Category: Updates

  • 12/05/26 – Planks, Brackets and Gaskets

    12/05/26 – Planks, Brackets and Gaskets

    Hello and welcome to another bumper weekend update from the team at Quorn, a day later this week as we’ve worked 3 days. Progress has been made with the Lowfit, Tank 3689 and the Test Car’s generator.

    Dan has completed most of the bodyside lettering on the Lowfit B452718.

    The Robins that had been nesting in the Lowfit had left the nest so Ernie, Nick and Charlie were able to loose-lay the floor; then mark and remove each plank in-turn for drilling the mounting holes. Some of the holes in the underframe also had to be opened up a little with the drill. The floor planks were then bolted in place.

    Mark, Oliver and Tom cleaned out and applied undercoat to some of the end pockets and inner underframe areas of Tank 3689.

    Ross, Ernie and myself marked out the positions for the Esso plate brackets on the West side of 3689, removed the paint and dressed the plate brackets that we’d previously made.

    We then mounted the brackets to our special Esso Plate ‘jig’, and positioned the ‘jig’ onto the wagon. After checking the position of the brackets these were tack welded into place. The ‘jig’ was then removed and the brackets fully welded.

    The brackets were left to cool, wire brushed and then given a coat of re-oxide primer.

    On Monday, Ross and myself turned our attention to the Test Car’s generator. The studs that were removed last week from the old cylinder head were cleaned and fitted to the new one. The cam followers/tappets were then cleaned, oiled and fitted to the head. The rocker shaft oil feed adaptor from the old cylinder head was however not correct for the 1/8” BSP threaded hole in the new head, therefore one will have to be ordered.

    The cylinder block was carefully cleaned and lightly scraped whilst hoovering any debris. The cylinder head mounting studs were cleaned and replaced into the block.

    The camshaft was oiled then the new head gasket fitted into place. The cylinder head was then lowered carefully onto the block. The nuts were fitted and the head was torqued down in stages, strictly following the correct tightening sequence from the workshop manual.

    The tappets were all set to a low position and the rocker shaft fitted into position. Rotating the crank to the correct positions as directed by the workshop manual, each tappet was then raised to the correct height in-turn and checked with feeler gauges. The crank was then rotated slowly by hand to confirm the correct operation of the valves.

    The thermostat housing, thermostat, radiator hoses and inlet manifold were cleaned up and fitted using new gaskets and sealant.

    The three fuel injectors which we’d previously had checked professionally were installed followed by the associated fuel pipework. The rocker cover was cleaned and loose fitted, this will be finally fitted with a new gasket once we get the new oil feed adaptor. The oil-filled air filter was also fitted.

    The exhaust manifold was given a good clean out to remove as much coke as possible; the silencer flanges were then cleaned up. Exhaust assembly paste was applied and the exhaust manifold was then fitted with new gaskets along with the silencer unit which was attached to the exhaust upright flexi-pipe.

    The next stage once we get the new oil feed adaptor, will be to bleed the fuel system and hopefully get the generator running again.

    I’ll leave you with a sunny-side view of the Lowfit; join us again next week, all the best, Dave

  • 04/05/26 – Floors floored and finally all in primer.

    04/05/26 – Floors floored and finally all in primer.

    Hello everyone and thanks for join us for another Quorn update. This week has been quite productive with two floors prepared, and the final prep work done on 3689.

    Firstly, thanks to the funds raised last weekend at the Diesel Gala, we’ve been able to pull the trigger on getting the parts for the generator in Test Car 2. The new cylinder head arrived with some new gaskets, and a new oil filter as while we’re in there we’ll give the engine another service. Dave prepared the area around the engine and stripped the studs required out of the old head ready to put in the new one. The injector studs were a tad stubborn, but were soon released with a bit of heat.

    Three boxes (one large wooden and two small cardboard) stacked on the floor into front of a grey painted cupboard
    Tidy working area either side of a Perkins diesel generator
    Dave's hand removing one of the rocker arm studs from the old cylinder head
    An old cylinder head sitting on the workbench in Test Car 2 surrounded by tools
    Ernie applying heat with a oxygen propane fuel flame gun to the old cylinder head to release the last few studs.
    The old cylinder head sat on a workbench with the removed studs sat next to it.

    Nick finished off the last panel of paint removal on the west side of 3689 after which the remaining bare metal area was painted in primer. While that was being done, Mark, Oliver and Tom focused on finishing the east side, leaving the end for Monday.

    Dan carried on with the Lowfit, adding the lettering concerning containers on the west side.

