ISSUE TWENTY FOUR - February 18th 1998

INTRO

The Web site is progressing well and can now be viewed at www.poohsticks.demon.co.uk Please visit it if you can and let us know what you think before we start promoting it, particularly if there are any mistakes. If anybody wants to contribute anything it would be most welcome. Remember it is our site and we should promote DMUs to the rest of the world as best we can.

NEWS

CLASS 108s CHANGE HANDS

Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Limited have purchased a further two 108 vehicles, DMBS 53628 and DTC 54223 from The Great Western Railway Preservation Society at Southall. They are in full working order and painted in NSE livery. They will be moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum. Also owning DMBS 50599, DMCL 51568, DMCL 52053 and DTCL 56491, this brings their working 108 total to six cars. They would be interested to receive written offers from any preserved railway looking to hire a DMU.

CLASS 107 LTD

At the end of December this group's vehicles (DMBS 52006 and DMC 52031) moved to Crewe where refurbishment work will be carried out. This was due to the lack of co-operation they received from the Eden Valley Railway Trust, and a lack of progress on the scheme in general. Anyone wanting to help at Crewe would be most welcome. Negotiations are underway with several preserved lines with a view to operating passenger services later in the year, but they are still open to invitations from other railways interested in operating a regular DMU service. Congratulations also to the group for obtaining the sole surviving centre car for this class.

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.

PRESERVATION

DEAN FOREST 108 51914

The cab lights have been switched on for the first time in preservation and the 4-aspect headcode glass reinstated.

CREWE 107s

The Class 107 Ltd's vehicles have had lamp brackets, step irons, grab rails and other ironmongery removed, cleaned, repainted and refixed. The solebar has been cleaned down and repainted on one side and spares have been cleared out of the interior.

SWINDON & CRICKLADE

Class 107 DMBS 52005 has just undergone a complete mechanical overhaul that included the following work. No. 2 engine: cylinder heads repaired due to water leaking into the oil; replacement fluid coupling fitted due to blown Bellows gland and worn main bearing. No. 1 engine: cylinder heads repaired due to severe carbon accumulation; flywheel/fluid coupling and starter replaced due to chewed starter ring/gear; various starter circuit rewiring done. A vacuum reservoir tank was also replaced.

Class 101 DMBS 51434 currently runs with 107 DMS 52025 but both engines have worn oil rings in the cylinder heads. Body repairs and engine overhauls will begin when 52005 is ready to replace it in the set.

WEST SOMERSET 103

The group has passed two of their restoration milestones this month. The first was the completion of de-rusting the interior shells of both cars, and painting them in red oxide, undercoat and two grey top coats. The second was the installation of the roof ceiling insulation to both cars.

In DTC 56196, the saloon with the toilet has had the body shell welding completed and painted. This saloon has also had all the drip pipes made up (12mm plastic piping with ferules rather than the aluminium original) and fitted. A start was made on fitting the wall insulation and fabricating the wall panels. Both damaged bulkheads have been replaced.

RAILCAR ENTERPRISES

At the Mid-Norfolk Railway, Class 122 55006 ran from the end of July to Christmas without any problems. Class 101 DMC 51503 has had an engine run, and inside only needs putting back together, no parts are missing. Class 108 DMC 51572 / DTC 54224 will be in traffic shortly. Class 111 TRBS 59575, stored at Snetterton, is due to be moved to East Dereham Yard for asbestos removal.

WANTED

Lamp bezels - these are required for fitting the centre and roof headlights to our Class 105. It is the angled part that attaches the lamp onto the cab. East Lancs DMU Group.

Buffer overhauls - details & telephone number required for a company that will do this work. Dean Forest 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.

Headcode Numbers - we would like to borrow a roll of these numbers from a four-aspect headcode, so we can get copies done for Class 108 DMBS 51914. (two aspect ones are different). Dean Forest DMU Group.

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.

QUESTIONS

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

FOR SALE

Springs - We have four new DMU springs, but not sure which class they come from (they are different from our 108 ones). Could anyone help us identify them, or would anyone like to buy them? BR CAT No 14/32045. They have 8 4" wide 1/2" thick leaves. (2 at 60", 1 at 50", 42", 34", 26", 18" and 10"). The centre section which wraps around the leaves is 5" x 3". Dean Forest DMU Group.