June News Part 2

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

Work on the end capping pieces, mentioned last week, has continued with all four being brought up to gloss paint ready for refitting. Indeed, two of them were fitted to the Sheringham (brake) end of the vehicle and the surrounding areas given a coat of gloss black.

Elsewhere on the coach, some more thorough work is in progress beneath the floor of the guards area, as the various linkages and equipment for the handbrake protection valve are trialed and fitted into place. For now this will be an ongoing project.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

Achieved in a previous update but missed out due to forgetfulness was the installation and testing of the compartment reading lamps. These have taken some time as the originals were all missing and a set needed making up out of a number of spares which were in poor condition. It is a treat to see them finished and working ready for passengers to use!

In readiness for the final interior refit, new table brackets have been fabricated from scratch to screw to the walls just under the windows. These will, in time, support the edges of the brand new table tops which have yet to be built for the coach.

This week the lino laying contractors were able to make a start, which is great news given the lack of lino has been responsible for holding this particular vehicle back. The coach has been sealed and the relevant screeding laid and approximately half of the lino is now down. 

British Railways 1960 Brush Type 2 D5631

Since the last update quite a lot has been completed. The rubbed down bodysides have all been given their top coat of green gloss before being gently rubbed down again ready for final varnishing. This completed, the waist height bodyside white line and half yellow panels on the cab ends were masked up, and so far these have been undercoated and given one coat of gloss. White and yellow are both poor colours for depth of colour, so more coats will be required for sure! At the request of the loco's owners, we now can't post photographs until it is completed.

Elsewhere on the loco, a few smaller items, such as painting a number of the window bars from inside the engine room, have also been progressed.

British Railways 1962 12 Ton Box Van B784254 (GOLD)

The box van ha leapt forwards and is now on the home straight towards the end of its overhaul. With the final areas of the underframe painted in gloss black, the vehicle was ready to be lowered back down onto its wheels. To facilitate this, the four axleboxes were cleaned out with the steam-cleaner to remove the grit-blasting contaminants before being married up to the brand new oil pads. They were then returned onto the suitably cleaned axles and the body lowered back down onto them.

With the underframe now back together some brake adjustments were completed and a brake test successfully undertaken. Another job off the list was removing the temporary short buffers off the Sheringham end and replacing them with the correct pattern long type so that the van is fit to be hauled on the line outside of the yard.

After the final finishing touches were made, such as painting the lamp irons and the handles of the handbrake levers white, we have now completed the underframe/mechanicals of the van.

This left the interior space as the only outstanding item. The ceiling has now been finished having received two coats of gloss white paint.

A few other repair panels which had been let into the walls were given a coat of brown in order to protect them from the elements.

The vehicle is now almost complete with only a few more miscellaneous items to finish, such as the refitting of a missing chain to secure one of the doors.

British Railways (SR Design) 1948 25 Ton Brakevan 55167 (SILVER)

No progress to report.

Maintenance

With the dining train now in operation again, two sets of batteries were swapped from suburban coaches out of the main running set, which isn't currently operating after the hours of darkness. These were installed into two of the dining coaches so hopefully we have a fully lit dining set once again.

Our designated spare open coach, M4958, has been swapped into the second set, to replace E3868 which has had to be removed for a more detailed inspection as it ha suffered wheel flats. 

Miscellaneous

The "billy seat" introduced last week has been rubbed down and primed ready to receive more coats.

We have also received another donated platform trolley, of Ipswich pedigree, which we are thankful for. The original lettering has been carefully noted before the trolley was stripped down for refurbishment. It is currently being painted (blue).

June News Part 1

The warm weather has finally hit Weybourne Works, particularly the Carriage & Wagon shed which has been described by a member of staff from the adjacent Loco shed as "like walking into a greenhouse". Well the one thing you can rely on when you take a greenhouse full of sweating men is some progress on all the current C&W projects...

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

Despite the lifting of some of the volunteer restrictions it has still taken a few more weeks to get properly back into the swing of things. This week the Thompson coach was a hive of (distanced) activity. All of the remaining rectangular windows have now been removed and their apertures inspected to ensure the replacement glass will fit properly. Some of the thick wooden framework has been eased to achieve this.