    The floor for the Conflat was also started, with Dave and Ernie cutting the rebates while Charlie and James marked them out. The cut ends were treated with preservative and eventually taken to the wagon to be drilled and fixed down. The two boards at either end needed cutting down their length to give room at the end of the wagon above the head stock such that we can easily monitor its condition in future.

    The floor for the Lowfit was also marked, cut and preserved, unfortunately a little family of Robins have made their home beside the north end drawhook so while the nest is active we won’t be fitting the floor.

    Tom, Oliver and Charlie stripped the remaining paint from 3689’s north barrel end and east side after which primer was applied. The tank now needs its plate lugs welding back on then it will join 3854 for a quick wash followed by the next stages of paintwork.

    The little diesel test rig is in use a bit more as a compressor while Edward (our 1970’s Hydrovane) is a bit poorly, so Charlie and I gave it a once over and a clean up. This is another reason for us to get the generator and the compressor working in the Test Car again to take the pressure off repairing Edward.

    Thanks for reading this week’s update, and again massive thanks to those that came to see us, purchased from our stall or donated last weekend. It has meant we can get the Test Car working again and not have to worry about trying to diagnose other faults instead of sorting out the wagons. We’ll be back again next week for another update, see you then! Cheers, Ross

  • 26/04/26 – Lowfit Lettering at the Gala

    26/04/26 – Lowfit Lettering at the Gala

    Hello and welcome to a Diesel Gala weekend update; we’ve had the Test Car open to visitors, Dan has progressed with his Lowfit lettering challenge and work on tank 3854 continues.

    Whilst myself and Ross looked after the Test Car, Ernie entertained visitors to our stand, all helping to raise much needed funds towards the restoration work; thank you to those who have supported us this weekend.

    Dan completed the west body side Lowfit lettering and made a start on the underframe with the vacuum release stars.

    Nick, Mark, Tom, Oliver, Daniel and James did some more paint removal from 3854s tank barrel; following up at each stage with red-oxide primer.

    Join us again next week for a bank-holiday update, in the meantime here’s a few views of diesels passing the Test Car over the weekend.

  • 19/04/26 – A bare metal tank and a bit more signwriting

    19/04/26 – A bare metal tank and a bit more signwriting

    Hello everyone and welcome to another weekend update from Quorn. We’ve managed to get some paint on 3689, started signwriting the Lowfit and fully finished 3606 by fitting its branding plates.

    Team Baldwin plus Charlie and James have made more excellent progress bare metalling on 3689, which is around half way completed.

    Dave started by making some more displays to hang around the generator on the Test Car ready for opening at the Diesel Gala next weekend.

    Nick, James and Charlie went to fetch the boards for the Conflat and the Lowfit from Harlow and stored them ready for processing.

    Dave set Dan a challenge to signwrite the Lowfit single handedly, which he’s made a good start at.

    After having the wheel reassembled in the week, I refitted Hector’s wheel and tried to adjust his front brake while he was up in the air. This caused me a further issue after I snapped the brake pipe linking the two wheel cylinders the front wheel. After obtaining some appropriate sized copper pipe, the pipe was replaced and the system bled up again. He was taken for a customary spin around and was then used to tow Edward up to the Ransomes and Rapier crane to pump up its tyres.

    Ernie continued repairing the splash guards from 3689, filling in holes and welding patches as required. One is beyond repair, so will have to be remade, plus we need a new tail section for another.

    After lunch, Dave, Nick and I journeyed to Swithland to fit the plates to 3606. Dave and I concentrated on the Esso plates while Nick fitted the 3D printed owners plated made by Dave.

    Ernie, Daniel and I concentrated on applying primer to the bare metal areas on 3689. Some areas had a light sand just to remove the flash rust.

    We’ll leave you with a reminder that Test Car 2 will be open to visitors for the upcoming GCR Spring Diesel Gala 24 – 26 April.

    Do pop in and see us, we’ll have the Test Car open plus a small stall selling treasure to raise funds for the Test Car and all our other wagon projects. We’ll be back with another update next week so do join us then! Thanks, Ross

  • 12/04/26 – Springs & Noggins

    12/04/26 – Springs & Noggins

    Hello and welcome to a bumper update from the team at Quorn. Over the last four weeks we’ve been busy re-springing two wagons, making floor hold-down noggins for the Lowfit, giving the Lowmac some TLC, and continuing with Esso tank wagon restoration work.

    Six new wagon springs were delivered to Rothley; four destined for the Palshoc van B855568; the remaining two were taken to Quorn for fitting to Esso Tank 3621.

    Ernie, Charlie and Nick fitted 3621s springs, and with this wagon’s restoration now complete, it was tripped to Swithland for marshalling into the tank train ready for the Goods Friday event.

