May News Part 5

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

Attention has returned to the exterior painting of the carriage, with the seaward side and Sheringham end of being rubbed down ready for a first coat of varnish.

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

Not content with ravaging one underframe, the swarm of locusts have descended on a second underframe wielding hammers and cutting equipment as they go. However this second example is set to be more constructive in the quest to create a proper 6 wheel underframe for No129. Originally a Southern Railway 4-wheel parcel van, a fire at a previous home rendered the body beyond repair but made the chassis ripe for an NNR conversion into a vintage underframe. The underframe has a row of “outriggers” which the bodyside struts used to bolt onto, and these have been removed to make the chassis more in keeping. The buffers and drawgear have also been extracted from the Sheringham end, this is necessary as the underframe requires shortening to fit No129. The first underframe, being dismantled for spares, is now officially history and is a kit of parts. The steel “W irons” which hold the wheelsets in position on the chassis, have been cleaned down and rust-protected ready for re-use.

British Railways 1957 Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641

The framework revealed last week at the Sheringham end of the coach has now had a good few days of old framework being chopped out and replaced with new. This is particularly required around the windows where water has penetrated. Further stripping on the interior has seen this quarter of the coach now devoid of wood so all metalwork can be completed. At the Holt end of the coach, the framework for the floor in the store cupboard (ex toilet) has been fitted and is awaiting the plywood floor itself to go in.

The framework of the store cupboard now fitted

British Railways 1954 Mark 1 Suburban Second W46139

Work has been confined to the underneath of the coach this week. A lighting box has been refurbished and painted whilst new batteries have also been fitted and wired up. Some further adjustments and testing then resulted in the lights illuminating for the first time since the 1990’s!

Whilst the illumination was going on, several (un)willing members have been scraping away at the underframe ready for repainting, a thankless task to say the least...

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062

This vehicle has seen constant focus each day this week. The patch welding repairs have been completed around the whole vehicle, which allowed a rapid process of sanding and filling to take place. This has, remarkably, already been completed and now the vehicle awaits final fettling before its ready for paint. The process of cleaning the windows, illustrated last week, is also progressing, with a start on the seaward side being made this week. A troublesome door has also been adjusted, the opportunity of the raised staging area being too good to miss.

E56062 with rubbing down well advanced

Maintenance

One of our stores vans, another SR parcel van (of the same design as the underframe being converted for No129), is being readied for movement to Holt. Having been a resident of Weybourne yard for many years, a quick inspection has been made and the axleboxes cleaned out and refilled with oil so it can safely make the journey to the other end of the line.

Workshop

Lastly, a tool cabinet has been donated to the railway, which was rather rusty. It has quickly been rejuvenated and repainted into Birds Eye blue house colours.