Hello everyone and welcome to this weekend’s update from Quorn. As you could expect its been all go on the tank front, thanks to co-operative weather, with both tanks looking good in their black top coat.
With just me holding down the fort on Saturday, it was down to me to get both tanks into top coat, spraying both barrels top to bottom and all underframe pockets. Nick and Charlie each had a go with the spray gun on the underframes.
Charlie undertook a pad exam on both the Conflat and Lowfit with no issues found and also oiled all the brake rigging.
We noticed that the pins in part of the brake rigging on 3854 were too long for their intended function, we set Ernie onto cutting them down and re-drilling the split pin hole. Nick and James refitted the pins once they’d all been cut down.
Dave and I made a start on second coat on 3854, this time with Oliver assisting. Oliver has expressed an interest in learning how to spray paint, and we are only too happy to pass on the skills. After talking through the set up, Dave and Oliver took the reigns in applying the paint, as I got a bit distracted…
To celebrate an upcoming birthday I put on a BBQ for the gang with plenty of food to go round. The team were well equipped to assist with the eating but also helped a lot with prep and the washing up!
The rest of the gang set to work in the GUV, removing a woodworking machine and rearranging the paint cupboards to give some more room for storage. Dan also got the two repaired splash guards for 3689 painted up into undercoat, ready for a coat of gloss.
Dave and Oliver ran out of time to get 3689 up into its second coat, so that’s what we’ll focus on next week. Join us then and see what else we get up to!
Hello and welcome to a glorious bank holiday weekend update from Quorn. Two wagon restorations are finished and two tanks go grey.
Saturday started with Dan finishing off signwriting the two builders plates on the Lowfit B452718, whilst Mark, Oliver, Tom and Nick applied a coat of varnish to the body of the Lowfit and also the Conflat B507489.
Ernie and myself got the Esso Plate jig out and fitted the brackets for the east side of 3689 to the jig, which was then offered up to the tank barrel, checking the bracket positions before grinding each of them up as required.
With the jig in place again each bracket was tack welded; the jig was then un-bolted and each bracket fully welded in place; Charlie and myself also having a go at the welding. Once cooled Oliver applied some red-oxide to the new brackets.
Charlie did a bit of work on Edward’s frame and bodywork, however some further work is required to get him operational again to reliably provide a source of compressed air.
The Test Car’s generator was run-up to warm it through, the throttle linkage was adjusted to get the generator running speed correct to give 50Hz output; then in accordance with the workshop manual the cylinder head nuts were re-torqued up whilst the engine was warm. This involved removing the rocker cover, rocker-shaft, injectors and various fuel pipes from the top of what was quite a hot engine.
We decided to leave the re-assembly of the generator until it had cooled, so Sunday morning Ross and myself re-fitted the injectors, rocker shaft and fuel pipework, then re-checked the tappets, with only one needing very slight adjustment. The rocker cover was then re-fitted with a new gasket, new rubber top-nut seals and a smear of sealant.
The fuel system was bled and it started up first time, and the Test Car’s compressor run up to check operation, and the air used to blow-down the two tank wagons 3854 and 3689.
Having now got a reliable source of compressed air, the main focus for Sunday (on one of the hottest days of the year so far) was for Ross and myself to get ourselves wrapped up in protective overalls, masks, gloves etc and break out the paint spraying equipment. Some grey primer/undercoat was thinned, mixed and checked for consistency.
After Nick had removed a few spiders webs and bird droppings, we then set about spraying the two Esso tanks 3854 and 3689, starting with the north ends and east side of both wagons.
More paint was mixed as required and we moved round to the west side.
Nick and Ernie followed behind us with brushed to attend to parts that we couldn’t easily reach with the spray-gun.
By the end of a very warm day we had both the tanks looking very grey. The spray equipment was given a good clean out so it will be ready for when we need it to apply the black gloss top-coats.
On Monday, Nick, Charlie and Ross brake tested the Conflat and Lowfit together using the little test rig before the mercury started to climb. Both passed with minor issues, one needing a brake adjust and the other requires a bit of lubrication.
With the brake test complete, Nick got the undercoat back out and touched in more areas that myself and Ross couldn’t get to or missed.
With the weather being so hot, not a lot else could be achieved with most of the team retiring to the shade for most of the afternoon. Next week, we shall hopefully be getting the gloss out and getting the two tanks into their black top coat. Join us then and see how we get on!
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.
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
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.
Hello everyone and welcome to this weekends update. Today’s been a bit of a foggy one for us which didn’t really let up until after lunch.
After turning 3854 in the week to allow for access, Mark, Tom, Oliver and Dan made a start on the other side of 3854, using the needle guns to bare metal the ‘belly’ of the tank barrel. The rest of the barrel will be done with the abrasive paint removal discs on the grinders, as per the other side.
James, Charlie, Dan and I started cleaning up the brake shoe hangers after which Dan followed behind and applied some black gloss.
Dan also applied white undercoat the the axle bearing end caps, handbrake levers and lamp brackets.
With assistance from James and Oliver, Nick stripped the floor from the Conflat, ready for it to be taken to the bonfire construction area.
Charlie and I repaired the motor cabling on George and got the field reversing switch wired back up to put him back into use. He was quickly placed into work moving the floor removed from the Conflat to the bonfire pile.
I showed Charlie and Dan how to adjust the brakes on the BEVs, and left Charlie to adjust the ones on George and Zsa-Zsa.
After cleaning down, Tom, Mark and Oliver followed behind where they had bare metalled with grey primer/undercoat.
