Carriage & Wagon News – May 2010
LBSCR 8-Compartment Third 2403
A significant amount of progress has been made since the last update. Derek Gardener has completed cutting the scarf joints in the three sections which will form the new north side main member. The most significant progress is that the all joints and profiles have been cut in the first new section of the north side main member, enabling it to be fitted in late April. Also during April, Pete Jardine and Tony Woodfield set to work removing the remaining section of the north side main member, enabling work to start on marking out and cutting the joints in the second section of the new member. All window mouldings on the north side have been primed and loose fitted back in their original locations, new ones being used where necessary. During the first week of May work started on refitting windows to the north side, Wootton end of the coach. Tony Woodfield has primed and undercoated large sections of the south side of the coach; he has also cleaned, primed, undercoated and glossed the frame strengthening elbow brackets and scarf jointing plates. The donor underframe has been totally dismantled and will be shot blasted and primed in early May.
LCDR 4-Wheel Saloon Composite 6369
As reported last time, 6369 did indeed get its full repaint, lettering and lining on the north side, the south side just requiring a re-varnish. Inside, it was found that one of the bench seats required reupholstering. Once work on the body and had been completed the coach received it’s full annual ‘A’ examination.
LBSCR 4-Wheel 5-Compartment Third 2343
2343 entered the C&W workshop in late March. The north side was in good condition, all that was needed here was to rub down the varnish and apply a new coat. However, the south side had suffered the effects of the elements, from frost rather than the sun. All the lower panels were taken down to bare wood with upper frame work being well rubbed down. The body side was then primed, undercoated and glossed. Once the relining and numbering is complete coats of varnish will be applied. During the work on the south side most of the exterior ‘furniture’ was removed and either polished or repainted. Interior woodwork was repaired or renewed and varnished by Andrew Asher.
LBSCR 10-Ton Open 27834
Work has commenced on the rebuild this wagon, the timbers to complete the job having been ‘in stock’ for a few years. John James cut all the joints and drilled the bolt holes in the oak frame members. On Saturday May 1st, whilst many visitors were enjoying the pleasures of the railway’s Spring Real Ale Festival, John James and John Clarke were busying themselves assembling the new frame members. Work started in the morning and by 3pm the frame was complete. It is expected that as soon as D2059 and 2343 move out of the workshop 27834 will be reunited with its wheels. Graham Redfern and Andrew Tavener have spent some time in Griffins Field removing iron work from old wagons for reconditioning and reuse on 27834.
LBSCR Bogie 5-Compartment Brake Third 4168
4168 had it’s winter overcoat removed in Mid April and work has recommenced on the overhaul. The first activity has been to start work on fitting the new (well, they are new to 4168!) buffers. New C&W recruit Gary White has produced full engineering drawings for the new parts required to enable these buffers to be fitted.
New Arrivals
At the end of April vacuum fitted DOGFISH ballast wagon DB992730 departed Havenstreet to a new home on the mainland. In its place the railway has purchased two other DOGFISH wagons DB993103 and DB9928040 from Eurotunnel at Folkstone. Both wagons are air braked, their braking systems will be inspected prior to them entering service on the IWSR. These new additions to the Civil Engineering fleet will give the railway the capability to operate a fully fitted ballast train with an 84 ton load if necessary, the DOGFISH can carry 24 tons each and the two Ex-LT hoppers 20 tons each.
Coming Soon
Forthcoming work for the C&W team is programmed to be:
- LCDR 4-Wheel Composite 6378 for a short stay during which it will be varnished.
-
SECR Bogie Saloon 6375 is booked in for a full repaint and fitting of a new ceiling in the saloon compartment.
Interloper in C&W!
BR Class 03 D2059’s engine overhaul is complete, test runs indicating that the problems that have dogged this locomotive for a number of years have been finally resolved. Replacement and repair of corroded body panels continues and the repaint is almost complete. It is expected that D2059 will move out of the workshop sometime in May. The railway’s only air-fitted diesel locomotive able to operate passenger trains, D2059 will once again be able to fulfil it’s duty as emergency standby locomotive
New Volunteers
The C&W team continues to grow, growing by five since our last report - so its welcome to Graham Redfern, Andrew Tavener, Gary White, Bodene Grist and Steve Hastings. We are pleased to welcome back John Clarke after a period of illness. New team members 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 us 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 Clive will be pleased to arrange for you visit us and meet the team.
Further pictures of IWSR C&W Dept progress can be seen on C&W team member Derek Atkins’ website.