May News Part 2

This update, although representing a very normal week with noting too spectacular, happens to be the 200th blog post since its inception, back in January 2015, and what a ride it's been! Here's to the next 200...

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853 (GOLD)

Another week progressing ongoing tasks, namely getting the sliding drop-lights to operate correctly.

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866E (GOLD)

Good progress has been made on the rebuilding of the luggage van end of the coach in order to match the same work already completed in the passenger half. Much steelwork has been painted in protective paint (up to gloss) and more large replacement floor timbers have been cut to size, primed and fitted into place. So far about half of the wooden floor supports have been installed.

Above this flooring, the overhead steam heating pipe has been extended by adding a new section.

Sticking with steam heating, 2 and a half of the four extended saloon heaters which were being prepared last week, have now been fitted into place in the passenger saloon. This was made possible after a set of brackets were made up with the caring touch of the Axeman.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

The repairs to the end crash pillars continue. The heavy plate that the middle crash pillars sit on was cut from new steel this week.

Shortly afterwards it was welded into position, which required some quite interesting multi staged welds.

Elsewhere on the coach, four of the seven aluminium window frames have been fitted back into position along the landward side, which represents part of the the initial stages required to get the interior reassembly underway.

British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843 (SILVER)

Whilst waiting for the correct paint to arrive, the interior has been receiving some snagging work (slightly earlier than normal) which will give us a head start later on. Some odd items which didn't fit properly have been rectified and much work has been put into freeing off some of the sliding windows which were too stiff.

Other work has included checking all of the door catches and hinges on all of the internal doors and adjusting where required. A sticking droplight in one of the doors have also been adjusted so it operates correctly.

On the exterior, the first stage of the repaint was able to be completed, the painting of the roof in our specialist roof paint. This coach was stripped and roof painted not too long ago, so this time round a thorough clean and the addition of a further top-up coat has been all that is required. Meanwhile the corridor connection faceplates have been brushed down and rust-killed.

British Railways 1962 Tourist Second Open M4958 (REVARNISH)

Currently in the yard having been used for the Thomas event last weekend, it is due to be moved back inside shortly for the ends to be repainted and some missing lettering replaced. It should not be long before this one is complete and returned to Sheringham.

British Railways 1951 16 Ton Ballast Plough Brakevan DB993707 (BRONZE)

The second coat of red gloss has now been applied to all of the exterior, which just one veranda end left to paint internally. This has allowed sign writing to be added to the outside, which is now complete except for the two "return to" sections.

For those interested, the large E represents that the vehicle was part of the "Engineers" division, rather than revenue earning. The small E is the region, the vehicle had M (Midland) when it came in the workshop but the repaint opportunity has been taken to reallocate it to E (Eastern). The "Oyster" is the name of the vehicle type whilst the number follows at the bottom. The DB prefix again is a reference that it is part of the engineers, or departmental, fleet.

The veranda ceilings have also been rubbed down ready for repainting white. The handrails, currently off the vehicle, have been painted in white undercoat ready for glossing next week.