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7828 Progess July 2013

Work continues on 7828. Despite the carriage shed becoming a sauna, the beading junctions have been fitted, sealed down, pins punched, filled and sanded. Half of the roof guttering has now been fitted, and the recently fitted roof ventilators have been glossed, along with the centre portion of the roof. Completion of the gutter allows final sealing and painting of the roof to take place, so the second half is a priority.

The strips of beading to connect the junctions are next on the machining list.

7828 was never modified to allow it’s gangways to be connected to a BR Mk.1/Pullman/LNER gangway. This is fine if we want to run it with just LMS/GWR carriages, but as at least initially 7828 must be compatible with Peak Rail’s Mk.1 stock, a gangway must have additional clamps and platework added. Rather than cut and weld the original part, the south end gangway has been selected to be fitted with a replacement gangway end portal. The donor gangway was sourced from LMS TO No.8422, the carriage which was a WWII ambulance, repatriated from Germany after the war, and one time resident at the Longmoor Military Railway. It has lost it’s original gangways, gaining some off something else instead. When it is restored at Rowsley, they will need to be dismantled and rebuilt anyway, so for the time being it has been possible for 7828 to ‘borrow’ a gangway portal – which happens to have full adaptor gear. This has been removed from 8422, stripped back of all fittings, cleaned down and painted. Some surplus outrigger brackets have been removed, and the portal is now ready to have swivels reattached, prior to fitting to 7828 with new bellows.

Work continues apace on the patterns for the light fittings, and the first step in the production of the replacement interior passenger communication cord fittings has been undertaken, with an order for the 3 patterns placed.

Samples of moquette have been received, and discussions continue on the production of the replica ‘fawn rep’ which the carriage will be trimmed with when completed.

Gutter takes shape at the north end of 7828
Gutter takes shape at the north end of 7828

Beading around window bay

Bob Matkin sanding beading; all pins are to be punched in, filled and then sanded smooth
Bob Matkin sanding beading; all pins are to be punched in, filled and then sanded smooth
Derek Riley removing modifications to the replacement gangway portal
Derek Riley removing modifications to the replacement gangway portal

7828 Gets Heavier

Beading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every time we fit something back on LMS Third Open 7828 at Rowsley she looks better, she gets a bit heavier, and there is less ‘stuff’ to trip over. The roof ‘furniture’ is a case in point with the torpedo ventilators being very heavy, and they have now been joined by the tank vents (an inverted ‘J’) and the tank fillers, which means final painting of the roof isn’t far off. A bit lower down the Stone’s ventilators have been fitted, you can see how they work in the photograph – passengers can vary the angle of the ‘vanes’ to extract air or blast it in depending on how they feel. You can also see another important process beginning, the beading. This has a real purpose in covering up the joins between the various panels on the bodyside, but is also a very attractive visual aspect of older coaches. The beading is painted up to undercoat on the back, pre-drilled for the many panel pins needed to attach it, and finally mastic sealant is applied to ensure it is weatherproof.

You might just spot the clock showing 11.15 in the background – it always shows this time and will do until we get up there and change the battery – at least it’s right twice a day…

Dave Winter

Restoration of 27162 (2)

Progress on 27162 is continuing at a good pace.  Dismantling of damaged portion of the framework and roof is now complete and a start has been made on the replacement of the bottom rail. The new end framework is being manufactured off-site.  Some of the new floor boards can be seen in the picture which will be laid when the bottom rail is complete.

Meanwhile a start has been made on cleaning of the slider window frames and preparing for fitting of the windows.

 

27162 on 18th May 2013

Restoration of 27162

Work has now started on the restoration of LMS Third Open 27162 following the fire of October 2011
The work is being carried out by Lee Sharpe who is making steady progress in removing the damaged framework.  The work is being carried out in the WyvernRail maintenance shed at Wirksworth.

The picture below shows the extent of present progress.

Dismantling progress - 04-05-2013
Dismantling progress – 04-05-2013

 

 

Ceiling

It has been a long job, but the entire ceiling has been painted in brush filler, laboriously rubbed down (thanks for your help Dave), and then the lighting patresses and beading fitted. As I write this, there are 6 pieces of beading left to screw in, the other 43 having been (in some cases quite literally) bent into shape and secured in place.

The vestibules and toilets were particularly tricky, as the angle of the partitions and curve of the roof required 3 different flavours of curved hockey sticks.

As we’re almost there with the beading, Dave and Bob have started throwing more filler about. Once that’s done (I haven’t tried to count all the holes, I thought it would be depressing), we can start to think about showing it a paint brush.

Trevor continues to apply further layers of undercoat to his gangway end door, and James has cleaned up the last roof vent and carefully wire brushed and sprayed the first components of the passenger communication gear.
Mike’s heater installation continues with the preparation of some 40′ of timber moulding to which the heater brackets are secured along the length of the saloons. This has been cut to length, drilled and primed.

The epic tasks of beading the side, and applying the roof vents are almost upon us, help always welcome.

Carriage Preservation Roundup: Q1 2013

A roundup of online restoration news from the world of carriage preservation.

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Bluebell Railway — Carriage & wagon works news — GWR 87782 open wagon.

Gwili Vintage Carriage Group — 26 Mar — Taff Vale No 28 Project.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway — Carriage & Wagon News January 2013 — LBSCR 8-Compartment Third 2403, LBSCR 3-compartment brake third 4115, LBSCR Car Truck 60579.

LMSCA — LMS 7828 Vestibule Third — Ceiling week 1, Ceiling week midweek report, Carriage restorers resort to magic mushrooms, Ceiling week end of week, Above and below.

LMSCA — An atmospheric shot at Rowsley carriage shed.

LNERCA — 1623 — Flooring, First seat, 22Feb, For comparison, Treadplate and Treadmaster, More seats fitted.

Mid Hants Railway — Bulleid 4211 — 15 Jan, 31 Jan.

RVP — News — TPO updates, TTO 23981, Carriage shed news & appeal

Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust — Restoration news — LMS 2300, LMS 2886, BR 4509, LNER 7960, LNER 43600.

Vintage Carriages Trust — News — Metropolitan Railway Nine Compartment Third No. 465.

West Somerset Railway — Autocoach 169 news.

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If I have missed any off please leave a comment below including any relevant links, or contact the webmaster. I will endeavour to include updates from these groups and railways in any future updates, which I intend do do on a quarterly basis during 2013.

Above and Below

Work continues on the LMS Period One Third Open 7828 at Rowsley. Michael Fearn has fitted the last of the aluminium shielding that goes behind the heater pipes, so with any luck it won’t be too long before the pipes can be refitted – another trip hazard out of the way. The photo shows Michael at work in the larger of the two saloons, in LMS carriage practice this would be the smoking saloon, while the smaller would be non-smoking – now of course no-smoking will be allowed at all!

Now that all the ceiling panels are fitted, have had a coat of brush filler, and been sanded down, attention has turned to the beading which covers the panel joins, plus the bases (correctly known as pattresses) for the saloon lights (correctly known as electroliers). Ben Riley has prepared the bases and beading, some of the latter having had the steam-bending treatment with the aid of Harvey Coppock. The wiring, by the way, has been professionally tested and is fit for purpose.

Dave Winter

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