As I type this the last two locomotives are heading back to Weybourne light engine having successfully completed the first day of the railway's steam weekend. The day has shown off most of Carriage & Wagon's recent achievements and it's a bit of a highlight for us to see most of the toys out at once. Whilst the vintage train was sitting it out, the suburban set and freight sets were both out with (for me) the highlight being the first run for many years of a parcels train on the railway. Two restorations (PMV S1359S and CCT E94464) completed in the last 12 months have made this possible with five non-passenger vans/coaches available for use. It's always nice to offer regular gala visitors something new so hopefully the parcel set was appreciated by those who saw it.
Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853
Back in the workshop, good progress has been made with the vintage coach. The four roof ventilators pictured last time have been fitted to the roof which completed all of the fittings up there.
More coats of white paint then followed and after it had dried the whole roof was wrapped in plastic to keep the workshop dust from spoiling it. The scaffolding has now also been removed from the area now that the roof is complete.
On the Sheringham end of the coach, an interesting cosmetic bar has been added which would have operated the gas supply "back in the day" - basically a massive light switch. An interpretation based on drawings and photos has been fixed to the end of the coach to represent what once was there. Other smaller plates with signs such as "on/off" etc have also been added. Some of these items have been restored some time ago and have been in store waiting for the right moment to be added to the vehicle.
The Holt end has also progressed with a final piece of vacuum piping being added, which includes the "swan-neck" on the end. This was unable to be added with the rest of the pipe as the scaffolding which had been recently erected got in the way! It now awaits its rubber flexible hose to finish it off.
On the bodysides, the four grab handles for the passenger doors have been fitted within the beading.
Other smaller items of progress have included the two cosmetic oil lamps which are being built from scratch, again based on drawings and photographs. They now have cute little chimneys and bezels where lenses will soon be fitted. The coach will have two of these lamps, one each side.
London North Eastern Railway 1924 Quad Articulated Set 74
That's right, the moment we have all not been waiting for! The Quad Arts are back with us and have already left their mark by doing their usual trick of stuffing up half of the workshop - an unfortunate hazard when dealing with a 166 foot that can't easily be split! They were recently moved from Bridge Road Carriage Sheds and are now inside for assessment to cure the water ingress issues that forced their withdrawal from service in 2016.
Initial assessments show that one of the coaches is suffering much more damp than the other three as it has far more pronounced mould inside. Further work on the water ingress will start once scaffolding has been erected around them. The initial plan is for the two coaches that are closest to Sheringham to be tackled first.
Meanwhile, we have made a start on the other major task: the replacement of the brakeblocks throughout the set. All 40 will be changed for the first time in well over 50 years. So far we have completed one bogie with four more to go.
The Quad Art set is likely to be the main focus of these updates for the next month or so, as they are being prioritised as soon as M4372 is returned to service.
British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224
The store cupboard is progressing through to the gloss stage with walls now appearing in cream plus a white ceiling.
This coach has now been moved to Bridge Road Carriage Sidings and will be staying there for the duration of the works on the Quad-Art set. E21224 updates will therefore cease until the coach returns.
British Railways 1955 Mark 1 Second Open M4372
This dining coach has been somewhat of a priority over the last fortnight as we race towards its completion deadline. The seaward side has been fully gloss painted (two coats) and both sides were then fully lined out complete with numbers. The coach has been changed from E4372 to M4372 as that is the historically correct one for the livery that the coach carries.
The smaller white lettering on the vehicle's ends and chassis is now in progress and is about 50% complete.
We are now chasing up smaller jobs such as repainting footboards, bufferbeams and other ancillaries that will boost its appearance. Nothing more than a top up coat of black is required as in these areas the coach is in very good condition from a corrosion point of view.
British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843
Progress has concentrated on the Sheringham end corridor connection which can hopefully be refitted before too long. There are various shaped sections of wood which have been stripped of their old paint so that they can be repaired and repainted prior to fitting. Some of the most challenging parts have been two shaped metal "hoops" that form part of the "tunnel" that passengers walk through. The steel was quite corroded but this week they have been repaired with new material where required.
Also at the Sheringham end, the vestibule has benefited with one of the doors being rehung.
This coach has now been moved to Bridge Road Carriage Sidings but will hopefully be returning to us shortly once M4372 has been returned to traffic.
British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51192
Re-upholstery continues steadily, I must try to remember to get some photos of the progress. Inside the vehicle itself, repainting of the seat frames is now complete so they are now ready to receive their new upholstery.
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