Category: Updates

  • 12/07/20 – Con-pleted

    12/07/20 – Con-pleted

    The finishing line is once again insight as we enter the final few tasks to complete both BD4304B and B507489. For me, a full day of Signwriting as I mark out and apply the lettering to my container.

    Nick and Jake concentrated on preparing the securing chains and fitted the identification plate over the doors of 4304.  Jack was also on-site preparing posters for the station.

    Jake also sanded and applied bitumen to the subframe of 4304.

    This completes BD4304B with load, tare, capacity information, number, exam dates and branding applied

    On to Sunday and first job to paint the kick plates for 4304 quickly followed by the main event. With the Loading Shovel started up and under Ross’s direction we once again brought a Container and Conflat together.

    For no other reason than to equal the weather effects on the Conflats and to keep the Containers in the same oriantation they have been in since arrival, we gave them a spin on the turntable.20200712_101105 Jack again continued with his poster sorting and we removed the now inaccurate wagon label.

    We then set about the task of securing the container,  chains fitted and tightened down, although, as expected, we had to modify the chains by shortening a number of links as was done with 4303.  Whilst Nick and Ross carried out this task I began the signwriting.IMG-20200712-WA0001

    As a break in the singwriting and to ensure she is still OK, I woke Madge up and Ross undertook a few tasks. Recrimping some of the electrical connections, correcting the upside-down fitted wing mirrors,  and doing some exploratory work with the door handles.

    Once complete. We took the opportunity to test the Mirrors and it is 100% improved.  It is now possible to look through the mirrors down the side of a trailer without having to swing your head around the cab like a mad man.

    With the signwriting all done, that sees B507489 complete, and with its load, it joins B505313 with two consecutively numbered experimental Containers together.

    All that is left to do is look back about a year ago and view two proud owners and there fibreglass boxes.received_2507036179515307IMG_6137

  • 05/07/20 – Deja-con’s

    05/07/20 – Deja-con’s

    Lets begin with our next projects, arriving in the week Medfit B461074 and Mineral B550356 these, of course, will be subject to our usual attention in the next coming weeks.

    Jake and Nick did a little work on my Container, Jake applying the masking tape to the rubber components and Nick clearing the roof bars one final time before hopefully Sunday painting.

    My aim was to complete the work on the Conflat, this involved a touch of sanding and filling of the chain boxes and final rubbing down, assisted by Jake. Thankfully the weather sort of played ball and what rain did fall was brief and dried up rapidly.

    Eddie and Harry were also on-site and made a start on scraping down the mineral,  a fair amount of loose rust was removed from the wagon’s floor.

    Jake and Nick’s next task was to look at B458484, it had been reported that this had suffered with a locked axel when shunted at Swithland some time ago. We manhandled it up and down the siding with it rolling freely.  Each journal, oil pad, and axel was inspected, as well as the vacuum system tested and the hand brakes exercised.  The vehicle was left with the brakes applied and when we returned the next day vacuum remained in the cylinder,  this was released and again the vehicle man handled up and down the siding.

    With the Conflat work complete I applied a layer of red oxide, primarily to cover the areas of bare metal.

    Finally, for Saturday and the forecasted rain keeping away, Nick and I applied a layer of undercoat. Grey undercoat this time as we are running low on the red.  This places us ahead of our plan.

    On to Sunday and a Split gang.  Ross and I staying at Quorn and Jake and Nick, assisted by Jamie from C&W were up the line at Rothley.
    The task at Rothley centered around ADB977107, welding continues on this vehicle as we are keen for it to return to Quorn.  Jamie giving Jake some instruction into the art of welding. The South east corner and toilet filler as well as under the first-class toilet window being the focus for today as well as some of the missing brackets for the steps under the luggage and first class doors.

    Back at Quorn and finally a break in the weather.  A moment I have been waiting for for over a year painting of my fibreglass container.  The special Fibreglass/gelcoat primer first.  The is a very fast drying paint and was quickly followed up by the undercoat.

    With the undercoat requiring a little longer to dry Ross and I continued painting but the more traditional method and the usual Bauxite shade, as we continue the Conflats repaint.

