Volunteer's Forum

This week saw the annual NNR Volunteer and Staff Forum held in Sheringham. For the first time it included a section dedicated to Carriages and I was invited to present a few minutes of what we as a department had achieved during 2022 and our hopes and dreams for 2023 and beyond! I was humbled to receive a great reception from both the railway's higher management and also the volunteers who attended who, unanimously, gave positive feedback for the department and the update. It was a very successful and enjoyable event with lots of food for thought.

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

A further week of progress on existing projects which included more paint being applied to the ceiling panels.

The wheelchair width door also got more varnish.

Finally, a new development, an extractor fan is in the process of being installed in the toilet. This will cleverly trigger using the slide door lock and will run automatically whilst the toilet is occupied and also for a predetermined time after the compartment is vacated. Quite early days yet but an air duct has already been routed through the ceiling and the electrics associated with the door lock trigger are being installed and have been tested using a bulb temporarily as we don;'t have the fan itself yet!

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

More bodyside stripping has continued with the seaward side of the luggage area now almost completed. Also in progress are the door overhauls of the final two doors, #7 & #8. The former is receiving framework repairs to the wood and the latter is still being stripped down to its component parts, though several of these have been cleaned ready for reassembly already.

The corridor end tread plates mentioned last time have progressed to the point where primer has been applied, they look so much better than when we started on them.

A new project has commenced in the form of restoration of the battery boxes. This has started with the doors from the landward side, which have been dismantled and a start made on stripping off all the old thick bitumen paint. Also new has been a strip down and sand of two side bearers which belong behind the flexible bellows of the corridor connection. One of these will need further repair but with all the old paint now off we can properly see what we're working with.

British Railways 1962 First Open M3116 (SILVER)

With new rivets in stock the window refitting has continued apace along the landward side, and indeed was completed this week.

The more advanced seawards side saw undercoat applied giving the coach its two-tone appearance back.

This was followed by gloss paint on the red sections top and bottom.

The ends are also progressing with the Holt end now reassembled following some woodwork repairs around the gangway.

Moving onto the interior, replacement first class signage has been applied to the seaward side replacing old examples had become tatty.

The Sheringham end vestibule has also been re-varnished which has lifted its appearance considerably. The Holt end vestibule has been rubbed down ready for the same treatment.

British Railways 1958 Class 101 Railcar Driving Motor Brake Second M51188

The vehicle is currently inaccessible due to track contractors working in the yard.