Also on the exterior of the vehicle, the corners have been de-rusted and painted into primer with the corner cover strips (which were removed some weeks ago) straightened back to their original form after unavoidably getting bent when removing them. The strips then followed to the primed stage.

Moving onto the interior,  the main news has been the "livening" of the electrical system. The batteries, last charged over three years ago, appeared to work OK for testing but didn't have enough oomph to latch some of the relays out so they have gone on a further charge. The relays have sprung back into life after 8 years of storage having last been used on the Gresley Buffet Car (E9128E) in 2013 before it was converted to an alternative diesel generator system.

All the light fitting bayonets have also been fitted, with the ones on the seaside wall fitted on wooden blocks in their final position whilst the others are just attached to the wall until their blocks are fitted. With some test bulbs installed the coach is now effectively lighting itself.

Elsewhere on the interior, the luggage area ceiling under the corridor end spring mechanism has been made, with two inspection hatches to allow the spring to be lubricated in the future.

Vacuum pipework runs have also been progressed in the guards area and the emergency valves partially fitted to move forwards the project to fit the system which will stop the coach from being moved if the handbrake has been left on. This feature will be essential for this particular coach as it will be very likely being added onto coaching sets which contain a second guards brake elsewhere in the train.

Finally, Peter Lund from the Llangollen Railway (the original group who sold E1866 to the M&GN Society) has donated several Great Northern Railway Doors along with many other bits and pieces which are now at Weybourne after volunteer Matt Peacock hired a van and drove to Wales to collect them - in one day - so thank you to both.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

The brake distributor has now been painted and fitted to the coach with the handles picked out nicely.

The five table legs for the compartment have also been completed and now await fitting once the rest of the tables have been built.

British Railways 1960 Brush Type 2 D5631

The small gap in between the department's Covid-era maintenance and the return to traditional overhaul works has been filled by the Class 31 diesel locomotive, which is at last reaching the end of its overhaul. The mechanical work being undertaken next door has reached a conclusion and the loco is now in for its final paintwork and preparations for its official re-launch back into traffic. Long running readers may recall that back in November 2018 we concluded most of the body preparation and paintwork on this loco, preferring to hold off the final coat until it was almost ready for service again.

After being shunted into the staging area no time was lost with the roof and bodysides all getting a very thorough wash down and a light rub ready to receive the top coat of gloss paint.

Immediately afterwards, the roof was treated to its final layer of grey roof paint, which was quick and easy compared with the preparation! The roof area was particularly hot and it was no surprise when the paint was found to be touch dry only an hour after we painted it.

The various holes were drilled and tapped in the cab sides to allow replica builders and shed plates to be fitted to the loco. These were never added when it was painted green ten years ago as it was more of a staged intermediate overhaul, so it will be nice this time around to have many more of the finishing touches that it should have to represent its 1960's condition accurately. The plates, suitably positioned and fitted, were then taken off again so they don't get in the way of our glossing and varnishing. No pictures yet but they did look rather nice!

British Railways 1962 12 Ton Box Van B784254 (GOLD)

The ceiling, mentioned last time, has now been upgraded to white undercoat, so looks much more complete already even though gloss is still to follow.

On the outside of the vehicle, a coat of varnish has been applied to the exterior which has pretty much concluded the restoration on the outside of the body. It certainly looks ready for service!

However the biggest change has been the lifting of the vehicle off its wheelsets to allow access underneath. After a bit of heaving and bending, sufficient brakegear was removed to allow the lift.

The removed wheelsets have had their axleboxes removed for a full clean out as they were contaminated with grit during the grit-blasting of the vehicle despite being wrapped up as best as we could. These now await reassembly. New oil pads for these boxes are currently in the oil bath soaking nicely. The axles themselves have been rust treated where the grit-blasters missed and have been painted gloss black.

Up to a similar stage are the axlebox keeps which were removed a few years ago and will be refitted once the van is back on its wheels.