On Sunday, Ernie and I looked at some more welding on the spark/splash guards from 3854
That’s everything for this week, join us next week to see us hopefully start signwriting the two tanks, and getting further with the work on 3854. Thanks for reading!
Work once again continues on the Conflats and Nicks Container. More sanding on BD4303B. All areas were completed including profiling the door repair where the hinge will be going.
More prep on the underframes of B505313 and B507489 also continued and the opportunity was taken by Jake to undercoat the inner rail of both Conflats.
On to Sunday and what was left of the Stacking plates on 4303 were removed whilst Nick blew down the Container ready for the repaired areas to be sealed.
Jake got out the spray gun and bitumen and completed the underframe paint of both Conflats.
The triangular plates manufactured last weekend were fitted.
The final task for me was to apply resin to all of the repaired areas to seal them before paint. Unfortunately, the rain had other ideas before all areas were completed.
Hopefully, it will be drier next weekend, fingers crossed
Back to the grind, work continues on the Conflats and Containers. B505313 and B507489
both receiving bitumastic paint to the solebars and headstocks, This being applied by Jake, Harry, and new recruit James.
Eddie had the job of toning down the wood preserver applied last weekend. A touch of bitumin worked into the planks.
Dave and I continued with BD 3403 B. Gradually sanding down the areas filled, unfortunately, the door with the large repair had an area of the old fiberglass delaminate, this was cut out, filled and fiberglassed by Dave.
Whilst I continued sanding
Sunday and rain, Dave took the opportunity to overhaul our stock of vacuum release valves ready for the Van Trains Christmas brake overhaul, more on that in December.
I manufactured repair plates for Nicks containers end door, which was fitted once the rain stopped.
I also, with Daves’s help, bolted in a wear plate for the end door. This tightened the whole installation, closing the doors up very well.
With our thanks to the Ops department, we are back in our usual position with Test Car on the front road and our next project brought up from the yard. First task a brake test to find out how the two vehicles behave. B507489 held vacuum for 10 minutes with B505313 being no better after fitment of a Branch pipe, the original one having long since perished, new vacuum hoses were fitted all round.
So next we looked at the Release Valves. Both were removed and overhauled by Dave. This has become second nature to him and both valves were done very quickly.
The next test and B505313 held for just under an hour but no change to B507489. With only one 15″ rolling ring in stock B507489 was chosen to receive it. With the “Lighter” cylinder the decision was taken to drop it manually rather than use the loading shovel.
Once out it was split and found to be in remarkable condition. A quick hoover new ring fitted, rebuilt and refitted to the vehicle.
A final test and after 3 hours it was still holding and another Defect Card filed.
Whilst this was going on, my attention was on BD4303B, voids were filled with expanding foam. Surface and full cracks, as well as dents, were scolloped out.
One of the doors had a hole straight through it. The top hinge was unbolted, loose fibreglass removed. Tape was applied to the inside and again the void filled and taped over
Full through cracks received a fiberglass matting and resin to restore strength and then a fiberglass filler applied along with the other areas prepared earlier.
Finally, for Saturday we welcome Eddie and Harry who have started with the paint preparation removing loose paint and verdigris.
On to Sunday and the weather was not in our favor. Despite this Ross and I continued with work on Nicks Container. The areas of foam added were cut down, scolloped exposing original layers of Fiberglass
Matting was then resined into position to provide strength and support, this will then have a layer of filler applied to restore the smooth outer layer although only if we have a drier day.
Ross’s task was to begin the sanding of previously applied resin and keying of the gelcoat ready for painting, we would have liked to of restored the gelcoat fully, unfortunately working outside this is ni on impossible.
Nick replaced a number of floor planks as well as removing the remains of the bottoms of the chain boxes. These have not faired well so the decision has been taken to open them up to limit further rot
Eddie and Harry continued with their cleaning regime, with the conflats complete they moved on to E280364
With rain towards the later half of the day Ross and I took a trip to Swithland to fit our refurbished first aid kits to our brakevans, replacing the modern kits with more period looking items.
Being at Swith also gave us a chance to see our latest van with the rest. With all of our restored vans in the one train, well all apart from the fishvan and tool van. 15 Bauxite vans in one train, is there anywhere else that can offer this?
Our final image. The two proud Container owners with there rare items.
Well, after a hot week the weather conspired against us and its rained, all weekend. This, of course, limits the work we can carry out on the exterior of “2 Car” although Saturday morning we did manage to apply filler to a number of areas and sand down a little before the rain took hold.
With all we could do outside done, we turned to some drier activities. Dave continued with the interpretation displays and an internal clean and tidy.
Whilst I began the task of refurbishing a number of first aid kits for our brakevans.
Our thanks also go to the Ops Department for bringing our post Test Car project to Quorn. Namely our 2 Conflats for a pair of recently acquired containers.
On to Sunday and the same weather-wise. I continued with the first aid kits
Interlaced with the first stage of refurbishment for a “Not to be Moved Board”.
Ross lowered the ceiling to diagnose a fault on the 24v supply side. The issue has been identified and components need to be acquired to rectify.
Looking into the ceiling space and seeing the original 1962 ceiling gave us an opportunity to recover the ceiling vents. These will go into stock and available if required for another vehicle.
We resited the compressor as the gangway will once again be used routinely so the compressor is currently an 11 bar trip hazard.
Finally, we made a start on enclosing the Generator for when public access is allowed into the vehicle. The compressor will also be enclosed.
We are wishing for better weather as our deadline for “2 Car” looms ever closer.
