Tag: 3606

  • 20/07/25 – Making the most of the wet weather

    20/07/25 – Making the most of the wet weather

    Hello everyone and welcome to another update from Quorn. We’re eager to get 1919 finished, but this weekend the wet weather has diverted us to other things.

    Dave popped in on Friday to get some more paint on 1919, concentrating on the yellow aspects, so the yellow Private Owner symbols and the BP on the east side of the barrel. He also got some red out and put a first coat on the air brake pipe cocks and pipe ends.

    With the weather being as it was, we opted to do inside jobs. Dave started off picking out the letter on the Shell-Mex Ltd plates he’s 3D printed for 1919.

    We’d recently picked up a few tyre profile gauges, which were well coat in surface rust and dirt, so Ernie very gently cleaned that up and applied a coat of oil to prevent them rusting again.

    Once there was a gap in the weather, Ernie got the grinder out to prepare the ladder brackets he’d made and slotted during the week. These have now been chamfered ready to weld to the chassis.

    Dave and I went into the Test Car and starting sorting though the test area, and removing some of the less period appropriate signage. This led to the scouring pads coming out and some of the more tired wood work got scraped and scuffed, and whatever fittings that could be removed where.

    Ernie cleaned a few more gauges, and also checked through the oil cans, throwing away those that don’t work and filling up those that do.

    I went into the Test Car and applied varnish to the slip end paneling, the desk drawers and to the toilet door and door frame which looked a whole lot better for a coat of varnish.

    Nick put up more shelving up in the fish van, which has made the fish van much tidier and will allow us to sort out some of the our collected stuff into more suitable locations.

    Using one of the new gauges, I measured the flange height and thicknesses on the two Esso tanks, plus two spares sat by the tool van.

    Thanks for reading this week’s update. Next week there won’t be an update, so join us again in two weeks to find out what we’ve been up to.

  • 29/06/2025 – Original Identity

    29/06/2025 – Original Identity

    Hello and welcome to this weeks update from Quorn as tank 1919 gets its original 1966 as-built identity back.

    The top coat of gloss had applied really well last week, therefore we were able to make a start with the lettering on 1919. Over the last few weeks the templates have been prepared and printed. These were carefully cut to size and assembled as necessary.

    Working on the west side of 1919. the positions of the templates for the tank barrel and solebar lettering were marked onto the wagon, then templates chalked and attached in place.

    The chalk was transferred to the wagon by tracing the lettering.

    I then set to work painting the lettering, starting with the running number; thereby giving the wagon back its original 1966 identity of 1919.

    Whilst I was busy with the signwriting, Ross and Nick removed one of the ladders from tank 3621 that will be used as a template to produce the two new ladders required for tank 3606.

    Ernie cleaned up the ladder mounting brackets on 3606 in readiness for fitting the new ladders.

    A stuck buffer on the Iron Ore Hopper wagon B439708 was attended to.

    Mark, Tom, Oliver , Charlie, Dan and Daniel oiled and tested the operating wheels and brakes on the Dogfish and Herring engineers wagons.

    After a short break out of the sunshine, they continued, oiling and testing the handbrakes on the mixed freight and van train.

    I continued with the tank side lettering, using our gazebo for a bit of shelter from the sun.

    Whilst Dan applied some white undercoat to the axlebox covers.

    The solebar lettering for Wheelbase, Load and Tare weights were next.

    On the east side of the wagon Dan, Ernie and myself marked out the positions for the two Shell/BP logos. The templates were positioned and the outlines chalked onto the wagon, then tape applied to the outline.

    The logo areas were keyed with a scotch bright pad then undercoat applied; light grey to the left hand box and white to the right one.

    The axlebox covers were given a coat of yellow by Ernie whilst I picked out the west side builders plate and foot valve instruction plate.

    Thanks for reading, join us again next week for the GCRs Rail200 event where we’ll have the Test Car open to visitors on the Saturday 5th July.

    All the best, Dave

  • 22/06/2025 – 2nd Coat

    22/06/2025 – 2nd Coat

    Welcome to this weeks update from the team at Quorn. We continue to progress work on the three tank wagons 1919, 3606 & 3621; and we help out RVP replacing the TPO equipment.

    Tom, Oliver and Nick helped the RVP team.

    It’s unusual to find spindle type buffers stuck compressed, however one was noted on Grampus 985884; this was dealt with swiftly by Nick.

    The tank barrel on 1919 was keyed with scotch-bright pads ready for its second coat of gloss black.

