Issue Number Twenty-three January 21st, 1998

INTRO

At long last we have details about the T-shirts featuring 50s DMU adverts. See enclosed leaflet for ordering details.

Saturday 14th February is the deadline for issue 24 of The Bulletin.

NEWS

TOTON OPEN WEEKEND

The National Metro Cammell Group propose a joint stand at this event on August 29/30th, along the lines of their idea for Bournemouth. Anybody interested should contact Mark Grimes ASAP with an SAE.

NMCG COACH TRIP

A coach trip to Essex has been arranged for March 7th, visiting various sites and including a Bubble car run on the Sudbury branch. Mark would like some more questionnaires to be returned to assess future support.

101 VARIATIONS

Both 51187 and 51509, of unit 101 684, were noted with the black paint modification on 15th December. Unit 101 687 was seen on 12th January with car 51512 having the black paint addition but companion 51247 untouched.

WICKHAM RAILBUS

The East Lancs has acquired this railbus from Derby Research. This differs from the passenger vehicles, having a heavy frame and proper buffing and drawgear. It is fitted with a Meadows 90hp engine, but has a second to power test equipment. Use and livery are as yet undecided.

PRESERVATION

RUDDINGTON 108s

DMBS 50926 is now almost fully glazed and most doors have been replaced. Work has been concentrated on the cab area: rebuilding the driver's desk and also repairing the plate over the headcode box. Corroded metal was cut out and replaced without reinstating the box - this will be done soon however. Newly-arrived DMC 50645 is 99% complete but the interior was in need of a thorough clean. One engine is close to running.

DEAN FOREST 108 51914

Cab fittings are being restored and the front saloon seat frames are being cleaned and painted, as is the four-character headcode box. Cleaning and scraping of the cab's original Formica is well advanced. In the rear saloon, the seats on one side have been removed for renovation and the strip lights have been discarded as tungsten ones are to be fitted.

The battery cables have been replaced with new correct spec cable. Some work on the distribution board will enable circuit testing.

The fibreglass cab roof is being scraped clean and the front of the cab is being de-scaled to reveal the extent of filler and metal moth. This is part of the preparations involved in the planned summer repaint into green.

WEST SOMERSET 103

Some work has been carried out on the roof of DTC 56169 so sort out some leaks (they suspect this may be due to the amount of Welshmen working on the set!) This car has also the interior metal work in the second and third saloons prepared for re-panelling, and many of the curved wooden supports for the ceiling made and fitted.

LLANGOLLEN DMU GROUP

The popular Class 104 set was taken out of traffic in November for a B exam and repairs arising. It required one brake cylinder re-ringing, a set of injectors in one of the engines, work to the exhaust and sundry small spares, such as the renewal of the vac hoses. This was completed by late December but the unit will remain unused until about April as the interior of DMCL 50528 is being refurbished which will include a rubdown of the woodwork and revarnish and re-upholstery of all the seats.

The Class 127 DMBS 51618 suffered a number of mysterious engine shutdowns which have been traced to a broken wire on the tacho generator to no. 2 engine. This has been rectified as have defective vac hoses, a broken cab step and other small running repairs. This car has also been fitted with a new design of public address system which is more powerful than the standard Llangollen item. New wiring diagrams have been produced for the 127 (which is substantially different to a normal blue square car) and are available to other groups who might need them. This set is in normal traffic and has completed over 700 miles since being returned to the running fleet in early September.

The class 108 set is undergoing a C exam during our three week winter shutdown.

EAST LANCASHIRE DMUs

The Class 110 was well used in 97, covering about 1240 miles. The 105 DTC 56121 has had a lot of the bodywork skeleton replaced on the secondman's side. The cab desk is now completely rewired. The saloon ceiling and upper wall panels are being insulated prior to the replacement of lower panelling.

WANTED

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

Spares and information - suitable for Class 117/108. One type R14 gearbox and replacement batteries. Also details of the paint spec. for green livery, engine / transmission manuals, and drawings and electrical schematics. Northampton & Lamport Railway DMU Group.

Class 108 Spares - 2 doors, 2 alternators, luggage racks, some light fittings, 1 voltage regulator, 1 radiator, heaters and EP valves. Nottingham (GC) DMU Group.

QUESTIONS

Ozonair Filters - does anyone know of a source for these? The are a metal grille filter used on the heater air intakes on some DMUs. Swindon Diesel Preservation Society.

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 clear plastic ones. Two tin boxes recovered from EMUs seem to have been painted light green. Were DMUs originally the same? Williton Traction Group.

Injector coding - explanation wanted regarding the coloured spot painted on Leyland 680 injectors. White, yellow & green have been noted - 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 on the 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 definitive list of colours for exterior components? Does anyone have dimensions for the driving end whiskers? Class 107 Ltd.

ANSWERS

Another suggestion for engines having different colours is that it relates to the year of overhaul. Pre 89 was silver, 89/90 (89/90/91?) were pink, and 91/92 (92/93?) green. Overhaul dates, as well as type, modifications, overhaul location and fitting date are to be found on a small (approx. 10x5 cm) brass plate screwed to the top or underside of the engine. Gearboxes were painted pink for Derby Works or blue for Avon Transmission Services. Shackerstone DMU Group.