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    With the main coat done we turned to the details. Vacuum swan necks, lamp brackets and brake handles

    Ross also had a further look at the Volvo20200705_154948This filled up the time allowing the undercoat on the Container to dry and the application of the Crimson topcoat.

    So that completes the weekend, with the “Yellow Coach” progressed, the second Container in Crimson and the second Conflat in Bauxite. All that is left is a little teaser of our 3 Containers together for the first time.

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  • 28/06/20 – Container puns dwindling

    This weekend we have been, again, working on the containers grounded in the yard at Quorn. Matt, Dave and I worked on the fibreglass container, BD4304B. Dave continued filling and sanding the container, while Matt first refitted the removed rain strips and then made a start on fabricating some cladding for the supporting cradle of the container. The cladding will tidy up the frame and replicated a valance which has been seen in historic photos of this type of container.

    Nick and Jake worked on the recently arrived aluminium B Type container, B55897B. Using the hot spanner, a large adjustable and a lump hammer, they removed the four wire ropes and shackles fixed to the lifting eyes.

    I also carried on tinkering with the Volvo’s charging system, which I’m still seeing niggly issues with. After this I finished off with some work in the Test Car, ADB975397. A while ago we replaced the supply changeover circuit which had failed. Initially, I had fitted the switch and left the panel half built back up, which made the cage look quite untidy. I’ve mounted the switch using some DIN rail, which has allowed me to rebuild the panel completely

    To aid Matt in his cladding manufacture, the container was lifted up to improve access to the supporting cradle.

    Jack also came down later in the afternoon to wrap a few more parcels as its been a while since we have done so, and you can never have to many. He set up shop in the Aluminium container.

    On to Sunday with the operations department on site in the morning. The BG which arrived a few weeks back for loading was booked to move further down the line and the opportunity was taken to rearrange and prepare for our next projects. The Air High was moved next to the Test Car and the Fish van, Shockhood B, Vac High and Iron Ore Tippler left for Swithland.

    Matt continued with Dave’s help manufacturing and fitting the cladding to the containers support craddle.

    Jake and Nick took the opportunity to lubricate the screw couplings of all the wagons in Quorn. The Vans, PWay wagons, and other miscellaneous vehicles doted around the site as well as free off a few held in store.20200628_121454

    BD4304B now stands complete awaiting better weather to apply paint and its final hurdle. Our next 3 projects are also due to arrive in the week so we will reveal what will occupy us for the second half of the year.

  • 21/06/20 – Once, twice, three times a Container

    A split effort this Saturday, those who are on our facebook page will know that we had a little road trip to Morecambe. Once again our thanks go to our freinds at Kenway Construction for the loan of one of their 7.5ton lorries, Nick was struggling to give it back this time.  So what took us to the Lancashire coast? Well, a 1958 Park Royal Coachbuilders built Diagram 3/047 Light Alloy Container. An eBay purchase from a Morecambe scrap merchants.

    Whilst Nick and I were touring the west coast Dave continued with my other container.  filling, sanding, more filling and even more sanding, finishing with some more filler. 20200621_101127

    Jake was sent into the Iron Ore Tippler to paint the interior walls. This concludes the work on this vehicle, this week I will be making the request to the GCR Operatons department to have this as well as the Vacuum Steel High moved to Swithland to enter the mixed freight and our next vehicles requiring work moved to Quorn.

     Ross’s day was spent on the Volvo loading shovel, this needed some TLC and a service after its forced lockdown out of use, and its use was required when Nick and I returned.  Ross investigating its persistent charging issue,  it turns out that the alternator hadn’t been reconnected correctly when reassembled after an engine overhaul. With the offending wire found and correctly reconnected, things are looking better but further investigation is still required.  Oil was topped up and filters cleaned out, though the air filter is needing replacement. The exhaust needs further work due to the silencer not being connected, and having a big tear across it. We have two options sourcing a replacement or figuring out an alternative arrangement.

    With the Volvo ready Nick and I arrived with B55897B.  This was unloaded and placed on the ground.

