Hello and welcome to this weeks update covering work at Rothley and also back at Quorn.
The last few days of 2025 saw the final stages of painting, lettering and varnishing of Vanfit B777728 at Rothley.
The east side solebar was black glossed by Nick and Charlie, whilst Ernie cleaned up and painted the vacuum pipe swan-necks & handbrake lever ends.
I prepared the signwriting templates and chalked up the east bodyside ready for applying the running number and wagon details.
The re-assembled vacuum cylinder was re-fitted to Palshoc Van B855568; and one of the springs was removed to be used as a pattern for making some replacement ones. In order for the van to remain movable a temporary spring was fitted in its place.
The spare axleboxes that were removed from the old wheelsets of the Palshoc chassis were cleaned and the nuts/bolts removed before the parts were put into store. Some of the nuts needed a little heat persuasion to release.
Whilst Nick varnished the west bodyside; I applied the running number and bodyside lettering to the east side of B777728; along with what will be the last use of the 2025 paint symbol.
The west side solebar Builders Plate was then chalked up and painted on, along with the vacuum release star.
Into 2026 and some of the team returned to Quorn whilst Mark, Ross and myself put the finishing touches to B777728 at Rothley.
The east bodyside and van ends were varnished.
The east side solebar Builders Plate and vacuum release star were applied.
The rest of the team at Quorn removed one of the defective leaf springs from tank 3621 which was taken to Rothley, This will be sent away with the Palshoc springs as a pattern for replacements to be made.
Tom got stuck in to picking out the Esso Owners Plates lettering and completed all 8 of the plates that will be fitted in due course to 3606, 3621, 3854 and 3689.
The plates picked out by Tom for 3621 were fitted by Nick on Sunday. Unfortunately due to the cold weather not a lot else could be done outside.
Ross made a start fitting a diesel heater to the mess coach, cutting out a floor aperture for the burner air inlet and exhaust and bolting the mounting plate and heater to the floor.
That winds up our work this week, we’ll keep looking at the forecast hoping for warmer weather next weekend so that we can progress with our projects. Thanks for reading!
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