    At Rothley Nick, Charlie and Oliver dealt with the four springs in-turn on Palshoc B855568. The wagon was then moved to settle the new springs and the buffer heights were checked.

    Nick, Mark, Ernie, Dan and Oliver applied some paint to the underframe, swan necks, lamp irons and handbrake levers on the Lowfit.

    Then continued with some needle gun work and red-oxide application on the underframe of tank 3689.

    Nick and Charlie turned their attention to the Lowmac wagon DE269001 that is needed for use by the P-Way team. The axleboxes and bearings were checked, oil levels topped up, oiled the brake rigging, a lamp iron replaced and an incorrectly fitted 3-link coupling replaced with a screw coupling which Ernie and Nick had spent some time freeing off and repairing.

    Ernie had previously measured up and done a drawing ready to help us manufacture some new floor hold-down noggins for Conflat B507489. Along with Oliver I set about selecting some well seasoned timber, extracting a few unwanted nails and marking out for cutting.

    Four pieces were cut to length then sliced to the correct width for the noggins. The rivet cut-outs were made then the mounting holes drilled.

    Each noggin was then checked for fit onto the wagon. These will be installed to hold the new floor down once we get the flooring wood.

    Further needle gunning was carried out on tank 3689, including some sanding, uncovering some of the east side solebar lettering; followed by some red oxide.

    And then some more red-oxide.

    The four Conflat noggins were given five coats of creosote / engine oil mix which was allowed to soak-in between each coat.

    Over the Easter weekend there was much tiding-up carried out over our whole work area, including the GUV. The interior of Test Car 2 was also tidied and the slip-end pipework re-assembled in readiness for our Diesel Gala opening at the end of the month. The guards area storage heater was sanded and given a first coat of white, and three new display boards were prepared and painted.

    Edward was treated to some new tyres that allowed him to be removed from the BEV stillage and put back onto his wheels, thus making him mobile .

    The BEV stillage was cleaned and de-greased then the bed repaired. This will make a very useful bench for welding projects.

    The spark guards from tank 3689 were cleaned up and checked, three of them will be suitable for re-use following some welding repairs, however the fourth will need to be replaced. Ernie and Nick made a start straightening, cutting out the rust and weld repairing.

    Another lamp repair was completed by Ernie including a coat of black gloss. And I made & fitted a brace bracket to the garage door chain-box in an attempt to stop the chain sprockets going out of line.

    A good start was made by Mark, Tom, Oliver, Dan and Charlie on the tank barrel paint removal from 3689. Approximately 1/4 of the tank barrel and one ladder being taken back to bare metal.

    Hector got a little embarrassed after suffering a puncture whilst on an errand down the yard; having to rely on a rather ignominious rescue by the Volvo. Following Ross’s inspection he found the inner tube of the front wheel had failed due to rubber rot!

    The Volvo came in useful again moving the bunded barrel pallet spill tank that we have been donated, to a safe place.

    We’ll leave you with a reminder that Test Car 2 will be open to visitors for the upcoming GCR Spring Diesel Gala 24 – 26 April.

    We still have the fantastic Great British Locomotives Models & Magazines Complete Collection for sale; forty one (41) OO Gauge Models with Magazines all in their unopened original packaging which is available as a rare complete collection.

    Please get in touch if you are interested, all proceeds will be used by the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group to directly assist with the continued restoration and maintenance of Test Car 2.

    Example Model & Magazine, GCR 506 Butler Henderson.

    Join us again soon for more Quorn Wagon & Wagon news, all the best, Dave

  • 15/03/26 – Getting ready for more…

    15/03/26 – Getting ready for more…

    Hello all and welcome to this week’s update from Quorn. We’re not getting ready for more wagons, just more progress! Both the Conflat and 3689 have recieved some attention, and we’ve also been finishing off some jobs that have been hanging around.

    Daniel spent some time on the Conflat, scraping and priming the kerb rail getting it close to be prepared for its floor, which is now on order.

    Dave got set up varnishing the two Esso plates in the Test Car, which are now ready for fitting to 3606, while he did this Charlie cleaned up the ash from last week’s fire.

    Ernie finished up the headlamp from the Rothley shunter, making a ring portion from a piece of copper and soldering a lens back in.

    Ernie’s soldering skills also came in handy to fix the compressor’s expansion tank which had suffered a slight blow out… Charlie removed the offending article and refitted it.

    Once repaired, Dave got the needle gun out and finished of the west side sole bar on 3689, which then got a coat of primer.