Currently in progress is the gloss painting of the underframe and "dangly bits" that hang from it. The bits visible on the outside have been done and the internal sections, including the underside of the floor, are now following.

British Railways (SR Design) 1948 25 Ton Brakevan 55167 (SILVER)

Sadly some more wood rot was discovered on the Sheringham end verandah, however all being well the team will be able to use some timber from old balcony frame to make good the latest degradation! Corner posts seem to attract rot...

Filling and sanding the sides ready for priming has been a primary focus...

...along with priming as much of the new timber as possible ready for fitting.

Maintenance

The running department have been busying themselves with the first A exams on the set which has been running most services recently, with the added bonus of attending to an unusual fault on the bogie bolster of one of the suburban coaches, which was getting into the habit of trying to unwind one of its own springs - part of the suspension of the coach. Further investigations will be required on this one as these springs, normally under terrific pressure, never normally move on their own. Never a dull day!

Miscellaneous

A frame for a single seat, sometimes known as a "Billy seat" (i.e. Billy no mates!) for a Class 101 railcar, has generously been sold to us from our friends at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. There was only one of these per vehicle, located adjacent to the toilet, and the M&GN Society's Class 101 trailer car (E56062) has never had one, as it was missing before it even entered preservation. We can now return this area to original in due course once the frame is restored and cushions made for it (this one is without its soft furnishings) which will keep the upholstery department busy.

May News Part 3

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

Work this week has involved separating a guard's emergency vacuum brake valve from a severed piece of pipe. It had been reclaimed quickly off a scrap vehicle and was being held in stores. It is now back to its constituent parts and can be restored for use. Also reclaimed has been some pipework left over from another vehicle which will be added to E1866.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

A few tasks which do not rely on the lino flooring being fitted have been progressed. The ambulance cupboard inside the luggage area received its final coats of internal white paint, which once dry, allowed the equipment to be loaded inside. This done and audited, the door was shut and the glass panel installed over the front to prevent casual access.

Staying on the subject of emergency equipment, the guards end fire extinguisher and emergency ladder have both been strapped into place having had new straps custom made to size. The ladder has been prepared steadily over the last month.

Inside the corridor and compartments, all of the gaps between the woodwork and glass have been filled in with mastic and wiped down to give an effective seal, so that condensations drains into the channels/drains rather than straight into the void below the windows. This left a matt residue so the affected areas were cleaned down again and an extra coat of varnish applied to return their shine.

We are also starting to prepare for constructing five tables intended for use in the compartments with cream teas. We have no suitably shaped tables in stock so we shall make new in the style of the removable compartment tables BR used - but one difference being ours will be permanently fixed as the temporary ones wobble aren't really secure enough for permanent use. We have four original metal legs from scrapped vehicles left in our stores so these are being used and we are constructing a fifth to as close as possible a match to complete the set. We have modified the original legs slightly with new "feet" as the originals were sadly too degraded for reuse. There is now also a materials list for the wooden tops which will be made in due course.

One of the final items of mechanical equipment to resolve was the air brake distributor. After two years on the back burner, this has now been retrieved and successfully reassembled following a strip down and clean. The exterior of the valve has also been cleaned down and is currently sporting primer. E21224 will be leaving the staging area soon so we anticipate the distributor can be fitted shortly.

British Railways 1957 Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641 (BRONZE)

E4641 was moved out of the staging shortly after the last update which allowed the solebars, footboards and bufferbeams to have a top up coat of black gloss paint to smarten them up and complete the repaint. Added to this was the solebar lettering and brake stars which couldn't be applied when in the staging.

Likewise the painting of stripes on the wheels (to indicate tyre slippage), a requirement to mainline running, was also undertaken. Another mainline requirement is the numbering of the exterior doors, which has also now been applied.

Finally, the remaining buckeye, on the Holt end, was swapped out for an example recently obtained from the mainline which has the extra "shelf bracket", yet another feature E4641 has required to make it suitable for registration to run to Cromer.

E4641 has now been removed from the shed and returned to traffic, its Bronze overhaul complete.

