01/01/23 – End of year review and the last week of 2022.

Well it’s 2023, what happened to 2022 and what did we accomplish?

The building of a shed for our Road vehicles.

Tornado hauled the van train, with the train receiving an HRA Morgan award for preservation

B763305 received 2 new doors and a west side repaint.

B780282 received a new chalkboard, two new side sheets and a west side repaint

B779978 a new side sheet and a west side repaint

B850498 a new side sheet and a west side repaint

B854782 a new side sheet and a partial west side repaint

B786348 a new side sheet, a west side repaint, roof repairs and a new roof sheet

B777171 two new side sheets and a west side repaint

B784409 three new side sheets and a west side repaint

B852838 a west side repaint

B783082 a west side repaint

B777728 a west side repaint

B854097 and its Caledonian chassis were repainted

B765272 had 2 new doors fitted a full repaint, roof repairs and a new roof sheet

B781908 was transferred to us becoming rail vehicle 100

Vehicle 101 arrived number 5209 and received brake overhaul and a repaint as well as 2 replica Esso plates, more on that below

3711 also had a brake overhaul including a new train pipe and a paint, again more on that below.

We repainted a 16T Mineral from the Windcutter group into a NCB livery for pairing up with the Class 10 at Rothley

Bogie Bolster D B928135 received overhauls to brakes, bearings and bolsters as well as a complete repaint

B954546 received a new stove and stove pipe as well as completion of the internal repaint.

While sister B954268, after 4 years of waiting, went to Rothley to have its damaged wheel sets removed for modification to receive new tyres and currently sits on accommodation wheelsets.

Also all Oleo buffers on the van train have been removed and overhauled, although we are awaiting the return of 784409s

The VW LT35 was redecked

The L70 had a temporary exhaust repair

Jerry arrived and was repainted

Zsa Zsa arrived and was repainted

Hector arrived in a non-operational state, was repaired, and repainted

As well as Lilibet who received a new wiring loom and a repaint

Tom arrived

As did Kiki

A horse dray,

and a Scammell trailer from Killamarsh Central station.

Danny went yellow and had a replacement clutch

One of our small trailers became a high side fitted with the tug chargers

Mine and Jacks 25ft trailer became 15ft

Our second Railways at Work

and our first open weekend, where we got together with friends from a number of other railway wagon groups.

We assisted the Great Western Society with a piece about Colico Containers, C&W with a Brake Open, and the Nene Valley Railway with their new Scammell box trailer.

A flag pole was raised, and we talked to the Leicester Area group of The Friends of the Great Central Mainline.

However, we received serious damage from high winds, lost 2 tins of green paint a scraper and a mug.

That’s 20 rail vehicles, 7 road vehicles 2 trailers and 5 arrivals awaiting work, what a year.

Not finished yet however, lets talk about last week.

Tuesday and final touches to 5209, Nick and Ross carrying out a roller bearing exam.

Once reassembled the covers were painted Yellow then some areas tided up with Black.

Painting of the Esso plates for me, using enamel paint to the correct 1960s Esso Pantones.

Wednesday and with 5209 complete it was replaced in the shed by 3711.

Dave and I sanding the barrel. Whilst Nick, Tom, Dan and Oliver, tidied up the main frames.

After manufacturing brackets, Ross and I positioned the Esso plates and tack welded them, using the plate it’s self as a guide. Top brackets first, then with the aid of wood and ratchet straps the lower brackets were brought into position.

Plates then removed for the final welding, followed by prime both to the new brackets and the back of the plates, the plates then receiving a Gloss.

Next task the removal of the west side rotten tank support side plates. After dressing, replacements were manufactured.

Thursday, and the manufactured plates were welded on by Ross, farmer welding as he puts it.

I popped into Quorn to remove the angle iron floor from the soon to be no longer long trailer.

Then once I arrived at Rothley it was on to undercoating the tank and prime and undercoat the front of the Esso plates.

Airfix kit anyone?

Friday and a split group.

Nick, Mark, Thomas,Tom, Dan, Oliver and Charlie, scraping and preparing the inner frames and the wheel splashers of 3711, the splashers receiving primer once done.

Ross and I at Quorn, removing the coupler from the long trailer. Once removed, a template of the bolt holes was manufactured and new holes drilled using the head rail as position reference.

We then made our way to Rothley, Ross spraying the prepared areas and I glossing the Esso plates.

New Year’s eve and a split group again. Nick, Ross and Thomas at Rothley applying the gloss coat to 3711.

Quorn for me, raising the Scammell coupler to its new position.
Slowly and carefully winched in to position and the bolts fitted.

With the coupler fitted the centre floor supports were fitted as well as angle irons to support the headboard. Ross came back from Rothley and made the “no turning back” cut.

A little tidying required but we now have a 15ft trailer and just over 9ft of spare frame to go into the Killamarsh Trailer

With the light failing, that sees the end of 2022, Nick and Thomas went in on New Year’s Day to apply white to the lamp irons, handbrakes, and Yellow to the axle boxes. We will as always let you know what’s been happening Next Year.

Happy New Year from us all at Quorn Wagon & Wagon.