    Some of the underframe areas on tank 1919 that were not accessible with the spray gun, including the new vacuum pipe and the buffers were hand painted in gloss black.

    The outer section of the heating coil pipe on 3606 was adjusted slightly to get it level; then the whole pipe was wire brushed and treated to a coat of red-oxide primer.

    The new (but slightly over length) buffer mounting bolts and lamp bracket bolts on tank 3621 were trimmed to length and given a coat red oxide primer.

    The spray equipment was prepared, a couple of the spray gun air pipe joints re-sealed. The gloss black paint was mixed then measured out for thinning.

    Once the thinned paint was mixed thoroughly it was checked for the correct consistency then was filtered into the spray gun pot.

    We tackled the two ends of the tank 1919 first, followed by the east side.

    The west side was completed in the afternoon.

    Further scraping and red-oxide priming was carried out on tank 3621.

    Thanks for reading, the next steps for tank 1919 will be detailing, signwriting including the logo application; once we’ve finalised the templates.

    As for tank 3621 there is still much to scrape and prime on the underframe, then there’s the tank barrel to sand as well as the Esso logo plate brackets to weld into place.

    Join us again next week, all the best, Dave

  • 15/06/25 – Another Black(ish) Tank

    15/06/25 – Another Black(ish) Tank

    Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s update. This week, we’ve followed up the undercoat on 1919 with a gloss coat and continued the re-assembly of 3606.

    1919 first then, although windy, Saturday was a perfect day for painting with it being dry and warm out so came the spray kit. With eight litres of thinned down paint, I applied a solid first coat to the tank barrel and sole bar all round, with the west side underframe getting a look in too.

    Charlie cleaned up our spare direction switch for the Brush Pony trucks, and also cleaned up the top of the underframe on the Lowfit, making good work of the whole frame and applying some red oxide primer.

    With the paint drying on 1919, our attention turned to 3606. We’ve had a sample bend section supplied to check which was close, but required some alteration to fit, which was carried out between Nick, Ernie and I. Some bends were altered and a section of material let in to extend the front section. this can now go back to the supplier so that they can make the full foot wide support pieces for this tank.

    The heating coil pipe on 3606 was also completed, with Nick and Ernie having to recover one of the cutting rings from the compression fitting being used to complete the work. The bent sections where fitted together, then I welded them to the bosses on the tank, as would have originally been done.

    That wraps up this week; next week maybe another coat on the 1919, or it could be something else. Lets see what the week and the weather hold for us. Thank for reading

  • 08/06/2025 – Many Hands

    08/06/2025 – Many Hands

    This week the team at Quorn work on the Esso Tank Wagons 3606 & 3621, and Lowfit B452718, helped by a group of Young Rail Professionals (YRP).

    It was also a great pleasure to welcome members of the Salisbury and South Wilts Railway Society who were visiting the GCR.

    On Saturday Mark, Oliver, Tom, Daniel and Charlie got stuck in to some scraping, wire brushing, sanding and needle gunning on Tanks 3606 and 3621.

    The Young Railway Professionals team worked on the Lowfit underframe, again with scrapers, wire brushes and a needle gun.

    Ernie, Ross, Dan and myself set to work making 16 steel brackets that will be used to mount the Esso plates on tank 3621. After measuring up the existing brackets on tank 3606, some steel plate strip was cut into lengths and the holes drilled.

    The first plate was marked for the bend position, heated and bent to shape. This was then checked against the existing brackets.

    The remaining 15 cut and drilled plates were then marked, heated and bent to shape.

    The blanked off heating coil bungs on tank 3606 were cut to get the bungs out with a view to making a replacement section of pipework.

    Red Oxide was applied to some of the cleaned up areas on tank 3606.

    Sunday saw Harry, Charlie and myself continuing with cleaning up areas on 3606 and 3621 followed by more red oxide primer.

    All in all another busy weekend with progress on the Esso tanks.

    Join us again next week as we continue with the tanks, all the best, Dave

  • 01/06/2025 – Grey Tank

    01/06/2025 – Grey Tank

    As we move into June, we get the spraying equipment out to give tank 1919 its undercoat.

    On Saturday the final parts of the underframe were scraped and needle gunned.

    A few areas had some red-oxide primer applied, which dried quickly in the sunshine.

    During the week a replacement for a missing 4″ tank top cap was created by 3d printing, this was sealed to the adaptor and will be fitted to the tank in due course.