British Railways 1962 First Open M3116 (REPAIR)

With the departure of E4641 from the shed, M3116 was brought in for a brief stay to conclude its pre-pandemic "quick" repairs once and for all! Before entering the shed the task of replacing the vestibule carpets (described last time) had been progressing. Shortly after coming in the shed the final gluing and fixing was completed and the vestibules now look much fresher.

The last loose end to tie up in the interior was the fixing to the walls of the brackets which tie the curtains back to. These had been machined in house as we didn't have any originals to use.

The rest of the work has been mechanical. The main issue was that the coach was sitting too high on its bogies, so each corner was lifted and some packing removed to gently bring the coach back into tolerance. The coach has sat low for some years so it was nice to see it at the correct height. This done, the axlebox keeps were put back into place and the metal safety slings which wrap around the brakegear inside the boxes returned into position.

Similar to E4641, M3116 was then removed from the shed and returned to traffic, its much prolonged  repairs complete.

British Railways 1962 12 Ton Box Van B784254 (GOLD)

The overhaul of this van, sadly halted due to the health of its owner, has more positively been resumed, as it has been recognised that with 95%+ of the work already complete, this vehicle can be made operational in the freight train with very little work. It is planned to complete this quickly to see the project through and clear the projects list and yard for new projects.

Like most aspects, the interior requires very little finishing off. The van received a brand new roof a few years ago which hadn't been painted internally. Originally these were often planked, the solid and unpainted 1950's wood resisting the damp very well. The new roof is modern plywood which will not fare as well if left bare, so whilst probably not authentic it will be painted white. This will offer both protection and also maximise the light inside the van. So far it has been primed.

On the exterior, the body itself requires little more than sprucing up having become faded over the lockdown, the brown being a very bad colour for this effect. Another coat of gloss has been added this week and is now complete, the van having regained its shine.

We noticed that the lamp irons had been bolted on but were bare metal so had rusted over the last year spent outside, and also that one of the (four) securing pins/chains for the door handles was missing. A replacement chain was found from stores and this along with the lamp brackets were cleaned and primed. Also getting the same treatment were the four axlebox keeps, which had been removed to allow the vehicle to be lifted off its wheels. Again, these will be returned in due course.

British Railways (SR Design) 1948 25 Ton Brakevan 55167 (SILVER)

The renewal of the roof has taken longer than anticipated, but the project is still moving forward. The roof has been painted with several coats of bitumen.

Wooden edging trim is being fixed to the outer verandah ends and some other minor roof components, such as the stove chimney "collar", are also being prepared for their next turn of duty.

Maintenance

The dining train Kitchen Car, M81033, was brought up to Weybourne, which really took us up to capacity as we had four coaches (an entire rake) in the yard! This vehicle simply needed its worn drawhook swapping off the Sheringham end. Being a brake and being permanently at the end of the dining set, and therefore always adjacent to the loco, it is no surprise the hook at that end has worn. The hook was changed quickly and without any fuss. This coach (which is in rather poor condition) has had the Sheringham end gangway door stuck shut for some years now, preventing through access to another coach at that end. Given that this end is never formed up to another coach in any case, it was decided not to bother returning the buckeye coupling to this end. On the bright side it will give crews a bit more space to maneuver when coupling up! M81033 was then returned to Sheringham back into traffic.

Meanwhile the repairs to M4958, including the seat swapping pictured last time, have now been completed, and again the vehicle has now been returned to traffic: four this week, possibly a record!

A day has also been spent up at Holt preparing the goods set for a trip out shortly. A thorough preparation was made especially given that the set has not run since before the pandemic.

Finally, added to the "maintenance" section as there wasn't any other logical place to put it, has been some sign-writing inside the cab of Y14 steam loco 564. This is to help drivers identify which lever operates the cylinder drain cocks, and which way is open and shut. As far as we know the lever has been unmarked for the previous 110 years of operation. A generic font was selected as it was felt the standard Gill Sans block lettering we use of the BR era coaches was not really in keeping with the lettering used in the Great Eastern Railway era. We hope you agree that the lettering chosen is in keeping.