07 February 2020

February News Part 2

Not a lengthy Blog this week, as Monkey is busy getting packed for a big trip tomorrow, more of which next week...

Great Northern Railway (later M&GN) 1887 6 Wheel Third 129 (BRONZE)


No progress to report this week, so readers can instead admire the rather fine sign-writing, applied some ten years ago now and recently brought back to life after the re-varnishing:


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


Very few new items to report on this week, although a lot of work is still being pumped into the various door rebuilds for the guards end of the vehicle. Some smaller items, such as a fire extinguisher holster and fire bucket, have been cleaned up and treated to a coat of red paint.


British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)


Outside work has continued now that the vehicle is in the staging area, recently vacated by W25189. The Holt end corridor connection is coming together nicely, with the wood now painted and the bellows and steel  "tunnel" dry fitted whilst we wait for the proper bolts and screws for it to arrive.


Whilst this is going on the Sheringham end connection is also progressing off the vehicle with paint being built up on all of the components ready to refit.


In between, more door work has been progressed with the Holt Seaward door now finished and the Holt Landward jambs fitted and door hung temporarily with a good fit achieved.



A start has also been made, in between other jobs, with sanding the last of the old paint residue off the body before the main filling/sanding effort begins later this year. This may be quite a time consuming task as apparently the old primer is still well attached!


Interior work has been another case of "more of the same" with further fine tuning of the interior trim and beading.

British Railways 1957 Tourist Second Open E4521 (SILVER)


Steelwork renewal has moved on to the Sheringham Landward corner. The main pressed panel for the corner has now been welded onto the repaired steel framework.


This has allowed more skin to be offered up the toilet bodyside ready for final positioning and cutting to shape and size.


British Railways 1957 Corridor Second W25189 (BRONZE)


We are approaching the end for this project, has has taken roughly twice the length of time originally diagrammed for! Such is restoration... This week has seen a myriad of smaller jobs simply too numerous to mention in full. The exterior repainting work is now completed with all of the lining, BR crests and varnish now applied to the bodysides. The ends have also been sign written with the usual data on the ends as well as the refitting of the lighting jumper cables.


Other jobs have included repainting of the buffer-beams and solebars, additional lettering on the chassis, and the removal of the battery box covers for a quick clean up and repaint.


We have also taken the opportunity to repair some cabling which allowed the lighting on the coach to be resurrected. Although the coach is not on the list of ones that have working lights or heating, we have borrowed a set of batteries from (currently out-of-service) FO M3116 to sit in W25189 temporarily to prove the systems. This being successful, the railway now has an "easy option" as if an extra coach with lighting is required, all that will be required to bring W25189 into the fold will be its own set of batteries.


Internally, the coach is now finished, with all cleaning work being completed and any loose ends tied up, ready for service.

It should be less than a week before this vehicle is released back for service.

British Railways 1958 Covered Carriage Truck M94125 (REPAIR)


No progress to report. Its place on the wheel lathe is likely to be taken by another vehicle so it will likely be the spring before this project is picked up again.

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