    Sunday and Dave continues his mission of filling and sanding. He has done a superb job and with one final morning to complete a few finishing touches we will be ready for paint.

    Nick and Jake looked at our new arrivals doors. The pins of which were severely corroded, in fact the lower doors pins had seized and sheared.  This required a lot of heat and percussion adjustment.  The locking bar was also similarly delt with and a new door locking pin acquired and fitted.

    Nick, Jake and I also moved the contents in my fibreglass container into the new container.  These are tea chests and boxes which after some TLC will be used for charters and galas.

    My tasks were to look at B507489 specifically the chain box sides which required a touch of filler. As well as manufacturing new kick plates for my container.

    I also began my usual industrial archeology, finding the original BR markings under the later Vickers Underwater Pipeline Engineering Trials Unit paint scheme.  Tare, Gross Weight and Numbers as well as Branding for Luton Midland Road LMR.  I will in time take my usual measurement although these will be retained for future reference.  The livery from the research I have already carried out was originally bare aluminum with white panels and black lettering.  The current condition, which includes a number of steel repair panels will not allow a true restoration to this condition without significant work, plus having worked in the aviation industry in an aircraft structures environment I am fully aware the labour intensive nature of polishing aluminium.  So as an economy measure late 60s door to door bauxite will be the livery of choice. The builders plate stamped with the lot number 3174 is also fitted as well as the cast numberplate.

    Unfortunatly a turn in the weather saw the demise of the gazebo but it served its purpose and lasted much longer than expected,  being in place for a full 8 days.

    So hopefully with good weather we will see substantial progress with my fiberglass container and Nicks conflat as well as some other vehicles to work on.  Fingers crossed.

  • 14/06/20 – Unable to Container the excitement

    No, you didn’t imagine last week’s update; we are really back, and this weekend carried on with the standard social distancing regulations in force. Thanks to the sunnier, hotter weather Matt has been able to make a start on undertaking the fibreglass repairs to his container. Our staggered approach to having the team back has seen Dave return this weekend. Dave, Matt and Jake made a start on the container by removing previous, failed repair patches and scalloping the edges of the damage out to get a good edge for the adhesion of the new repairs.

    With the old repairs and damage prepared, Matt then went round with expanding foam to fill up the big holes. I’d struck up the Test Car’s Generator and compressor at this point to build air to blow down the dust from the container to continue with the repairs. By the time the air had built up and the container blown down, the sun had got quite hot. Matt had the idea of dragging out the £50 gazebo he’d bought for Madge and using it as a cover/sun shade to use while working on the container. With suitable leg extensions fitted, the gazebo was erected over the container.

    By this point it was lunch time, so we’d stopped for lunch. Matt got out the fibreglassing kit, and started smoothing off the expanding foam and applying resin and matting to the areas that required it. This was then followed by Isopon P40 to bridge smaller holes, and fill repairs to surface level.

    The process so far, Old repairs removed,  voids filled with expanding foam and tided.  Fibreglass matting bonded with resin applied over the foam.

    Sunday with Nick, Matt, Dave and Jake on site continuing on Matts Container. Jake and Nick looked at opening the locking bar on the North set of side doors.  This was to allow Matt to make a repair to the door behind the bar.

    Dave went around fitting the plates manufactured for the corner strapping to return them to the correct profile.  Although the North East corner was deemed not to require them.

    Once fitted Dave moved to the roof to remove the redundant stacking plates and remains of screws which had corroded severely, as per Nicks Container these will not be replaced. Matt continued filling all the previously prepared areas.

    After lunch Matt manufactured a repair plate for the door, Red Oxided and with Jakes help fitted.20200614_163259

    Whilst in a manufacturing mood Matt also created the blanking plate for the disconnected loaded cylinder on the Iron Ore Tippler and also closed the vacuum hoses into a loop so to reduce the possibility of the redundant hoses deteriorating.

    Dave began the long task of sanding the container and this will require filling and sanding until the desired finish is reached,  so a few weekends of filling and sanding expected.

