Graffiti Attacked

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

A good week of progress with the main achievement being the successful fitting of the first window frame unit.

The two passenger doors have also moved forward with the locks now successfully fitted permanently.

The internal woodwork for the same doors is in dismantled form with staining and varnishing in progress. The slatted lower door card is being treated in component form.

London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)

No progress to report.

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

No progress to report.

British Railways 1958 Brake Corridor Second M35148 (SILVER)

The week was dominated by trying to get the coach ready in time for the start of the season's operations on Good Friday. Regrettably we fell just short with a few more days of work still required to finish everything off, so we had to move the target to the following weekend which is the 60th Anniversary of Closure event on Saturday 6rth April.

The C examination work was completed on the vehicle so that when we are finished it can enter service immediately. All final touches to the paintwork on the exterior was completed allowing the coach to be returned to the staging area where the last coat of varnish was quickly applied.

On the interior, the area has now been leaned out of all mess left over from the restoration work. Some further items of emergency equipment in the guards van were bracketed up and given proper marked homes.

The sliding lights have been lubricated and made to work smoothly. Not really practical to list has been around 100 little items that were loose, unfished or needed adjusting, all around the coach to try and reach that fully completed state!

With the varnish now applied we only have a few more jobs such as refitting the handles to the outside and painting the floors inside before this vehicle is returned to traffic after just over a year out of service.

British Railways 1957 Class 101 Railcar Driving Trailer Composite Lavatory E56062 (SILVER)

Work to adjust the fit of the cab doors and the replacement of the internal window rubbers (on the bench) both continue to progress.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

No progress to report.

British Railways (GWR Design) 1958 "Fruit D" W92097W (SILVER)

No progress to report.

Maintenance

Exams have now been undertaken or completed on the A set, Vintage set and Quad set to allow for the Easter running. With the season upon us now there is little time left for exams, and the remainder of the dining train and B set are set to be completed next week, which should set us up sensibly for the Spring and early summer. It was nice this morning to see the railway reawaken with three sets in traffic including the oldest ones!

Not expected was a Graffiti attack at Holt earlier in the week, on stored Mark 1 15997, which had much of one side covered along with some nearby signalling equipment cabinets. No pictures of the "before", as out of principle we will not be giving those responsible any audience for their efforts. We will however show the picture of the vehicle after the graffiti was removed, and are proud to state that the display was destroyed before a single public passenger train passed the vehicle - so their "art" in the end had an audience of zero. Returning coaches like 35148 for service on time for the season's start would be made easier if sad instances like this weren't required to be dealt with...