We are now back and well into the swing of things following the Christmas and New Year break. Overall progress has slowed somewhat as we have been requested to help out the Locomotive Department with some of their winter maintenance tasks along with steam loco overhauls, both of which fall outside the scope of this blog. We even have part of our shed with a loco in (read on) so this winter will certainly be one of versatility.
Great Eastern Railway 1899 4 Wheel Brake Third 853 (BRONZE)
No progress to report.
Great Northern Railway (later M&GN) 1887 6 Wheel Third 129 (BRONZE)
This vehicle has now been completed and has exited the shed and returned to traffic, its refresh successfully concluded. This month saw the damaged landward side beading build up steadily with five coats of varnish followed by a sixth over the entire side to disguise the joins where we had been working on the water damage. This took a few weeks as low temperatures meant drying days were a necessary requirement.
We decided that despite our best efforts, the lining had been too damaged by the sanding process in December and that leaving it would not do the refreshed coach justice, so the whole landward side received new blue and gold lining on all the beading, which certainly boosted its appearance!
With the landward side finally repaired and varnished, the vehicle was keyed up once more and a final coat of varnish was applied around the entire vehicle. This coat was the seventh on the landward side damaged areas, and the second coat on the seaward side and two ends. We normally only put one extra coat on during these “refresh” visits (such as when the Quad-Arts come in), but as 129 has been somewhat neglected in our revarnishing programme, it was felt a double coat would build the depth we wanted. The coach now looks fantastic once again and can retake its rightful place in the vintage train as the high capacity and popular “teak temptation”!
Going forwards, the plan is to revarnish 129 (and Pigeon Van 6843) every two years rather than every 5-6 years, as the pattern of usage of the Vintage Train has changed significantly compared to the early 2010’s when the set was first formed and only used a couple of weekends a year. It is felt the new frequency will be more responsible given the extra use the vehicles now see and will prevent the same degradation to the teak that admittedly caught us out on this occasion.
London North Eastern Railway 1950 Brake Corridor Third E1866E (GOLD)
The tables continue to be worked on, with staining of the modified “school bench” frames to make them better match the table tops.
The tops have now returned from Theaker Joinery (well known suppliers of heritage coach timber) and look resplendent following stripping, treating and varnishing.
Finally, the reason more hasn’t been completed in the month is due to a massive tidy-up operation being undertaken inside the coach and in the areas around it. Whilst difficult to photograph, this process is essential from time-to-time to ensure things don’t get lost and some form of suitable working environment is maintained! Unglamorous yes, but the tidy up had highlighted to regular visitors that the interior of this vehicle is not a million miles away from completion…
London North Eastern Railway 1938 Brake Third Open E16631E (GOLD)
No progress to report.
London North Eastern Railway 1945 Gangwayed Brake E70621E (SILVER)
This coach is currently having a “winter getaway” outside in the yard with restoration work paused whilst we work on other projects over the shut down period. The (temporarily) white exterior cladding proved to be useful arctic camouflage when the snow came down some weeks ago!
British Railways 1961 Brake First Open (Kitchen) M14021 (GOLD)
More good progress has been made on the exterior with all the imitation doors, windows and furniture now secured permanently on the seaward side of the kitchen compartment. This is the last of the main exterior works so there will be a final sanding run over these areas before the whole Sheringham half of the vehicle can have permanent primer applied.
The main focus is now on door hanging and doorway jamb fitting. This is a huge process and includes all of the door lock fittings, dovetails etc. and takes a long time to get right. The Sheringham end vestibule has been the main target with the landward side door now completed and fitted with the seaward example currently in progress. Once this pair are completed we will only have two doors left to fit on the vehicle.
Internal work on the same vestibule has continued with the sliding door between the vestibule and the passenger saloon, rescued from a scrapped Mark 1 Tourist Second Open many years ago, receiving a lot of work to nurse it back to good health. The wheeled mechanism at the bottom required extracting and overhauling along with the sliders at the top. The door itself has been stripped back to bare wood for treating and a damaged wood surround around the sheet of glass has been remade along once edge. Much of this work has been fairly fiddly but is required for a top notch Gold standard product at the end, a standard we are determined this coach will make!
British Railways 1953 Tourist Second Open NN3868 (BRONZE)
This coach has progressed well and has been wholly in the charge of the volunteer teams so far. The stripping out of the Sheringham end passenger saloons is now complete following the removal of the seating which has left a bare saloon in which to work!
The first area of attack has been the alloy window frames, which whilst being in good enough condition to stay rivetted into the bodyside, have required working through making sure all of the window glass fixings are sounds with re-tapping of threads being done where required. This work is completely invisible but required to help prevent water ingress in the future when the glass goes back in.
The current main task is stripping off of all old varnish and paint from the window surround woodwork. This is a very labour intensive task, and also highlights many repairs that will be needed on this woodwork before it can be treated and varnished up again ready for refitting.
British Railways 1961 English Electric Type 3 D6732 (VARNISH)
Replacing 129 in the shed is the Class 37, somewhat younger and more powerful it has to be said! So far the loco has been given a thorough external wash and moved inside to dry out. The plan is to do a few minor repairs and then rub it down and revarnish it, as it is four years since it was repainted. We will also reupholster the cab seats. The Loco Department will additionally undertake repairs to the vacuum and cooling systems whilst it is in with us.
Maintenance
This year we have to undertake C Exams on TSO’s 4843 and 4958, Kitchen Car 81033 and CCT 94464. So far 81033 has been completed with the two TSO’s now in progress. Some additional work to 4843’s bogies is also required after wear was identified during the exam. 94464 is still to start, but it has been up at Weybourne to allow the generators that power the festive lights trains to be removed.