    Charlie fixed up the steps from the mess coach, which went rotten and got replaced with the steps from the Test Car. With us opening the Test Car up at the upcoming Diesel Gala, we are in need of another set. Once stood up, the steps were moved round to the access door and finally fettled for height and stability.

    Dave had an unwelcome visitor to the lovely varnished finished on the Esso plates, so ended up doing a small touch up.

    I tested a new toy to try and undo a buffer mounting bolt, which undid with ease despite the liberal coat of paint. The new impact gun was also used on the ladder bolts with were turned around to give more foot room on the rungs.

    Ernie did some welding on a small trailer rescued from the undergrowth and attempted to weld up some steel access steps, but they are too far gone to carry on fixing. Nick and I had to hold the welding screen due to the wind gusting.

    Mark and Dan carried on where Daniel left off on the Conflat, finishing the kerb rail and painting the tops of the solebars. Tom and Oliver hoovered and painted the pockets on 3689.

    In some of the inclement weather on Sunday, Dave and I finished off the diesel heater install but adding two more vents and some ducting to spread the heat around the seating area.

    Ernie took one of the side rails from the Conflat into the coach to measure up. Tom, Oliver, Mark and Dan primed inside the chassis on 3689, which only leaves the east side solebar to needlegun and prime for the chassis to be ready.

    In the dry spells of Sunday, Charlie mowed both the dock and the strip of grass between the mainline and our siding, with an appropriate look out.

    That’s where we wrap up this week. Both Dave and I are away for the next two weeks, so there will be no update from Quorn over that time. Do not fear though, we do have something going out in our usual slot so keep your eyes out for that.

  • 08/03/26 – First Coat of Bauxite

    08/03/26 – First Coat of Bauxite

    Hello and welcome to this week’s news from Quorn. The Lowfit gets a first coat of Bauxite; Conflat-A B507489 had some attention, Tank 3689 progresses, and the lettering is completed on 3606’s Esso plates.

    The area where the water tower top had been moved from last week was levelled and more track ‘biscuits’ and clips were recovered. Charlie managed the bonfire to deal with the pile of scrap timber tidied from the area.

    The east side label clip was removed from tank 3689 as this was mounted in the wrong place so would be foul of the builders plate, and also it was mounted on an smaller wood block that standard.

    We took a look at Conflat B507489, and the jack-rust that had bent up the end kerb rails. An air-chisel and needle guns were used to clear out as much of the rust as possible from under the bent up sections of angle. The largest sledge hammer was then employed to flatten down level the kerb rail at both ends.

    The inside and outside of the Lowfit’s four doors were treated to their first coat of Bauxite Gloss.

    The Red paint we had been using for the Esso plate lettering was previously not laying on evenly, not covering well and taking rather too long to dry; so after some searching we found some lettering Enamel of the correct colour. A test was done to check that the new paint would not react with the original, then Ross and myself applied the red lettering’s second coat to both of 3606’s Esso plates. The coverage was notably better and the paint had dried within a few hours. The next stage for these plates will be a coat of varnish.

    Ernie made a start on some lamp repairs to the Rothley shunter’s headlamp that lost it’s lens last week.

    Ross and myself then turned our attention to the west side solebar on Tank 3689; with needle guns out again about 3/4 of the solebar was cleaned up, and all the flaky paint removed back to bare metal, Ernie then followed applying some red-oxide primer.

    Nick touched up a few areas of the black gloss on the underframe of the Lowfit, and made a start on painting the inside of the kerb rails, again in black gloss.

    Whilst Ernie had the red-oxide primer out, he painted the inside of the vacuum cylinder piston he’d cleaned up last week.

    Thanks for reading, join us again next week, all the best, Dave

  • 01/03/26 – Wait, it’s March already

    01/03/26 – Wait, it’s March already

    Hello everyone and welcome to another update from Quorn. This week we’ve had a good weekend sorting out the vacuum on 3854 after one of those 5 minute jobs and the Lowfit has had its coat of undercoat finished and the underframe glossed in black.

    We started the weekend as ‘QWW Patrol’, helping to repair one of the mineral wagons in the train after the drawhook was found to be loose and rotated 90degrees. Nick and Charlie enacted repairs and Jamie from C&W came to sign it off prior to it running this weekend.

    Dave has also made a start two more Esso plates for 3606 which had been set up in the Test Car. Starting with laying out with the chalk, paint the blue and the first coat of the red.

    Charlie, Nick and I started to look at 3854’s working vacuum cylinder which has previously been re-assembled with the release valve out of position. Initially we thought we’d simply lower the cylinder down, rotate it round to the right position and then lift it back into position. It became apparent that it would actually be easier to drop the cylinder off the wagon and re-build it.

