March News Part 2

Firstly, an advance apology that there will be no update next week due to your scribe being on holiday for the week, playing at another railway...

This isn't your scribe, but does show the sheer joy that working at the NNR carriage & wagon department brings! Why would anyone want a holiday from this?!?

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

Only a brief update - a full update should return next time. Progress continues on all fronts with the most visible being further gloss paintwork being applied to the sides of the vehicle.

Great Eastern Railway 1884 Wisbech & Upwell Tramcar 7

After receiving a few reports on the handbrake mechanism, which was possible to overwind when it was being taken off causing it to re-apply, a few minor modifications have been made. This was done soon after the steam gala (where No7 was in use) and the work has been completed in time for the vehicle to be a saloon for a Branch Line Society charter, It is nice to see this vehicle, which normally lives inside the sheds at Holt, out and about so much this month.

British Railways 1957 Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641

The decision has been made to repanel the Holt/seaward ¼ of the coach with new steel. Whilst rather drastic in appearance, this approach actually takes less time than keeping the old skin on the carriage as patching areas as required is very time consuming. So far, good progress has been made with some framework repairs having been undertaken followed by new panelling being measured, cut and fitted to almost half of the area currently being focussed on.

Part way through attaching the new steel panelling

On the interior, stripping of old varnish from the Holt end vestibule continues at a steady rate.

British Railways 1956 Mark 1 Suburban Brake Second E43357

The body smoothing and filling of this coach has now reached completion. The vehicle is now fully in primer and ready for paint. Internally, the guards van beading described last week has also been completed.

Completed beading

British Railways 1954 Mark 1 Suburban Second E46139

The bogies are now looking much better with one now in black undercoat paint and the second not far behind. Those involved with these bogies are to be congratulated for sticking with the unpleasant part of the restoration.

The lone warrior inside the coach continues to work on getting the ceilings up to scratch. At the last count, all nine ceilings had been primed (see picture last week) and two had been undercoated.

Ceiling in undercoat

British Railways 1956 Mark 1 Suburban Lavatory Open E48004

No, not a typo, the railway does have a second SLO vehicle, E48004, which is a close sister to E48001. The latter is currently under restoration and regularly appears in these jottings. The former, not mentioned here before, is the 5th suburban on the railway and has lived in Bridge Road sheds in very poor condition.

E48004 was originally in store, intended to be part of the "Suburban 4" lottery funded project. However the acquisition in 2011 of E48001 which was in much better condition effectively rendered E48004 as surplus to requirements. After the funding was awarded and the project started, E48004 was left with an uncertain future. Happily, it is going to a new home at the Llangollen Railway where it will be restored to operate in their own suburban set. This week, the vehicle was extracted from the sheds and its contents were emptied (it had been in use for storage of parts).

On the subject of emptying contents, here the C&W manager is seen trying out the toilet for size... 

The vehicle was then dispatched to Sheringham for onward transportation by road to its new life in Wales.

British Railways 1958 Conflat & Type AF Container B502824 & AF65970B

This vehicle, which featured heavily upon its completion last week, has successfully entered traffic and started on a high by starring in the demonstration freight train at the spring steam gala.

Hurst Nelson 1944 Fuel Oil Tanker 5304

The through vacuum pipe has been gloss painted and is now ready for fitting. The supporting brackets made last week have also received paint.

Completed vacuum pipe