July News Part 1

This weekend saw the Vintage Transport Day (Sunday) held, a busy event where our two oldest sets were enjoyed in service by enthusiasts and the public alike. Both the Victorian vintage set and the Quad-Arts could be seen running, departing just 30 minutes apart from one another!

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

Gloss painting continues well, with the landward side now in crimson.

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

More painting work has been completed in the guards compartment, which has seen more work and cream applied inside and out.

The luggage area, now that the steam pipe installation has been completed, has seen the ceiling painted into white. The steam pipes themselves have also received a coat of heat-proof silver.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

Body repairs continue, with sections of the gutter rail now replaced around the Holt end seaward side corner. This entailed an L section being removed and replaced for around 3 feet across the doorway.

The same corner has seen the curved bodyside skin removed from the doorway to just around the corner of the vehicle. This will allow the skin to be repaired where required (it's too good to replace entirely). Meanwhile the doorway pillar has also been replaced.

Internally, all of the sliding windows along the corridor side have now been re-tapped and are ready to be refitted next week. In the same corridor, the ceiling has been fully prepared and has received a coat of undercoat.

The toilet compartment, mentioned last week, has now been fully stripped of its old paintwork. Thankfully it has revealed no nasties below, so we should be able to return this toilet to its original 1950's condition, give or take!

British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843 (SILVER)

Finishing touches to the repaint work are now being done. The "C1 restriction" lettering on the end of the coach has been applied, and the interconnecting lighting jumper cables also fitted.

The upper lining has also been completed above the windows. The lower lining, and the vehicle's numbers, will be applied once the vehicle is removed from the staging area.

Internally, most of the removed "odds and sods" are now refitted, so only a final bit of varnishing is now required before this too is signed off for service.

British Railways 1957 Tourist Second Open E4521 (SILVER)

More of the corridor connection handrails and components for the flexible bellows have been cleaned and have joined the pile of items being repainted through the primer > undercoat > gloss process.

Inside the vehicle, all of the loose seating has been removed, counted up, and piled up at the Holt end of the coach, which has allowed the Sheringham end to be completely cleared for the first time in many years, to fully assess the task ahead. Initial thoughts are that the interior is in very good condition all things considered.

British Railways 1962 12 Ton Box Van B784254 (GOLD)

A replacement plywood roof has been fitted to cover the gap left by the half missing/half collapsed roof that the vehicle had when sold to its current owner! This was being trimmed this weekend and being properly secured around the outside edges.