    To complete the process above, Filler applied and sanded

    A good chunk of work done on the container.  To finish the afternoon a visit from EE Type One D8098 dropping of a few coaches, including our very own BG

  • 07/06/20 – We are back

    07/06/20 – We are back

    Monday I spend time on site with the GCRs H&S Co-ordinator finalising our specific Risk Assessment and ordering PPE for a safe, controlled return for the rest of the team Saturday. I also gained permission to carry out a number of tasks whilst there.

    So Monday sees the completion of the Iron Ore Tippler, Axel ends painted yellow, levers and lamp irons painted white and underframe details completed. All that remains is the internal bitumen.

    Under coat was also applied to the Air Braked High for the Air Braked Network circle as well as the HMLE stickers.

    Final bit of activity was to check over Madge, I gave her a run as well as trying her new trailer. All worked well.

    On to Wednesday and as usual the weather had other ideas. First job I drilled out the blobs of weld which filled in the holes for the chalkboard brackets and assisted by my wife Michelle we fitted four brackets, this allowed me to measure up for the new boards which I cut and primed.

    With the weather continuing to be disruptive I sign wrote the sole bar details, 280364:

    281882:

    Thursday and a little better weather and more signwriting. This time the main lettering on 280364 as well as painting the ABN circle yellow.

    The main lettering was also applied to 281882.

    The chalkboards for 280364 were also undercoated and as the sun came out a quick look over the 3 almost completed wagons, still a few finishing touches remain.

    Friday afternoon I popped in and applied the ABN initials to the Air Braked Network circle on 280364 and painted areas of the data panel in preparation for dates to be applied.

    Top coat was applied to the BR style chalkboards and I also manufactured and primed a pair of LNER chalkboards.

    With a phased return of personnel, Nick joined me Saturday spending his time tidying a number of areas as well as assisting me fit the completed chalkboards to 280364.

    Paint was applied to the nut heads and I moved on to manufacturing LNER style chalkboard brackets.

    With a break in the weather I applied details to 280364s data panel and drilled holes for 281882s chalkboard brackets, these would originally have been welded but this is a facility we do not have due to power constraints. Red Oxide and Gloss was applied to the freshly drilled holes.

    With the holes drilled I applied Red Oxide and Gloss to the brackets and undercoat to the chalkboards.

    The phased return continued Sunday with Ross and Jake on site, the rest of the gang will be contacted this coming week about the way forward.

    My first job was to apply the top coat to the chalkboards and brackets, followed by painting the adjustment indicators and brake pin on 280364, as pers 1970s spec.

    This completes 280364, having applied a 1970s livery she will not be joining the mixed freight rake but retained with the Test Car as a test vehicle for demonstrations and Test Car open days.

    Nick and Jake made repairs to the roof of 783082, this had been observed to be moving during a photocharter. The nuts holding the edge of the roof had worked loose as well as the lath on the edge having rotted, this was replaced, the roof edge bolted down and any rips in the sealed. The rest of the roof was given a look over to ensure secure.

    Ross replaced the compressor motor on the test car which has seized before the lockdown.

    Once complete Ross fired up the test car and tested the compressor, charging the main reservoir and operating parts of the air system.

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    With the chalkboards now dry and Ross inside the wagon they were fitted to 281882 and another coat of paint applied for good measure.

    This was followed by my final task of applying branding to 281882. When I started working with Nick I asked if I could apply something to one of his vehicles appropriate to myself. He agreed and 281882 was chosen to be the one a number of years ago, this had been used for transporting bottled gas in its former BR life. Living close to Lincoln the nearest rail connected yard to my home would have been the Gasworks in Bracebridge. It was on the Lincoln to Grantham line which was closed in 1965 but the line to the works was retained until it and the Gasworks was closed in 1970 with the discovery of North Sea Gas.

    That also sees 281882 complete and once the final touches are completed to the internal faces of the Tippler arrangements will be made with the GCR for our next projects.

    Having been with us for over a year and being pushed back due to other vehicles it is good to finaly complete these three.

