Tag: 6581

Welcome to another update from us lot at Quorn. This weekend has seen routine maintenance take place to the running fleet.

We keep records of the work carried out to our vehicles, and perusing these records showed us that the all vehicles are due a routine pad exam. Whilst undertaking the pad exam we also take the opportunity to oil up any pivot points in the brake rigging, so that whatever brakes are fitted remain operational. On both Saturday and Sunday, we worked on the vehicles stored in Swithland Sidings.

On Saturday, we performed pad exams on the van train. This also included the LMS brake van which is currently running on the south end of the rake.

 

After we’d done the pad exams, we rattled down the van train oiling the brake rigging and oiling any screw couplings. This also included the B954268, which was stabled next to the van train on the south end of the mineral rake.

 

Sunday saw some of the currently disbanded Mixed Freight, and a Rudd, get the same treatment as the van train. We also corrected a failed attempt to fit the Bogie Bolster D with a new vacuum hose, on its south end. This had been secured to the wagon with Gaffer tape, instead of using a hose clamp suitable for the diameter of the hose. Had this been brought to our attention and the consumable parts supplied, we would have happily fitted the hose. Hopefully, the rectification of this should see the vehicle back in the mixed freight. Matt also fitted a sign to the interior of B954268 which is the final detail in this brake van.

 

We began oiling once these small jobs were complete. Today, we have oiled the tank wagons  (3436, 6581 and 998926), some of the open wagons (E281882, E301588, B385782, B425356, B550356, B721587, B724570, B732357 & B740654) and some of the Departmental fleet (DB972018 and DB928135). Not all of these vehicles have plain bearings, which means some of these had their rigging oiled only.

Tomorrow, see us back at Swithland completing the open fleet, and starting pad exams at Quorn! Thanks for reading!

Following on from Matt’s report last week, B850498 has now been completed. The roof has been touched up following last Sunday’s rain. Here are 2 photos of it in “ex-works” condition. This vehicle has now been put into the van train, thus having its debut at Good Galore! (not bad for a grounded body!)

On to this weekend, which saw us preparing the Fish van for its new colour scheme, whilst the Spring Diesel Gala was taking place. The aluminium body sides and ironwork was sanded, scraped and wire brushed in order to remove old flaky paint and to return the surface of the aluminium to a stable state, suitable for painting over. Areas where the ironwork was pitted was treated with red oxide primer. Some minor repairs to the bottom door runners were also enacted. These had dropped below the bottom of the door so weren’t supporting the door, making them hard to open.

The results of the sanding can be seen in the below pictures, the leftmost picture showing the various items that have been sign written onto the panel, not limited to; BR double arrows from its time in BR blue as an SPV, a Blue Spot from its time as an Insul-Fish and yellow from its time attached to a ballast cleaner as the tool van.

Today, with the weather being changeable, we opted to start painting the van into its undercoat. It was nice to spray something other than Bauxite or Bauxite undercoat!

The eagle-eyed among you with notice that we have painted the headstocks and buffers in the body colour. this is an unusual, yet prototypical detail that is rarely seen in the preservation of these vehicles. Unfortunately, the rain started so the paint had to go away. Next weekend, it is hoped we can finish painting the west side and the south end.
In other news:

The Swithland Wagon Group have finished their restoration of our tank wagon, A6581. Tommy Lees, Keith Lloyd and David Wood have done a fantastic job with this wagon, and it looks great on the front road at Swithland Sidings. I for one am looking forward to seeing it and A6071 in the trains at Good Galore!

Lastly, we took delivery and put into store a rather exciting item! Hopefully, more shall be announced in the fullness of time.