February News Part 1

The workshop has seen a few movements this week, plus a new arrival... A shunt on Friday created, by complete coincidence, a taste of things to come with three of the four suburban coaches being restored formed together in one “train”, albeit hauled by the yard shunter. How long before we see the same three travelling the full line in sumptuous crimson livery?

The launch day of the "Suburban 3"? Not quite, but a tantalising hint of what the NNR's future suburban set will look like

Midland Railway (later M&GN) 1886 6 Wheel Picnic Saloon 3

Continuing the painting theme from last week, the two ends of the carriage have been rubbed down and another coat of undercoat applied to the Holt end, furthering the process of getting a good number of layers of paint. Work to adjust the length of the buffers, described in January News Part 2, also continued.

Volunteer Pete applies undercoat to the Holt end

British Railways 1957 Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641

Welding work on the Holt/Sea corner continues, with the gutter and the side support of the Holt end doorway the latest “casualties” consigned to the skip. In readiness for the welder to progress along the seaward side, the four windows on this side nearest the current work area have been stripped of their glass so the latter doesn’t get damaged during the bodywork. The woodwork varnish strippers have continued to attack anything in sight from the Holt end saloon, and are admirably beavering their way through an ever diminishing pile.  In the toilet the panelling illustrated last week has received three further coats of paint and is now complete. Wooden beading strips have also been machined and are currently in the process of being varnished.

British Railways 1954 Grounded Tool Van DB975129 (Ex Brake Corridor Second 34495)

The end is nigh for this vehicle. The three sections which it had been sliced into have been at the end of the yard and one section has been dismantled for scrap, with the remaining two on borrowed time.

British Railways 1956 Mark 1 Suburban Brake Second E43357

With the side wall panels in the guards van fitted, attention has turned to the ceiling. Supporting timbers (which screw onto the metal roof supports) have been manufactured and are in the process of being fitted. Good progress has been made on rewiring the inter-coach lighting cables which were removed in the 1980's. These are now refitted from the Sheringham end of the coach to the lighting control box. Approximately half of the same run to the Holt end of the coach has also been fitted.

British Railways 1954 Mark 1 Suburban Second E46139

Three (of the nine) compartments have had beading fitted to the hardboard ceiling panels – a fair task as there is rather a lot of it, which all needs jointing to each other neatly. As part of this work all nine of the light-shade supports have been fitted, these go in the very centre of the ceiling, one per compartment. One has also had its shade fitted as a test to see how it looks.

British Railways 1955 Mark 1 Suburban Second Lavatory Open E48001

No progress to report.

British Railways 1958 Conflat & Type AF Container B502824 & AF65970B

A start has been made on the vacuum cylinder’s overhaul, with the unit being stripped down into its components. The piston had got stuck inside the cylinder due to corrosion and lack of use, but this was soon freed with the help of Uncle Hammer... Meanwhile the AF container took a glorious trip about 80 feet from the centre of the shed to a position close to the end doors, which was done using two pallet trucks and a body of willing pushers. Its new position is in readiness for when it is required to be lifted onto the conflat wagon.

Moving the AF container

New Arrival

The railway has taken delivery of another Mark 1 this week, Gangwayed Brake (BG) M81114. It is identical to the NNR’s existing BG, M81269, but requires restoration. It will initially be kept at Sheringham and will join M81269 in static use for the Commercial department, although there are longer term plans to see it operate in conventional service.

M81114 in Staffordshire on its way to the NNR

Workshop

The refurbishing of the sack trucks has continued, with two now approaching completion. A new bench has also been built next to the vacuum cylinder testing rig, to allow work to be undertaken on cylinders without bending down. The conflate wagon’s cylinder is the first to benefit from the new bench.