March News Part 2

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

Welding has been completed on the brake rodding, so all being well these will be refitted soon.

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

The never-ending door rebuilding has continued, with most of them receiving framework repairs and wood splicing this week.

Inside the coach, the guards compartment heater is now installed properly, complete with gauge.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

Sanding and filling work to the landward side has now been completed signalling the half way point for this large task.

Other external work has also progressed, with the fourth and final gutter now back in place.

It was mentioned last week that the Holt end corridor connection bellows and mechanisms were all reinstalled, this week saw the same treatment for the Sheringham end, this being made possible after swift replacement parts were able to be produced in the machine shop.

Work to complete the doors continues with the guards doors in particular nearing completion.

A selection of internal planking, now fully machined to size and test fitted, have been off the doors and painted in primer before being refitted in some cases.

The missing toilet and compartment beading pictured last week has been fitted into the coach, finishing these areas from a woodwork point of view. This allowed the luggage racking to be installed throughout the coach, which has made a big difference to the compartment interiors.

Further filling of the floors has been done, with over 90% of the coach now completed. Sanding work will be required to achieve a smooth finish prior to the lino flooring being laid. Also filled have been many of the screw heads in the planking around the luggage van area.

The ceilings for the luggage area are almost ready to fit now, with half of them in gloss and the other half in undercoat. Beading to cover the joins has also been produced this week, and primed.

British Railways 1957 Tourist Second Open E4521 (SILVER)

Steelwork to the Sheringham end continues, with the required skin repairs to the roof undertaken at that end. Whilst the roofs of Mark 1's generally fare very well with age, they do rot away in the corners of the coach and at the ends. Replacement galvanised steel has therefore been put in where required.

Downstairs, the door rebuilds continue, with a nice set of locks being refurbished and repainted for the vehicle.

The "lazy tongue" sprung scissor mechanisms for the sliding droplight windows have also been cleaned up ready to reassemble in the doors.

British Railways 1962 First Open M3116 (REPAIR)

We are still working on a way forwards for the wheelsets, so in the meantime the bogie pin greasing/cleaning has progressed with the second part of the bogie being treated this week.

Maintenance

Corridor Second W25189, or the "Bourbon Cream" as it is now known in some circles, was tripped to Sheringham this week so has now officially been returned to the operational pool of coaches. We are looking forward to seeing its first public appearance at the Spring Steam Gala at the end of the month.

Also for the gala, the Suburban set has been extracted from Bridge Road sheds to be examined ready for the season ahead. The Quad Art set is due to follow, but will be done closer the event as it makes sense to do the wooden bodied stock last to reduce the time they spend standing outdoors.