Monthly Bulletin 20 - October 1997

ISSUE 20 - October 1997

INTRODUCTION

At the MRC DMU Day representatives from the Colne Valley Railway notified us that they would hold the event in 2000, which we duly printed. A recent Rail mentioned the East Lancs Railway for that year. Would someone clear up the confusion, please?
Last month we also mentioned the proposals to have a get together of all surviving bubble cars in 2008. A letter was recieved from Shackerstone DMU Group owners of 55005:-
"I don't wish to be off-putting but the estimated cost for us would be approx. £1500 with nothing in return but one weekend's running. this money would almost pay for a reconditioned Leyland 680 engine, or one and a half reconditioned R14 gearboxes. if enough fund raising is done to move six single cars, surely the £9000 could be used for more productive means? We're sorry, but we have better things to spend our money on. Making sure the long term future of our vehicle is more important to us than a pointless jaunt..."

Saturday 15th November is the deadline for Issue 21 of The Bulletin.

NEWS

Spares Theft - Spare have been stolen from the Dean Forest Railway. If you are offered items such as vacuum gauges, speedos, etc. please contact the DFDMU Group.

Bournemouth Open Day - There is an open weekend at Bournemouth depot on 16/17th May 1998. The NMCG would like a publicity/sales stand at this event but do not have the resources to attend on their own. They propose a "DMU preservation stand" involving as many groups as possible. With DMU interest growing but still in the minority, the NMCG idea hopes to attract more attention with a "Blaze of publicity" from which all involved could benefit. Anyone looking to co-operate in a joint venture, please write to Mark Grimes

Preservation

Shackerstone 118 Much time has been spent on the mechanical and electrical systems of DMS 51321, to the extent that both engines have now been started. the vehicle was able to make a test run under it own power to Market Bosworth on 1/10/97, coupled to Class 116 DMS 51131. No Major faults showed up on this test run. Jobs completed since its arrival include fitting a new fuel pump and fan drive to one engine, a new final drive dog and input shaft to one transmission, modifying and fitting a new coolant header tank and rewire the fire circuits. All the cut wires have been traced and new EP control panels, one start panel and all the cab controls and gauges have been fitted. The only mechanical job left to do is the fitting of the two alternators, and then cosmetic restoration can begin.

West Somerest 103 Sufficient second class seat frames from DMBS 50413 have been stripped down ready for derusting and cleaning. Before fitting the Met Camm seat mounting brackets will need modifying. On DTC 56169 the bottom drain pipe sections have been fabricated to replace those that had rotted away. Luckily it was only the first two windows on the drivers side that was affected. On the opposite side of the first class compartments the first of the plywood wall panels have been fitted, and they look very impressive.

Swansea Vale DMUs The Llanelli & District Railway Society Class 116 masqueraded as Muriel at their successful August Thomas event. Work has resumed on Class 121 55026, concentrating on the brake van, cabs and interior window frames. It is hoped to be running at next years Thomas event.

Nene Valley 117 - Pressed Steel Heritage Limited's DMS 51401 successfully completed its first trail run to Peterborough and Back on 4/10/97. Driver training should begin soon with a view to running passenger services in Mid-November.

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

WANTED

Class 108 Power Car - an example preferably in working order. Dean Forest DMU Group.

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.

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.

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.

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

Colours - Does anyone know what colour the cab detonator and flag tin boxes were painted when DMUs were first delivered? Most DMUs now seem to have a clear plastic ones. Two tin boxes recovered from EMUs seem to been painted light green. Were DMUs originally the same?. Williton Traction Group.

Injector coding - explanation wanted regading the coloured spot painted on the Leyland 680 injectors. White, yellow & green have been note - what do they mean? Dean Forest DMU Group.

Livery - details required of the original Brunswick green with whiskers livery for 107s. Cleaning down of underframe paintwork has revealed the dark brown paint solebar of DMCL 52031. Can anyone confirm the exact colour and the extent of brown painting of 107 underframes? When was the brown replaced with black? Can anyone provide a definite list of colours for exterior components? Does anyone have dimensions for the driving end whiskers? Class 107 Ltd.

Engine colours - is there any significance in the different colours that engines are painted? Swindon Diesel Preservation Group.

Class 107 Livery - Could the brown paint on the underframe of Class 107 Ltd's 52031 simply date back to the early days of all over blue, when black was displaced, for a short period, as the underframe colour? Bitton Diesel Group.