August News Part 4

We start with the sad news that our shed foreman Mike Biss left us today for pastures new. He has been with us for three years and worked for several years before that on the Permanent Way staff. A skilled Carpenter and morale raising character he provided a lot of the "get up and go" during the latter half of the Suburban 4 project and of course across the day to day activities as well. He will be missed by volunteers and staff alike.

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853

This week has been more positive than the last. The incorrect brake gear mentioned last week has now been modified with the addition of another bracket which has slightly changed the geometry of how the rods pull the brakes on. This will hopefully solve the issues highlighted but we await testing of the full brake system to be 100% sure.

Meanwhile the four alternative leaf springs are being prepared for their new role on 853's underframe.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224

A new floor has been fitted into the guards compartment and interior woodwork stripping and varnishing continues steadily. On the exterior, most of the glass has now been fitted into the frames along the seaward side.

British Railways 1957 Corridor Second E25189

E25189 was collected early in the week and is now running up and down in the trains once more.

British Railways 1960 Covered Carriage Truck E94464

Bodywork continues apace. The replacement sections of framework have now been fitted to all six windows around the vehicle, so there is now only panelwork left to complete.

A start has also been made on bodywork preparation on the landward side to ready the vehicle for a repaint once the other repairs are completed. This has involved the usual sanding and filling routine that regular readers will be so familiar with!

The window apertures have had to be taped up temporarily as we have been asked for the vehicle to be tripped to Sheringham next week so that the Beer Festival contents can be used for the Steam Gala! This was unusual news to have part way through bodywork repairs but we try to help out as best we can!

Southern Railway 1951 Parcels & Miscellaneous Van 1476

The "martian green" applied last week has been coated over this week in some surplus DMU green which is a fairly close match to the Southern Green that some of these vans were originally painted in. Sadly there wasn't quite enough to finish all of the panels so another tin will have to be ordered.

Colman's 1908 Mustard Van 4807 & Hurst Nelson 1942 4 Wheel Tank 1982

No progress to report from Holt.

Maintenance

Mark 1 Tourist Second Open E4641 (the one we fully overhauled and launched into service last November) suffered a broken window in one of its doors whilst operating a dining service. This has been changed this week and the vehicle returned to Sheringham without fuss.

Wagon Spares

The recently obtained wagon underframe spares mentioned last week have received some more attention. The first wheelset has now been finished in its gloss paint ready for storage.