March News Part 3

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853

I was correct in my assumption last week that the suspicious package was the new roof canvas. The roof, duly prepared, was pasted in special roofing compound before the canvas was stretched on and pinned around the outside.

This involved a lot of ironing, a skill that I for one never knew a lot of the lads possessed and will no doubt be put to use back at home now that the cat is out the bag!

The finished canvas then had another thick layers of compound applied and it is currently drying, which is taking several days.

Meanwhile on the interior, an insert has been created that fits around the vacuum pipe where it comes up through the floor via a clearance hole. The end result is neater and will prevent drafts!

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224

No progress to report.

British Railways 1955 Mark 1 Second Open M4372

Another week focusing on this repainting task. The landward side has continued to progress well, with the sanding and filling now completed. This side is now ready for painting next week.

The final task on the windows was remaking some patches which had fallen out of the windows. These patches were plugs for older cutouts in the windows which once carried brackets for roof boards. These were fitted just below the gutter for named trains such as "The Pines Express" or "The Flying Scotsman". In case anyone was suggesting reinstating the brackets, sadly they appear to be random and in the wrong places, betraying the secret that the windows on this coach are not original and have been salvaged from a scrapped classmate.

On the seaward side, the aluminium window frames are now fully stripped and sanded back to bare metal. Failed rivets have been replaced and any surface corrosion around vulnerable areas cleaned back and treated. Next week will see paint preparation work move onto this side.

All four doorways have also been prepared for repainting and any small remedial work carried out.

British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843

We are at last on the home straight for the welding repairs to the Sheringham end. Just one more section of panelwork now to fit (above the corridor connection) and that should see the major renewal completed. The corroded framework below where the new panel is destined has been cleaned and painted ready.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51188

This has now been successfully put into traffic with our interior work to the guards van completed.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51192

In a mass removal session, all of the remaining seat backs and side pieces were removed from the vehicle this week so that they can be reupholstered in due course.

The front saloon (behind the cab) has also been the seat frames sanded back and repainted blue in the same way as we did in January with its partner M56352. This work can only be done with the cushions removed but before the new ones start being refitted!

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Second Lavatory M56352

Similar to M51188, it has now been successfully put into traffic with re-upholstery work completed. As promised last week, I have photographic evidence of the final (of the three) passenger saloons to be fully fitted out with the newly upholstered seating.