The previous update covered our farewell to Corridor Composite 15997, pleasingly this time we can welcome back a coach into service following a spell away, which hopefully is more representative of our style!
Midland Railway (later M&GN) 1886 6 Wheel Picnic Saloon 3 (BRONZE)
The vintage train now has both of its genuine Midland & Great Northern coaches back in action following the final completion of the Picnic Saloon. With lining and finishing touches under our belts, No3 has been swapped back into the train in time for the resumption of steam services and summer holiday Victorian Sundays. It becomes the second of the planned vintage set refreshes to be delivered, following Pigeon Van 6843 earlier this year. 6843 is now required fully on the vintage train as No3's place in the Holt tent is being taken by GER 853 (see below), making 6843 the only available 4 wheel brake vehicle for the set.
Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853 (BRONZE)
Despite being the last of the five vintage train coaches to be completed, as late as 2019, one side of 853 has been showing minor signs of distress, so it has been selected for early rectification. The first challenge however was getting it inside the tent at Holt, with initial efforts having to be abandoned as it would seem the Great Eastern's use of the loading gauge by 1899 was more ambitious than the Midland Railway's interpretation 15 years earlier! After a brief visit by the scaffolders, sufficient boards and poles had been adjusted to receive the new 4-wheeler. Work will be commencing on the rectification works soon, and (famous last words) all being well the scope will be smaller and therefore quicker than that of the Picnic Saloon.
London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866 (GOLD)
Interior work continues, with the beading a trimming work continuing into the bar and toilet areas at the Holt end of the coach.
Also in the toilet, period cisterns and associated pipework salvaged from ex-Brighton Belle Pullman stock is in the process of being fitted. Some plastic pipework is also being incorporated, but will be disguised with a chrome style cover to give a more heritage feel.
London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)
No progress to report.
London North Eastern Railway 1945 Gangwayed Brake E70621E (SILVER)
Exterior progress continues with the new side cladding being fitted to the body all along the seaward side. This is being done carefully to minimise obvious gaps between the panels which will need to appear as seamless as possible when we go for the illusion of horizontal planking.
The two inward opening guards doors are advancing steadily, with replacement cladding being fitted in place of the rotten plywood examples and the droplight windows being attended to. The landward side window has been fully removed and a replacement sheet of glass has now arrived to replace the smashed original.
As the exterior cladding is being progressed by a dedicated team, others have been available to progress the interior. All of the old remnants of the museum usage have now been fully stripped out, including the track display at the Sheringham end, additional side wall display boards, all of the old wiring, and finally all of the lighting rigs. The latter was a particularly eccentric mix of different lighting types and styles, presumably to light up displays differently as required (e.g. spot lighting or ambient).
On the "work top down" basis, the ceiling has now been stablised, rubbed down and primed where required, and now awaits repainting. The centre guards compartment has also had its outer walls rubbed down. A single ceiling baton (salvaged from the many that have been removed!) has been treated, primed and refitted in a simple, central position, ready to receive replacement lighting in due course.
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
This vehicle has been turbocharged over the past month, with serious resources being directed back towards it, with a resulting spike in visual progress. Almost all of this is in the steel and bodywork department, which is essential to the future wellbeing of the coach despite sometimes appearing mundane in nature. Firstly, the landward side of the main passenger saloon is now being tackled in an identical fashion to the seaward side achieved last year. As always, stripping out and framework repairs are being done before skinning. A lot of floor support repairs have been required around the lower end, but following an intensive few weeks, all of the framework for this section is now completed and all skin removed ready for the replacements to go in.
In parallel with the landward side, the former luggage compartment (now kitchen end) is also being worked on with exactly the same aim. Being of a smaller length than the saloon, the decision has been made to do the whole compartment at once (i.e. both sides) meaning once the area is complete, we will only have the ends remaining. On inspection of the floor supports, it was discovered that severe and previously undetected corrosion has gripped this end of the vehicle, so the (arguably quite drastic) decision was made to strip out the whole concrete floor and steel corrugation below and go again. This proved to be the right call as the scale of hidden corrosion was immense, proving that the floor would not be fit for a long service life of any kind, not least one where very heavy kitchen equipment is being brought into the mix! Following a very dirty few days, the old floor was broken up, extracted and the rotten steel removed. This allowed the exposed chassis framework to be treated and repainted before a brand new set of "top hat" floor supports were welded to the chassis, sound and ready to receive a new floor. The concrete will not be replicated, as a traditional lino floor with suitable kitchen-quality covering is what is planned for this area.
The remainder of the sides in this compartment have followed a similar pattern to the saloon side, with framework repairs being made where required, with a focus on beneath windows and towards the bottom of the vehicle where water has sat in the past.
One thing that is different to this area in comparison to the rest of the coach is the seaward side having most of the door/window apertures welded up to suit the new kitchen role. This has required additional framework to act as bracing when the new skin over the old doors and windows is welded in, to hopefully eliminate future water leaks. One of the worst features of our current kitchen car is the insane number of doors and windows that are out of use, and in some cases paneled over on the inside preventing maintenance access. This creates water entry points that can't easily be repaired or eliminated, and has contributed greatly to the decline in body condition of this vehicle.
Finally, work on the Holt end bulkhead continues with trail fitting of the sliding door and jambs, something requiring great precision to ensure it is in the right place once all of the carpets, wall panels etc. has been fitted in the future.
British Railways 1958 Covered Carriage Truck M94125 (SILVER)
The main body repairs to this vehicle have now been finished, with the final two doors repaired and all eight rehung onto the vehicle successfully, after some adjustments. Further sanding and filling work was then completed on the vehicle before being handed over for painting.
The painting of the vehicle is now over half way there, with a primer, and undercoat and a first gloss all being applied around the vehicle. It is currently rubbed down ready to have a second Crimson gloss.
The roof has also been painted black, two coats, which finishes this area.
The Sheringham end doors have also been completed and repainted gloss black, ready for use when the new generator arrives.
The interior of the vehicle has received two partitions to split the vehicle into three compartments: a store at the Holt end, a central area that is to be used for Commercial Department storage, and the generator compartment at the Sheringham end. These partitions were recycled with removed components recently salvaged from the surplus museum coach (70621), so cost nothing.
British Railways 1959 Metro Cammell Railcar Driving Motor Composite Lavatory E51505 (BRONZE)
A few days have been spent removing the damaged ceiling panel that sits under one of the worst of the roof leaks. This panel will be replaced once the roof has been resealed.
The other focus has been cleaning with the alloy window surrounds being treated of their stains, water marks and moss growth! They already look much better for it.
Maintenance
CCT 94464, currently on the dining train in use as a generator car, was extracted from the train this week in order to swap the hired generator for the bought one that will in time be located in 94125 in the workshop. Unfortunately after splitting 94464, moving it to Weybourne and removing the hired generator, it was discovered the bought generator had a differing plug system so the hired set had to quickly be plumbed back in! Such are the trials of running a railway... The required modifications are now in hand to allow a second attempt in the near future.
Workshop
The area of cleared yard land has now had a track panel built and positioned ready to receive our spare bogies. Many thanks are due to the Pway department for quickly doing the track panel for us.
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