ISSUE 17 - July 1997

INTRODUCTION

New this month is the chance to travel on DMUs well into te night. We wish the Swanage Railway success with this venture

Saturday 16th August is the deadline for Issue 18 of The Bulletin.

NEWS

2nd National DMU day - This event will be held at the Midland Railway Centre on Sunday 31st August 1997. the line gas a 2-car class 114 and a 3-car Class 127, and also the Derby Lightweight and Wickham sets which are undergoing restoration.
Other attractions are a narrow gauge , miniature gauge and three model railways. Non-railway interest are a road museum, church, country park and canal with walks, and a farm with animals.

Evening Service - The Swanage Railway is to operate a DMU evening service in July and August. It is aimed at passengers wishing to travel to Corfe castle for a meal or visit one of the four inns close to the station. A special fare of £2 will allow unlimited travel between Swanage and Corfe Castle. There will be a bar trolley service on the train. The line's Class 108 will be joined by one of the Class 108 from the Peak Railway.

Llangollen Railway -The Railway is to stop DMU "Earlybird" workings next year due to poor loadings, but the DMUs will be given more workings at other times. This October will see 1,200 miles of DMU working over 23 days.
A recent month-long survey of passengers on days when DMU and steam were operating together found almost no resistance to the units which often carried approaching half the total number of passengers for the day.

Preservation

Dean Forest 108 - DTC 56492 visited Aberthaw Power Station in May for an open day when it was used as a coach for GWR 0-4-2t No. 1450. DMBS has had work done to the cab, the ceiling being painted and most of the Formica uncovered from below several paint layers. A lot of wooden strip has bee sanded down and varnished. A significant amount of work has also been done off -site, by members taking items home to restore. already returned are the headcode panel and destination box which had been stripped, sanded, stained and varnished. door frame parts, seat frames and cab fittings are now being tackled.

Shackerstone DMU Group - Class 122 55005 has now operated 4,000 miles since arriving from Laira in 1995. it has proven to be very reliable, but now requires external bodywork repairs and will be repainted into green. Class 116 51131 has been repainted into blue and grey and will do most of this year's services, with class 122 DTS 54289, which was repainted in 1996. The group was dismayed to find that parts have been removed from their class 118 DMS 51321 after purchase. the vehicle had already been subject to extensive sparse recovery, but they are confident that they have most of the spares required. Repairs will start when the vehicle arrives shortly.

Swansea Vale 116s - The Class 116 made its first revenue-earning trip in preservation on May 3rd andd a good few admirers turned up for a ride.

Llangollen DMU Group - After 18 months out of traffic the Class 127/105 worked its first train since overhaul on the diesel weekend during June. The cars worked well, covering about 50 miles, but a number of small faults remain to be sorted out before the set can be released to normal traffic. The Cravens trailer 56456 has been repainted into lined early British Railways colours, with painting progressing on the Derby power car 51618. This vehicle has also had work to renew communication cords, repanel and repair bodywork and cure a number of electrical and mechanical faults. Some upholstery has been done but interiors are not to the standard of the rest of the Llangollen cars but may be dealt with at a later date. The Class 108 power car has had to have a replacement injector pump fitted to no. 1 engine after blowing a seal. The popular Class 104 power twin continues to rack up mileage - having covered 1,000 in the last six months.

East Lancs 110 - Centre car 59701 has been completed to a runnable standard and was due to make its debut during their Diesel event. The remaining cosmetic jobs will be done following this.

East Lancs 105 - Good progress has been made with asbestos stripping with just the power car cab to do.

Wickham Project - Work continues apace at the MRC with the DMBS 50416 now approaching the painting stage. new gutters to the correct profile have had to be made. It is anticipated that work will cease for the year once the car is painted. Considerable funds still need to be found to start the interior work.

• If you can help any of the following groups with their needs or information, please e-mail us at editor@railcar.co.uk

WANTED

Locking Device - has anyone any ideas on a locking device for the fuel filler caps on DMUs, remembering that the cap itself is threaded? Llanelli & District Railway Society.

Air System - source required for the bellows and valves assembly for cylinder-mounted compressor unloading valves Class 107 Ltd.

Blanking Nuts and filters - for unloader valves. Swindon Diesel Preservation Society

Rubber Discs - for the wheelset leaf spring restraints. Source or rubber specification required. Class 107 Ltd

Engine - Leyland 680 suitable for a Class 108. Any condition as long as it is complete (preferably a runner) or is capable of being rebuilt/overhauled Bitton Diesel Group.

Exhauster - Clayton DMU vacuum exhauster in good condition. Bitton Diesel Group.

Formica - To replace the material that was damaged during the asbestos inspection at Gwent. To try and minimise costs, we wonder if there are any other groups needing this. If so, a larger order could be placed for off-the shelf or specially-made patterns. There was a huge variety of patterns and colours used in DMUs, but we have some leeway in that we could use the original colours or the "as withdrawn" style. If anybody is anticipating buying Formica now or in the future, please contact the group or The Railcar. Gloucester Railcar Trust.

Class 108 Spares -Various electrical and mechanical parts including doors, air receivers, alternators, speedo drivers, luggage racks, all light fittings, window glass and rubber, partitions, inspection hatches, exhauster, voltage regulator, 2 radiator, silencer, heaters and EP valves. Nottingham (GC) DMU Group.

Information - On curtains as originally fitted to Swindons DMUs. Patterns, colours, materials, supplier, etc. Swindon Diesel Preservation Society.

Information - any promotional material or information relating to introduction of first generation DMUs. Also any technical manuals. First Generation DMU Group.

For Sale

Information - drawings from Western and Midland Regions, mainly electrical but also mechanical, for Met Camm and Derby Lightweight DMUs, possibly including the early designs. Engine and transmission manuals and various WR and MR DMU literature, including modifications and standing instructions. Bitton Diesel Group

Engine Components - Most parts available from a Rolls-Royce Class 110 DMU engine that had been rebuilt from a horizontal to vertical configuration. Bitton DMU Group

Class 127 Spares - large quantity available, including new radiators, exhaust flexibles, Stones control panels, torque converter parts etc, No List, just send SAE and we will see what is there and negotiate. Bitton DMU Group.

Questions

Does anyone know of a source for original BR DMU drivers uniforms? If not, would there be sufficient interest for groups to collaborate to get a batch made? Editors