April News Part 1

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

The main focus this week has been on furthering the external paintwork. The ends of the carriage have been rubbed down again as they require further gloss paint whilst red lining has been added on the landward side. The yellow lining which sits adjacent to the red has now been started on this side.

Rubbing down the end

Applying the red lining

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853

The ironwork described last week has received a further coat of anti-rust paint and some parts now sport grey primer.

British Railways 1957 Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641

The toilet rebuild is starting to bear fruit. After a few false starts (breakages!) a sink and pedestal combination has been cleaned up and test fitted. The problems with the waste chute described last week (toilet-gate) have been resolved by fitting a different design of toilet which has a hole in a far more suitable location in the floor. Very luckily the first hole we cut lies underneath the toilet so this mistake will be fully hidden from view. Parts are now on order for a new waste pipe which will allow the toilet to be installed. Work on the metal repanelling continues with some more sections of skin attached to repaired framework.

Toilet interior

British Railways 1956 Mark 1 Suburban Brake Second E43357

Work has stepped up somewhat on this vehicle this week. Externally, the final bodywork sanding is being pushed to hopefully enable crimson undercoat to be applied next week. This has involved final flatting down of the two sides of the carriage. The ends are currently partially sanded and will follow in due course.

On the interior, the guards van continues with the new ceiling now in white undercoat and the interior bulkhead reinstalled, the original having been removed when the vehicle was converted into a generator car in times gone by.

British Railways 1954 Mark 1 Suburban Second E46139

The bogie overhaul for this carriage has been completed this week, and the reassembled bogies have been put back underneath so the vehicle is mobile again. It will have to be lifted again for underframe painting but this is scheduled to be done after a repair to an operation al coach which has been prioritised.