  • 22/03/20 – Patience pays off

    22/03/20 – Patience pays off

    With the current situation facing the world, and with the Test Car quite restrictive in the space, we decided to limit the numbers of the group on-site. Four is our decided maximum with all having to be key holders. We also limited one person per vehicle and they were separated to allow the minimum 2m social distance. The GCR was unfortunately closed and we shared the yard with a small number of the S&T department working around the box.

    Every time we entered the vehicle it was disinfected, focussing on the high touch areas such as tabletops and doors.

    With the good weather and the 3 wagons that have been waiting for over 10 months, out came the paint,  with the Air braked High, Vacuum High and Iron Ore Tippler each receiving Gloss applied by Ross and Jake.

    I also applied Gloss to the Scarab flat trailer, namely BS381C 540 or more commonly know as BR Crimson

    The rest of the team also painted the headstocks with bitumastic paint

    I applied gloss black to the back of the trailer headboard and fixed the round plate to the rear of the trailer and began signwriting, first the 20mph limit. Then chalking up the rest.

    As the light faded, one side and part of the head end was complete.

    Returning on Sunday and the restrictions remaining in force Jake sprayed the underframes in Bitumin. Nick followed up with a brush reaching the areas missed by the gun.

    I completed the Signwriting on the trailer and a few other areas were touched up thus completing the aesthetic overhaul. There are a few mechanical areas still requiring attention, namely the hand brake.

    With work continuing on the underframes of the 3 wagons. I moved on to the Tippler applying the templates and chalking up. We also took the opportunity to recreate an image that was an inspiration to me when  I started signwriting.20200322_12182990483522_593832817882970_3781537087140921344_n

    So at the end of the weekend, we have the large majority of the Iron Ore tippler complete, just a few remaining details, and the two highs in Bauxite and underframes complete.

    We continue to keep our ear to the ground regards the pandemic and we shall see what happens next weekend.

  • 15/03/20 – Spray it and hope it sticks…

    Before we move into the weekend’s activities, I’ll touch on some progress Matt has made with the flat bed Scammel trailer. The main C channel has been painted in Crimson, in readiness for the floor to be fitted. The load securing hooks have been painted in black, this had waited until the main top coat had been completed. The floorboards also got delivered.

    My job started by cleaning the tyres and rubber mudguards on the trailer. While I was doing this Matt and Dave removed the rubber floor fitted for its duties as a farm trailer. Once cleaned, I applied some products to the tyres and mudguards to give them a bit of shine. This done I surveyed and re-assembled the spray gun and pressure pot ready for the first use this year. We had to use the small green compressor to spray due to the compressor in the Test Car still being broken.  Eddie, Harry and James continued to paint the interior of the 2 Steel Highs with bitumenous paint. Jake and I waited for a gap in the weather and started spraying the 3 wagons; 2 Highs and the Tippler. By the end of the day all three wagons were in undercoat, ready for gloss.

     

    Jack, Matt and Dave constructed a Headboard for the trailer, and then started fitting the floor… until it was found that the planks wouldn’t fit without taking out the mesh. This had hoped to be able to stay in for rigidity, but not all things go to plan!

    With the mess out of the way, the floor fitting began. Matt marked each plank and Dave cut them. Soon the floor was all down and the trailer board fitted.

    On Sunday, with the weather set back to wet, Matt started by completing some signwriting for the WHSmiths kiosk at Loughborough. In a gap in the weather I changed the front wheel on my car following a slow puncture (which was getting faster!) and blew up all the tyres, and then did the same on other members of the QWW fleet.  Completed, I set about the compressor to remove the electric motor for replacement. Matt started fabricating a supporting strut for the trailers headboard which was a tad wobbly. These got an angle fitted to the back of them for stiffness and then primed. Matt then cut out and primed a disc for the 20mph warning on the trailer.

    I assisted Nick with drilling drain holes in the Iron Ore Tippler’s floor. These are so placed to drain the water while trying not the drip on any brake rigging.

    To finish off, I fitted the trailer’s number plate holder and Jack and Matt refitted the rubber mudguards and primed the wood on the headboard. Once the primer had dried, Matt also put the 20mph disc into gloss black.

