March News Part 1

The snowfall this week unsurprisingly crippled the railway with the works effectively being shut down by the middle of the week. A very low turnout of staff and volunteers has obviously meant there is much less to report on this week. However members of the department were admirably in attendance every day, spending time assisting other departments to keep things going during the disruption.

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853

No progress to report.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224

No progress to report.

British Railways 1955 Mark 1 Second Open M4372

All of the cream paint on the bodyside along the landward side has now been successfully stripped off. We are now progressing the next phase of stripping which is getting the nine window frames on this side back down to bare aluminium so we can start again with them. This is very fiddly work with lots of little crevices and takes a disproportionate amount of time to do!

After they are stripped any gaps around the outsides are being sealed up and any failed rivets drilled out and replaced.

British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843

The corner of the roof has now been returned to its rightful place after a section of galvanised steel was let in.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51188

No progress to report.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51192

Now that the upholstery team have finished renewing the material of the National Railway Museum's trailer car (M56352), they have moved onto the other half which is currently inside the loco shed for engine repairs. So far, several lower seat cushions have been taken from the vehicle and are now being recovered.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Second Lavatory M56352

No progress to report.