Since the last post in September the new steel panelling for the sides and roof at the south end has been completed. This includes the fixing of the panels to the wooden framework using stainless steel screws sealed in with an adhesive The whole of the west side has been painted with primer and a first undercoat.
Internally the steel panelling has also been finished in primer and new wooden partition frames have been manufactured and installed.
Two external doors have been replaced having been refurbished and most of the sliding windows are now installed.
Much time and effort has been spent on refitting the guttering in order to be perfectly certain they do not leak and that there is no gap between the gutter and the body. This was a problem following the first restoration.
The carriage will remain in the shed until the gangway is fitted, the roof vents fitted and the outside is completely painted.
It has not been possible to obtain a full side view recently due to another vehicle alongside 27162.
Side panels fitted and the roof panels almost completeInternal view showing new wooden framework and steel panelling
New roof paneling and preparation for fitting guttersGuttering fitted showing stainless steel screws
East side in undercoat showing replacement doorWest side painted in undercoat
Beading filling completed during the week, then primed and undercoated. Some patches of brush filler applied to the panels and beading here and then, then the whole side sanded and undercoated in light grey. A few more areas attended to once this guide coat was in place, and then the side rubbed down again, ready for pink undercoat. Glazing removed from the fixed windows and bolections sorted out, guttering in place and filled and sealed to the roof. Lavatory vent has been repaired and is being filled ready for fitting.
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
Bob Matkin sanding beading; all pins are to be punched in, filled and then sanded smoothDerek Riley removing modifications to the replacement gangway portal