    With the weather being quite poor, Ernie opted to stay in the coach and work on some more lamps, this time a few examples of the oil lamp found in Mk1 brake coach emergency cupboards.

    With the cylinder in the garage, we stripped it down, fitted a new guide bush and new bottom joint ring, reassembled the cylinder and got it fitted to the wagon. Using the test rig, it was tested and passed with flying colours.

    With Sunday having the better weather, the team were out in force to try and get some more paint on the Lowfit, firstly finishing off the undercoat on the drop sides, then moving onto the underframe, applied a good coat of gloss black.

    I used a new to us tool to measure the bore of a vacuum cylinder we had found in the bushes to check whether its worth use bothering with or not. Ernie started cleaning up a piston found under Madge’s trailer, which wasn’t as bad as first thought.

    The team also continued the side project of tidying up the area around between the dock road and the boundary fence. Tidying up some track ‘biscuits’ but also ended up moving the water tower top, mainly to be able to open up the walkway on that side of the siding.

    Dave got a sander out and gingerly sanded 3689 to try and finally confirm its departmental identity, which has now been confirmed as DB999088.

    Lastly, we’ve been very kindly donated some late 1990s/early 2000s Diesel Era magazines which aren’t readily available in the UK. These are for sale on Dave’s eBay account, so do take a look and spend a few pennies if you are interested. All proceeds do go back into the wagons and support us in their care.

    Thanks for reading, and join us next week to find out what we get up to! Cheers, Ross

  • 22/02/26 – Lowfit gets some Paint

    22/02/26 – Lowfit gets some Paint

    Hi and welcome to our weekly update from Quorn. The Lowfit has received some paint, work continues on tank 3689, and 3621’s signwriting is completed.

    Mark, Tom, Oliver, Dan and Daniel did some more needle gun work on the underframe of tank 3689.

    Dan did some needle gun work and red-oxide painting on a vac cylinder dome.

    Charlie did some tidying up in the garage and some vac cylinders were put into storage. Ernie did some more lamp repairs.

    Nick did some cleaning out of rust from under the tank supports on 3689. He also installed the new first aid equipment and notices in our Mess Coach booking-on point.

    Mark, Dan, Daniel and Oliver took advantage of the warmer/dryer weather and got stuck in to applying red-oxide primer to the majority of the Lowfit wagon.

    I finished off the last couple of bits of signwriting on tank 3621.

    Charlie fitted a couple of the heater vents to the seat box sides in the Mess Coach.

    I painted 3621’s Esso plate attachment bolts in red-oxide, and when dry applied the blue.

    Ernie and myself dropped the doors and end panels on the Lowfit, wire brushed and applied undercoat the the insides of the doors.

    We then raised the doors and made a start applying undercoat to the door sides and ends.

    That wraps things up for this week, I’ll leave you with a pic of Standard 2 78018 steaming past our Mess Coach on her last day in service before withdrawal for overhaul.

    Join us again soon; all the best, Dave

  • 15/02/26 – Plates ON

    15/02/26 – Plates ON

    Hello and welcome to this week’s news from the team at Quorn. Tank 3621 is getting closer to completion, there is progress on tank 3689 and we continue with vacuum cylinder repairs.

    Charlie, Dan, James and Oliver did some site tidying-up.

    Mark and Tom continued with the needle gun work on tank 3689’s underframe.

    Oliver and Dan helped Nick remove the spark guards from tank 3689, this will allow access the underframe areas below, and also to clean up and make any repairs to the spark guards.

    I applied the Commuted Charge Cc logo to both sides of 3621.

    Ernie continued with the vacuum cylinder weld repairs, with Ross helping pressure test each stage of work; the soap solution highlighting any small pinholes which were then dealt with.

    The heater was put-on for a while in Test Car 2, and the previously sign-written Esso logo plates were given a light key over the front surface. Ross and I then applied a coat of gloss varnish which was left to dry overnight.

    Dan cleaned up the first of the vacuum cylinders to have it’s repairs completed and tested. He then applied a coat of re-oxide primer.

    Ernie continued with the second vacuum cylinder, welding and low-pressure testing for leaks. The cylinder held the low-pressure for a couple of hours confirming successful completion of the repairs.

    The Empty/Load changeover symbol was applied to the east side of tank 3621.

    The weather wasn’t kind to us on Sunday, however in between the showers Ross & I managed to fit the two varnished Esso plates to 3621; whilst Ernie made a start on some lamp repairs.

    We set up the next two Esso plates in Test Car 2 and gave the surface a light key ready to receive their sign-written logos.
    These two plates will be fitted to tank 3606 once completed.

    Thanks for reading, join us again next week; all the best, Dave