13th Carriage Restorers’ Convention

October 2012 saw the return of the Bluebell Railway Carriage & Wagon department as host to the 13th Carriage Restorers’ Convention. This has become an annual event where rolling stock groups and owners from Heritage Railways across the country congregate to share skills and ideas, and to partake in the ever important networking and catching up with one another.

Delegates arrive at the Bluebell’s impressive Carriage Workshop at Horsted Keynes

Demonstrations this year included resin casting of reproduction carriage and wagon plates, construction of replacement droplight frames, and testing the dynamos that generate electricity for power such as carriage lighting.

Detail of mortice and tenon used in droplight window frame construction
Adhesive, sealant and battery powered sealant gun used in droplight window frame construction
Dynamo test rig
Dynamo test rig and regulator

Opportunities were also taken to tour the carriage & wagon restoration and storage facilities, and the Bluebell line.

A view of the new 3-road (A, B & C) carriage shed at Sheffield Park
SECR 16358 receives a welcome coat of paint (Bluebell page)
A train about to depart from Horsted Keynes
Southern Railway Maunsell Carriage 6686 about to depart from Horsted Keynes (Bluebell link)
And finally, to bring a bit of an LMS theme, London & North Western Railway Observation Car 1503 inside the carriage shed at Sheffield Park (Bluebell link)

 

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