December News Part 1

London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)

Another steady week with all of the ongoing projects progressing in their own ways. Doors have been a focus with the corridor end ones receiving more coats of varnish, further trimming of the sliding ventilators from the passenger doors and the second guards door being painted brown internally.

British Railways 1959 Brake Corridor Composite E21224 (GOLD)

The vehicle was loaded this week and is now in North Yorkshire for the fitting of its toilet apparatus.

British Railways 1956 Brake Corridor Composite E21103 (SILVER)

Pleasingly the milestone has been reached this week of all of the welding works being completed on the vehicle. The contractor engaged in repairing all of the doorways has completed his work which now means it's back up to us to get all of the doors rehung. Said doors have had many new bottoms welded in where originals had rotted and/or been plated over.

Some unexpected welding on the corridor ends has also been undertaken in areas which became holed during cleaning works.

The bogie overhaul continues to progress with the first third of the bogie being cleaned with a start made on applying primer. The brakegear "bits" from that end are also now cleaned.

On the interior, the wooden bars which hold the glass in place inside the two store cupboards has been gathered, rubbed down and primed.

British Railways 1955 Mark 1 Suburban Third Lavatory Open E48001

The fourth of the conveyor belt repaints has progressed really well this week. Bodyside painting was completed which allowed another rub down and wash to take place before a coat of varnish was applied.

This left several "trimmings" including replacing several window catches which were missing and refitting the grab handles. In addition to this various clean up tasks such as scraping stray paint off the windows and unmasking various details have also been undertaken.

British Railways 1961 English Electric Type 3 D6732

With contractors Heritage Painting in it is unsurprising that the loco has progressed swiftly! The roof was one of the first areas to be tackled being rubbed down and coated in primer. Also prepped were the bogies and underframe details such as fuel tanks etc which have also been undercoated and glossed.

With top and bottom progressing, the middle was not to be left out with the seaward side of the loco's bodyside being prepped and partially filled, which will be continued next week.

British Railways (SR Design) 1948 25 Ton Brakevan 55167 (SILVER)

This week the team have had another finishing session, little nooks and crannies to fill, touch  up etc...

Cabin sanding, stripping and finally cleaning up has continued, and the area is now ready to be washed down with white spirit in preparation for painting.