    Thanks for reading, and all being well we’ll be back next week, hopefully with, a repair compressor and 3 wagons in bauxite gloss (weather and health being well!)

  • 08/03/20 – Tar and Bitumen

    This update begins on Friday, with Dave and I visiting the Mountsorrel Railway to complete their tar tank in preparation for Goods Galore. The west side was chalked up, lettering outlined and then filled.  The tank end numbers were also added completing the vehicle.

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    Saturday back at Quorn and the “plan” was to undercoat the LNER highs, Vacuum and Air as well as Tippler.  Unfortunately, they were not ready for paint, prep was completed and bare metal spot primed.

    With the reasonable weather, confidence was high until the compressor on the test car decided it didn’t want to work.  A compressor motor fault, whilst Ross diagnosed the fault Jack, and I with the help of Andrew Devine from the station prepped the Scammell flat for paint.

    During the prep the original identification number was discovered 086256 02 and the main C section was red oxided

    On to Sunday and the forecast not looking too good. Ross and I joined by Eireni applied bitumastic paint to the chassis, wheels, and coupling of the Scammell trailer.

    I took a risk and decided to undercoat the main C sections of the trailer and luckily it paid off as it had dried sufficiently before the rain came down.  The mudguards were also removed to allow painting and in preparation for cleaning next weekend.

    The tailboard also received undercoat.20200307_124542

    Nick and Eddie applied Bitumastic paint inside of the air-braked high and the vacuum-high was prepared and one side treated the same.

    That completes this weekend’s update, and we continue to await better weather to progress the rail wagons.

  • 01/03/20 – Flats, Feeds and Filming Fun.

    Welcome to another update from Quorn (yes, actually Quorn!). Saturday had the full team bar James in attendance, though I arrived late and I had to collect some electrical supplies. The main objective of the day was to move the trailers about using the dolly that came with the flat trailer. Once a battery was changed on the Volvo, it started straight up and we were able to pick up the dolly and reverse it to the box trailer. An issue with the coupler height on the Volvo led us to making a solution that fixed to the forks. This made positioning the dolly easier with improved visibility but the 3 pivots in the consist made for some tricky maneuvering! The box trailer was moved into the yard and the flat trailer has been turned around.

    I undertook the repairs to the Test Car electrical system. You may remember some months ago that the contactor for the Generator feed would not hold closed. We don’t have any reference to the design of the electrical switchgear which makes fault finding the system difficult. I’d not been able to find the fault, so we’d opted to change out the changeover system to a simple changeover switch. Thank to a colleague of Dave’s, Syd, we have a suitable switch which I have fitted and successfully tested. With some new switching arrangements we can now changeover the supply to the Coach. The compressor was struck up and we tested a newly acquired tyre blower.

    Eddie and Harry continued prepping the Steel Highs and Tippler for paint. These are getting tantalisingly near, and only await slightly warmer weather.

    On Sunday Matt, Jack, Dave and I donned our reenacting clothes, with a guest appearance from some friends of Matt and Jack, Jed and his wife. We’d dressed in 1950’s period uniforms and clothes, and used them along with Madge and the Van train to shoot some footage which is to be used in the advertisement video for the upcoming Goods Galore gala. Keep your eyes on the Railway’s social media for this video.

    With the flat trailer now the other way round, Dave, Matt and I attended to a large dent in the trailer with a large sledgehammer.  We got the worst of it out, and Matt and Dave fitted a new corner cap, as per the other side.

    I took the opportunity to look over the ‘Wagon under Test’ lamp used when carrying out a slip test. I took the internal boards out to find the internal accelerometer and been removed and not in the most reversible manner. As I don’t know enough about the lamp, I’ve opted to remove the internals and replace it with a microcontroller and accelerometer that I can program to replicate the functionality. of the lamp. Eddie and Harry continued prepping the wagons, focusing on the internal surfaces of 280364. The interior of the wagons will be painted in bitumen paint.

    Thanks for reading. Most of what we are doing recently is very weather dependant, so I can’t really predict what we’ll be doing. There’s plenty to do, so do join us and see what we get up to!