Gresley TTO Cleared

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

Work has been split between continuing with window framing work and a return to the vacuum system. The windows have seen the first wooden surround fitted round the newly completed brasswork, whilst the hunt for further vacuum leaks within the system has resumed in earnest.

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

No progress to report.

London North Eastern Railway 1931 Tourist Third Open E13548E (STORED)

This long term stored resident inside Bridge Road Carriage Sheds was drawn out of its slumber in order to be cleared out as part of an ongoing programme to better organise some of our stores. The future project Gresley coach was tripped to Holt station along with five other stored vehicles with the main aim of transferring spares out of 13548 and into other vehicles. The opportunity was also taken to move lots of seating from other vehicles into the consist all into one centralised space, so for the first time in decades we now have an inventory of all the stored carriage seating we have on the railway. This list will be essential in future planning and ensuring that we have seating in stock for future restorations, both Mark 1 and Gresley. 13548 has now returned indoors awaiting its turn for restoration.

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

Welding repairs continue with the landward side centre vestibule doorway now completed and the door test hung.

Adjacent floor support metalwork in the passenger saloon has also seen a repair undertaken, as whilst we are not tackling this area just yet, the continued presence of the corrosion in this first support would have adversely affected the floor laying we plan to do in the vestibule and guards side corridor.

At the other end of the coach, the former toilet wall has been demolished to again give access for floor steelwork repairs. The toilet at this end will be rebuilt (as a store cupboard) in due course with the wall returning, however the configuration of the toilet and shape will be changed from its original corridor style to an open coach layout, something we have never undertaken before!

British Railways 1959 Tourist Second Open M4843 (BRONZE)

The repairs to the failed filler have now been completed on the landward side which was the worst affected area. This has involved removing the old unstable material, getting a better key on the original metal surface and refilling as required. The treated areas have been patch primed and further remedial works will be undertaken on the seaward side before repainting is started.

Inside the vehicle, five worn out armrests have been replaced with second hand examples we had in stock, and the remainder rotated round to hide the worn end into the seat back and expose the hidden end at the front to take the next generation of arm wear!

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

The front end conversion to "Met Camm Lightweight" has now been completed with the addition of the replica waist height jumper cable sockets below the cab windows. This has changed the front end appearance noticeably. With the final works complete, this has allowed the cab front to be primed which means it is now all one colour again after many months of looking like a patchwork quilt.

Inside the cab, repainting of the walls is progressing well with the whole area now in maroon undercoat. The gloss work has now started. Smaller items such as the fire bell and lighting control faceplate area also seeing paint prior to being refitted.

British Railways 1954 13 Ton Pipe Open B740918

The brakegear has now been reassembled around the newly refitted vacuum cylinder, with the next planned job being refitting all the flexible vacuum hoses.

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

No progress to report.