    Whilst the 1940s weekend was getting into full swing in the yard, we got the BBQ equipment out to celebrate Ross’s birthday, as a much enjoyed change to a birthday cake. The salvaged and repaired picnic tables being put to good use.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ross ! Thanks for the BBQ 🙂

    After lunch Edward the compressor was topped up with diesel and we got prepared to start applying the undercoat. The spray gun was set-up, the paint was mixed and thinned; once we had the right consistency this was poured through a filter into the paint sprayer can.

    Over the next few hours Ross and myself sprayed the tank barrel, with a little help from Dan and Harry who also tried their hand with the spray gun.

    Once the barrel was covered, we continued with the west side underframe.

    On Sunday the last few areas of the east side suspension were given a coat of red-oxide, which thanks to the sunshine dried quite quickly.

    The headstocks, buffers and east side solebar were hand brushed with undercoat. These areas were not easy to get to with the spray gun due to the wagon being in the dock. The ladders were also undercoated.

    Another lorry curtain side sheet obtained from a lorry breakers was prepared ready to be used for van roof coverings. After cleaning and removal of the shackles and straps the sheet was measured up; luckily it’s just big enough to be able to get two 12T van roof coverings out of. Once Charlie had cut the sheets they were folded and stored.

    My attention turned to making a jig that will help us with positioning of the Esso logo plates on tank 3621. Unfortunately the Esso plate brackets were removed at some point in the tanks life. The jig will allow us to position the brackets correctly for welding into place. Having tank 3606 alongside with brackets still in-tact made creating the jig much easier. Two ply sheets were clamped to the two upper and lower sets of brackets on 3606.

    The ply were cut to shape to allow access to the brackets for welding. Holes were then drilled and the ply was bolted to the brackets.

    Timber was then used to create a frame down to the solebar for positioning vertically, and a separate timber up against the handbrake rack to position longitudinally. Frame parts were then made to join the upper and lower ply sections together. Once I was happy with the fit, all parts were drilled and bolted together.

    The finished jig was then un-bolted from 3606s brackets.

    Once we have made the new Esso plate brackets for 3621 these will then be bolted to the back of the jig, and the frame positioned onto 3621 so the brackets can be welded into the correct place.

    So a very productive (and enjoyable) weekend for the team, join us again next week, all the best, Dave

  • 11/05/2025 – All Hands to the Tank

    11/05/2025 – All Hands to the Tank

    Hello and welcome to a sunny weekend update from Quorn; we’ve continued with getting tank 1919 ready for paint and completed a small repair to part of the brake rigging on the Lowfit.

    Lowfit wagon B452718 is due to go to Rothley at some point for underframe repairs, in the meantime we need to progress other jobs which include a repair to a broken part of the brake rigging. One of the twin operating arms has a fractured spacer and a missing spacer. To make the repair easier, on Saturday the arm was removed from the wagon.

    The spacer attachment areas were cleaned up and a new spacer cut from a piece of tubing.

    The arm assembly was then clamped together and welded up.

    The rigging arm was then treated to a coat of red oxide primer, followed by a coat of gloss black.

    Dan continued with his work on the A-Type container, cleaning up more of the metalwork and applying red-oxide primer.

    The main focus for the weekend has been needle gunning, sanding and scraping of tank 1919 to progress closer to being able to apply paint.

    Where bare metal was revealed, red oxide primer was applied and when dry the north end headstock panel had grey undercoat.

    On Sunday the sanding and scraping continued on tank 1919, also a couple of areas on tanks 3621 and 3606 were attended to.

    Again any bare metal areas on all 3 tanks were treated to some red oxide primer.

    The repaired brake rigging arm was re-fitted to the Lowfit after straightening the locating pins.

    The sticker glue residue was removed from the west side of tank 1919.

    Next week with most of the team away, we’ll be taking a break from reporting any activity until we’re back for the Bank Holiday bumper weekend at the end of the month.

    Cheers for now, Dave

  • 21/04/25 – Easter’s Greetings!

    21/04/25 – Easter’s Greetings!

    Hello everyone, and welcome to this weekends update. The railway has hosted its Road Rail Steam event over this extended weekend, and as one of the attractions Test Car 2 has been open to the public, however, we have been able to continue progress on the two Esso tanks.

    On Good Friday (though we prefer Goods Friday) both the vans and the mixed goods were out and about the railway which was a pleasant sight to see. Dave, Nick and I were on site to make the final preparations to opening the Test Car.

    A person wearing an orange safety vest is crouched down, using a marker to make notes on a piece of paper attached to a wooden step next to a railway carriage.

