August News Part 3

Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853

Lining of the landward side has progressed with more panels receiving their yellow line. Also yellow has been the first coat of the multi shaded lettering applied to the carriage. The four "3" symbols on the doors have been applied...

...as has the number and "GE" on the landward side.

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

Planking in the luggage van end has continued. The door to the guards office has also been fitted and now slides open and shut correctly.

Some footboards are also being prepared and are currently in undercoat.

Externally, painting of the underframe and bogies has progressed down the seaward side with grey primer now applied along most of its length.

Needle gunning of the landward side has now started with the Holt end bogie about half done.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

Bodywork continues. The landward/Holt corner now has a replacement section of roof welded in.

The middle passenger door on the seaward side has now had its wooden jambs fitted and the door has been adjusted accordingly. It is now fairly advanced in its rebuild. Only seven more of that type of door left to do!

The compartment wall varnishing mentioned last week is now fully up to its first coat inside all five compartments.

British Railways 1957 Tourist Second Open E4521 (SILVER)

The outer skin from the Sheringham/landward corner has now been fully removed for the framework to be inspected and eventually repairs to be carried out.

It has been found to be in better condition than M4843 was which is good news.

Also removed has been two fabricated boxes which bolt onto the end of the vehicle and house the large square rods which translate the bulk of the force through the corridor connection. These had been distorted by rust and will need to be replaced.

The shock absorbers for the corridor connections pictured last week have also been glossed and are now stored awaiting refitting.

British Railways 1957 Corridor Second W25189 (BRONZE)

The repairs to the Sheringham end continue with the landward side of this end now tidied up considerably.

Along the bodysides of the vehicle, all the windows which need to be removed for repairs have had the glass removed, leaving the way clear for metalwork replacement when required.

Inside the compartments, all of the seating has been removed and reinstalled with each seat in each compartment swapped round 180 degrees to even out wear from sun damage and backsides, because people always sit closest the windows!

Revarnishing of the compartment interiors is a task we have decided to undertake as we were spotting the signs of water damage beginning to start as the compartments have probably not been varnished since BR days. So far, the two compartments closest Holt have been sanded back and a first coat of varnish applied. Due to the nature of this overhaul, we are doing this work "in situ" without removing any obstructions such as lamps, luggage racks etc.

British Railways 1962 12 Ton Box Van B784254 (GOLD)

The roof canvas has been secured at the ends this week, with the vulnerable edges of the plywood protected in resin before the metal capping was bolted over the edge. This done, the roof canvas was able to receive a further coat of buff roof paint to impregnate the canvas and make it waterproof.