in between other priorities. The application of Great Northern blue lining to the interior panels and ceiling has spread to a further two compartments making three in total now lined. The half way point has been passed with a further two still to complete.

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866E (GOLD)

Work on the projects already mentioned in previous weeks continues to progress. More has been done on the sliding window overhaul/modifications, as well as the guards cupboard. The latter is now almost there and is currently in its penultimate coat of cream gloss. With only the door to go off (the rest is new build), this cupboard is now looking very good.

The doors continue to be rebuilt, with one now well and truly in bits (see picture!) whilst one of the guards inward opening doors has been test fitted and hung into place which is a milestone.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

Interior reconstruction continues. The fifth and final compartment has now had its veneered woodwork fitted, so we can now chase up all of the missing trim which we have been unable to fit and produce it in-house and start to get it all varnished.

Inside the luggage compartment, the troublesome flaking ceiling has now been scraped back to wood so we have a decent surface on which to apply new paint. We did try to just sand it some weeks ago, but further along the ceiling we couldn't get a smooth finish so regretfully had to go back to base.

Inside the toilet compartment, all of the Formica panels are now fitted allowing the first of the "stuff" to go back inside. This has included the aluminium dish above the window which holds the communication chain, plus the wooden window surround and grab rail around the glass itself. The final piece to be fitted has been the cover for the steam heat element, again on the same wall.

Moving onto the exterior, the grab handles for the guards doors have been trial fitted successfully. They will be removed again for the vehicle to be painted.

Meanwhile another door has been permanently added to its hinges, the one at the Holt end on the seaward side. The door lock and catch plate on the opposite side to the hinges can now be progressed so the door closes and latches properly.

Finally, the project to clean up the corridor connection components for the Sheringham end continues, with the main steel "tunnel" currently on a bench being cleaned down.

British Railways 1957 Tourist Second Open E4521 (SILVER)

Welding continues at the Sheringham end. This week has seen the lower skin around the toilet returned to its rightful shape, along with the relevant framework behind it.

Door stripping continues, with four out of six now fully dismantled and paint stripped. The fifth door has now been removed from the vehicle and started.

British Railways 1957 Corridor Second W25189 (BRONZE)

The repaint continues, with the second coat of gloss applied this week. Also glossed were the end doors, which we have decided to paint brown as recent consultation with the history books shows that the doors were brown pre 1963. Many doors were painted cream post 1963 and it is these which we have replicated within the NNR fleet up until now. After consultation we have decided to out-shop Mark 1 vehicles with brown doors from now on as it better reflects the earlier period of the coach's lives that we tend to recreate on the NNR. It may also carry dirt a bit better than the current cream doors!

Internally, final final varnishing of compartments is in full swing. Three out of the eight compartments are now finished so we are on the home straight. This coach was never originally going to receive interior work, so the appearance of these compartments after all the work they have had really shows some contrast with the original spec!

British Railways 1958 Covered Carriage Truck M94125 (REPAIR)

No progress to report.

Maintenance

C exams continue. There is a nasty rumour that there is "not far to go" on this job!