    On Saturday, the main event was the Test Car opening, with Ernie and Dave mainly taking care of proceedings. Nick, Tom, Oliver and I took a look at repairing/and painting some of the splash guards from 3621 and 3606. Those from 3606 only needed a scrape and wire brush before receiving some primer. Nick, Tom and Oliver also applied primer to both chassis where these splash guards mount. Additionally the areas covered up by the tank supports also got a coat of primer.

    Three of the four splash guards from 3621 need a more in depth repair, which I tackled. I cut out the rotten sections, then used a scribe to draw around the cut out on some new metal to make my new piece. After they were ground up, I welded them into place on the top and bottom face to complete the repairs on two of the three plates. I ran out of time for the third, so this will be done another day. Once completed and cooled, they joined the queue to be painted.

    Dave and I covered Test Car proceedings on Sunday, with Ernie joining us again today, ably running the sales stand. Thanks to everyone who visited, and to those who donated or bought something from us, every bit of goes back into the wagon fleet and the continued restoration of Test Car 2.

    The weather on Monday was a bit poor for wagon work, but the team set into refurbishing some vacuum release valves, and fitted another vice to the work bench in the GUV. At the end of the day the hose was coiled back up after being used to fill the reserves for Colin McAndrew, and other tidying up was done ready for next weekend, where the Test Car will be open again, this time for the Spring Diesel Gala.

    Thanks for reading and join us again next week to see what else happens!

  • 06/04/25 – Reunification Weekend

    06/04/25 – Reunification Weekend

    Hello everyone, and welcome to another update from Quorn. This weekend has been the railway’s Re-unification Open Weekend, so we’ve welcomed visitors into the Test Car and around a small area of the yard. Nick and the team have also finished off de-scaling the last few pockets on both 3606 and 3621, and all bar two have been painted in black top coat.

    Ernie, Dan and I welcomed visitors into the Test Car to explain and share its unique position in UK railway history. I also used some of the quiet periods to investigate some of the speedometers around the coach to see if they can be connected to the instrumentation in the coach as they were.

    Harry, Dan and Nick continued the descaling, and continued priming the pockets and bays on the two Esso tank wagons. We’re now at the point where we’ve got the the last of these so we can now move to prepping the rest of the wagons.

    On Sunday, Oliver, Tom, Mark, Charlie and Nick continued applying both primer and black paint to the wagons.

    That wraps up this update, as a reminder the Test Car with be open for two more weekends in April:

    – Road Rail Steam – 19-21 April 2025

    – Spring Diesel Gala – 25-27 April 2025

    Find us at the south end of the station yard at Quorn, through the gate just past the turntable.

    Pop in and see us for a guided tour of this unique piece of railway history, and find our how & why British Rail tested goods wagons. Keep and eye out for our Donations Lamp outside the Test Car; your support is very much appreciated.

    For more info about these events, and more, please see the GCRs website – https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/whats-on/

    Thanks for reading! All the best, Ross

  • 23/03/25 – Visions of Abbey Lane…

    23/03/25 – Visions of Abbey Lane…

    Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s update from Quorn. With the south yard looking a little bit like Abbey Lane sidings with amount of Esso tank wagons around, the gang have pressed on with preparations on both 3606 and 3621.

    Ernie removed the last two splash guard plates from 3621, which opened up the area around the wheels for cleaning down and hoovering. Nick set about straightening these with his most favourite tool to get them flat after the rust build up had bowed them at each end. Two of them require a weld repair due to corrosion.

    Harry, Charlie and new starter Dan continued the laborious job of cleaning and de-scaling the end pockets and the chassis of the Esso tank. While they did this, Ernie and I removed the heating coil end plug from the wagon to clean out the threads and refit it.

    Nick and I moved onto re-assembling the vacuum cylinder ready for re-fitting to 3606, which involved removing the nuts from the studs and re-fitting the studs into the dome.

    The chassis preparation was continued on Sunday by Tom, Mark, Oliver, Harry, Charlie, Nick, Bradley and Ernie, with the weather thankfully a little drier than yesterday. It appears at some point Charlie got a little distracted by a spot on the Fish van body…

    Dan, Mark and Charlie also managed to get some areas of both chassis primed or gloss coated

    With the weather starting to look up, we’ll soon be moving onto surface preparation of the barrel on both 3621 and 3606, which means paint isn’t too far away. Now just the small matter of getting some more Esso plates…

    The weekend of the 5th & 6th April is the railway’s Reunification Gala weekend, where we’ll have the Test Car open to visitors after a shunt around this week to allow opening up easier. If you plan on coming down, do pop in and visit us. Thanks for reading, and see you next weekend!