Carriage & Wagon News - March 2010
LBSCR 9-compartment Third 2416
2416 has been a long term visitor to the workshops during which time extensive work was carried out both internally and externally.
Internally, John James has reupholstered all the seats and where necessary the cushion springing was replaced. John also refitted the long absent blind boxes to all the compartments. Andrew Asher applied his scumbling skills to those compartments where the finish had suffered the ravages of time, he also assessed the condition of the varnish in all compartments and took appropriate remedial action. As a final touch in the interiors the lino in 3 compartments has been replaced making the compartment interiors as splendid as the exterior.
Colin Withers and Ivor Debney removed all the drop-lights to allow them to be then taken back to bare wood. Some of the drop-lights required repairs due to wear or damage and the felts on some also required replacement, this work was carried out by Peter Clowes. The final task for all the drop-lights was to revarnish them ready for them to be returned to their appropriate doors. Externally 2416 had most of the old paint removed, this allowed the state of the mouldings to be assessed and approximately a third were found to be in need of replacement. Dave Smart made and fitted several new galvanised panels. Peter Clowes made and fitted a couple of new ply panels, Peter also did a large repair to the bottom stringer on the north side Wootton end of the coach. Once John James had the new mouldings in place both Gary Walker and Stuart Butt set about the long task of totally repainting and re-varnishing the outside of the coach.
As part of the usual 'A' exams major maintenance was undertaken on the draw gear and axle boxes by Dave and Stuart.
LBSCR 8-compartment Third 2403
Although a significant amount of work has been done on 2403 since the November 2009 report there is still a long way to go before 2403 is seen in traffic. Most of the mouldings on the north side have been removed and either re-profiled or remade, many have now also refitted. Those which will hold the windows are currently only loose fitted, but shortly it is expected the windows will be refitted. These mouldings will be firmly fixed at that time.
In the previous update we highlighted the amount of rot in the main member running the full length of the north side. The coach has been jacked up clear of the supporting underframe to allow a section of the rotted member to be carefully removed. Great care was needed here as although badly rotted the member must serve as a pattern for making the replacement. After contacting several potential suppliers suitable replacement timber was obtained from a mainland source and it arrived on site on 4th March 2010. No sooner had the timber arrived than it was carried into the workshops where it was cut and planed down to the required dimensions. Due to the need to have both old and new members adjacent to the coach side, the public will have a birds eye view of progress on cutting all the new joints as this operation will be happening right by the public walk through.
As well as the main structure of the coach receiving extensive attention the doors, which were removed early on during the restoration, are also being dismantled, repaired and rebuilt where necessary.
As reported in the last update, even before the coach was brought into the C&W workshop Pete Jardine spent many a happy hour (??) preparing the donor underframe to which 2403 will be mated. It is expected that shortly that underframe will be shot blasted and painted ready to receive the coach body as soon as the new main member has been made and fitted. It will be whilst the new member is made that the body will be extended to accommodate the disabled compartment mentioned in the previous report.
LCDR 4-wheel Saloon Composite 6369
This is the most recent coach to take up residence in the C&W workshop. Currently the intended work program is for minor cosmetic attention on the south side. However the north side will have a full repaint and all the lettering will, once painting is complete, be applied in the correct gold leaf which should make the lettering stand out nicely. At this point the full coach will be re-varnished. Internally the only work expected to be done is in the first class compartment where the seats will be recovered with new moquette by John James, Peter Clowes and Vivienne Keys.
LBSC 5 plank Wagon 27834
Work has recommenced on the rebuild of this wagon, all iron work has been removed and the whole structure is being assessed by its dedicated team of Graham Redfern, Colin Brock and John Garside to establish the amount of rebuilding and replacement required. John James is also involved in the work and will shortly make a start on rebuilding the underframe.
5-compartment Brake Third 4168
The only thing that has been done to 4168 since November 2009 was to fully bage it up to protect it from the winter elements. However work is due to start again in late spring and it is hoped that 4168 could re-enter traffic towards the end of the 2010 running season.
Coming up next
One of the problems holding up progress on 4168 was identifying a suitable source of replacement wheels (those currently fitted to its bogies require re-tyring) and buffers. This problem has now been resolved and at the same time we've also resolved another hardware problem. Shortly to arrive in Havenstreet is an LNWR underframe from Scotland. The wheels from this underframe will be transferred to the bogies of 4168, those being removed will, in due course, be sent to be re-tyred and hence become a spare set available for use in other bogies.
The buffers currently in 2403's donor underframe will be moved to 4168's underframe and the buffers from the Scottish LNWR underframe will be used in 2403's underframe.
The next coach expected to enter the C&W workshop is SECR Saloon 6375. At this point in time the expected work to be carried out will be a full exterior repaint, new ceiling fitted in 3rd class and the Wootton end bogie wheels will be sent for tyre turning and non-destructive axle testing.
SECR Lampshades
Dave Hill ran a project that saw the making of appropriate moulds which could be used to produce replacement South Eastern and Chatham Railway style lampshades suitable for fitting to 4145 and 6375.
Workshop
The shot blaster is frequently used by C&W staff but was housed in the Mechanical Engineering Workshop, therefore it has been moved to a more convenient location in the C&W workshop. To further extend the engineering capabilities in C&W Workshop a plasma cutter has been ordered and should arrive on site shortly.
Anyone who has visited C&W recently would have noticed the place looking clean, tidy and in places sporting new paint. This is due to John Garside who is keeping whole place spick and span, he has also repainted the floor in public walk through and the staff washing area.
‘A’ exams
Mention has been made of the the ‘A’ exams being carried out on various coaches. Every winter all coaches used in traffic must under go such examinations. This task consumes a large part of the department’s winter working effort each year. Each bogie coach examination takes 2 people approximately 1 week to complete, each four wheeler it takes them approximately a day.
Griffin and Barn Fields
Much thanks to the permanent way team who have laid approx 230 feet of track in Griffin Field which can now be used as a storage area and hence help clear space in the Havenstreet sidings. Thanks also to the Friday permanent way gang who have cleared undergrowth from the vans and wagons stored in the Barn Field.
Interloper in C&W!
The 03 diesel has been causing problems for some time now. It is therefore camping out in C&W whilst John Hucknall, Les Morgan and Mike Brittan work on resolving it’s various problems. Currently known issues include:
- replace broken piston
- fit new liner
- fit reconditioned fuel pump and injectors
- reseat inlet and exhaust valves
- oil and filter change
- fit pre-heater for the coolant system.
- tidy up body work and repaint.
New volunteers
We would like to welcome Tony Woodfield, Graham Redfern and Vivienne Keys who have joined the C&W team since our November report. New volunteers are always welcome, the more we have the more restoration and maintenance that can be done to the IWSR rolling stock. If you are interested in joining the team then please contact the railway’s Volunteer Coordinator Clive Miller on 01983 882204 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
