Getting Ready for Lights Express

It's been a busy week progressing restoration projects and getting things ready for the Norfolk Lights Express.

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

One extra day of vacuum leak testing has been undertaken this week, with the system hooked up to the compressed air supply to try and detect the all important leak.

British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)

It has all been about the recently removed window frames, with the majority of attending volunteers put onto the task, which is fairly long and tedious so it makes sense to not dump it onto one single person. All eight of the large saloon window frames have had all of their aluminium trim stripped off and quarter-light glass removed. The sliding lights are now also separated and boxed ready for further restoration. Seven out of eight frames have also had the main glass securing screws heated up with a torch and extracted from the frame. The steel screws into aluminium combination has created dissimilar metal corrosion so we were really fortunate that 95% of them extracted successfully with heat.

With most of the frames stripped down fully, a start has been made on cleaning back the frames to bare aluminium, something we do on most Gold restorations.

British Railways 1956 Gangwayed Brake (Kitchen) M81033

A control box to house the remote start electronics has been repurposed from elsewhere and is now prepared on the bench ready for fitting to the new generator soon.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51188

Not quite as much progress as hoped however resources were needed elsewhere. The gloss painting is spreading and the landward (drivers) side of the vehicle is now painted. More glossing is planned next week.

Inside, the water damaged supporting woodwork in the ceiling has had replacements machined and let in as a repair. New beading has also been produced ready for when it's been paneled out again.

Norfolk Lights Express Preparations: TSO M4843 & CCT E94464

As part of this year's Norfolk Lights Express train, there was a requirement to move the generator van (CCT) from the Sheringham end to the Holt end of the train, as the lighting control equipment wouldn't fit inside E21103's accessible brake area leaving sufficient room for any visitors in wheelchairs. This hasn't been a problem before as we have previously always used (now withdrawn) BSK W35148 which has a larger accessible brake area.

The revised arrangement required the use of TSO M4843's redundant toilets which are now store cupboards. The coach was moved to Weybourne where a removable hatch has been cut into the cupboard floor, which will be where the cables are routed. Whilst in works, the opportunity was taken to repair two door faults on the vehicle, refix a door grab handle which had come loose, and finish the vehicle's latest A exam which included vacuum testing.

With M4843 complete and ready to receive the lighting cables and control equipment (by contractors next week), CCT E94464 was next for modifications. A corresponding hatch was cut into one corner to match that on M4843, to take the incoming control cables.

Two "ports" were then let into the floor which were subsequently connected to two flexible exhaust pipes bolted to the underframe.

The above modifications will allow us to end the practice of temporarily rigging up exhausts onto the generators each year we run Norfolk Lights Express trains. The previous years have used special rules exemptions with the CCT's end loading doors secured in a half open position, to allow the control cables and exhaust pipes to pass through and wrap round either to the adjacent coach (also through a door secured slightly ajar) or down to the chassis. Whilst the previous method did the job and was agreed as safe, it was also time consuming to set up and messy from a rules and regulations point of view. So the semi-permanent modifications this year will turn the installation of the generators, wiring and exhausts from a one day job to closer to one hour, also ending the practice of running with doors not fully shut, so better all round.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

Cleaning and painting of the underframe continues steadily. The first of the damaged wooden planks on the body has also been cut back ready to receive a repair block. These wood work splices are very much in the tradition of BR wagons, which would often be patched here and there during overhauls!

Maintenance

A steam test was undertaken on the Norfolk Lights Express set to ascertain what repairs are needed this year. Most coaches performed well, but newly refurbished BCK E21103 had a severe leak in the pipework under the centre of the vehicle. This has been removed, repaired and refitted curing the leak.

A Bogie Bolster wagon which hasn't moved for something in the region of six or seven years was given a look over, as the boiler which is stored on top of it was required elsewhere in the yard for an inspection. The axleboxes were checked and the wagon moved with no problems!

Three of the removed vacuum cylinders are still being prepared to act as on-the shelf spares for next season. They haven't been overhauled yet but the exteriors have been chipped back ready for a much needed repaint.

Workshop

The lifting stands mentioned last week have progressed with two coats of yellow gloss applied. They look excellent and have now been returned outside.

A set of wheel chocks have also been painted from primer into a first coat of yellow. These will receive a second coat next week all being well.