ISSUE 36 - February 1999
INTRODUCTION
Angel Train Contracts have contacted us, offering redundant seating for sale, as detailed below. This is a welcome development for the Association, and hopefully if Angel get a healthy response then we'll be in good shape for future offers.
This month's supplement is the notes about the Brian Morrison DMU book. Thanks to the Dean Forest DMU Group, Eddie Knorn and John Miller for their contributions. We now have 148 errors, but note that we are not listing these as a criticism of the book, but to supplement a great collection of pictures. Please, if you find anything else to add to the list, or disagree with any of it, let us know. We particularly need someone to comment on the SR DEMUs.
Talking to a fellow DMU enthusiast, he thinks that he remembers seeing a Maroon painted Class 123 set when new. Can anybody comment on this?
If anybody is ordering sales items, booklets etc. from the Dean Forest DMU Group, could they please make their cheques payable to "Dean Forest DMU".
Saturday 13th March is the deadline for issue 37 of The Railcar.
"The Railcar Association"
After recent interior rehash of the SW&W 153s and 158s, 5,000 seats became surplus to requirements. Many have now passed on to other mainline units but approx. 800 are left and Angel are offering them to preservation groups for nominal sums. They're currently at Cardiff.
They want rid of them quickly so they aren't pressing for a block purchase. Anyone interested should contact Jason Mayo at Angel on 0171 592 0770.
Contacts
Updates for Advisers contact list:
Ritchie Marcus (Shackerstone DMU Group) is working abroad for a year and so should be deleted for the time being.
LIBERIAN DMUs
The feature in the March issue of Rail Express on the Liberian LAMCO Railway mentions the fact that four of British Railways' pre-modernisation DMU cars may still survive in this far-off place. While these vehicles are in the publics minds, is anyone interested in an attempt to: a) ascertain if they are still intact; b) if they are, to bring one or more home?
The historical significance of these vehicles should easily attract external funding, and the uniqueness of their location, with a little bit of mystery involved, would keep a high level of interest. Plus there is a surviving trailer, allowing a "correct" three-car formation. A new group would be formed for the project, independent of any other group. Anyone interested please contact Stuart Mackay.
NEWS
MLV PARTS The Suburban Electric Railway Association had a phone call from Porterbrook stating that they were sending all their MLVs to Glasgow for scrap as they have asbestos residue in them. They were offered a fixed charge for as much as they could get off the vehicles.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about this contact Graeme Gleaves of SERA at 1 Lygon House, 313-321 Fulham Palace Rd, LONDON SW6 6TH, tel. 0171 731 4697, or e-mail gsleaves@easynet.co.uk.
DC KITS The first SR kits have been released, a 2-EPB Class 416, 4-EPB Class 415, 2-HAP Class 414, 2-H Class 205, 3-H Class 205 and a 2-BIL.
While the next DMUs will be the 119/120, the proposed DEMU/EMU kits over the next three years include Classes 201/6/7, 302/3/4/5/7/8/11, 501/4 and Blue Pullmans!
The web site at www.railcar.demon.co.uk/dckits has further details and a printable order form. Remember to mention the Railcar for your discount!
PRESERVATION
CHILTERN HERITAGE DMU FUND This year will see the group's Class 115 enter service at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, with driver training underway at the moment. This month is the fifth anniversary of the set being at Quainton, and Brian Stabler and Brian Lee have been compiling a book about their five years' work, as well as some of the history of the Class, which they hope to get published in the near future. They welcome all Railcar readers to the Centre.
EMBSAY 107 The Class 107 Ltd's DMBS 52006 and DMCL 52031 are now resident on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway together with support vehicle Mk1 BSK 35131 which is providing much needed workshop and accommodation facilities.
Repainting into Brunswick green with small yellow warning panel livery was completed before the end of the painting season and the onset of dark evenings at the end of September, and activity has since been focused on internal work and mechanical repairs.
As reported in the last issue, one engine was overhauled and this was refitted just prior to departure from Crewe in December. Other mechanical work has seen all four engine air filters removed, cleaned and refitted. Judging from the state these were in this must have been the first time for a very long while!
Refurbishment of both cabs is now nearing completion with the panelling, headcode and destination boxes restored, drivers seats stripped down and refurbished and much repainting and general repairs being made.
Test runs were made on January 3rd and 17th followed by intensive test running on January 30th when a total of 80 miles was run. The focus is now on driver training of E&BASR staff prior to public services in April.
Private hires should also be available from March onwards upon enquiry to: The Business & Marketing Manager, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Bolton Abbey Station, SKIPTON, North Yorkshire BD23 6AF, tel. 01756 794727 E-mail: Embsay.steam@ btinternet.com
SHACKERSTONE Class 122 55005 has entered the shed for heavy bodywork repairs and a repaint into green. This will take most, if not all the year. Services will be operated by Class 116 DMBS 51131 and Class 121 DTS 54289. They group is still in need of some door handles for Class 118 DMS 51321. Apart from a heavy internal clean, the doors are all that is preventing 51321 from entering service. Before 55005 was taken out of service they ran a five-car blue and grey set, each vehicle from a different class, can anyone beat that? (55005, Class 122; 51321, Class 118; 54289, Class 121; 59522, Class 117; and 51131, Class 116).
They had a fire bottle go off in summer 1998 on 55005 due to a short circuit, but the fire bells did not ring. Investigation revealed that the bells had been wired from negative to negative, so since BR rewired the vehicle many years ago the bells could never have worked!
STRATHSPEY Current situation is that Class 107 DMCL 52030 should be in service by May (seats are now in place and the ex-first Class area is getting a deep clean and the roof requires an external repaint). It will have a fairly spacious layout with 12F and 38S. The toilet still needs a little bit of attention. Plan is for the Class 114 DTC 56047 to get a roof repaint and repairs and a new spring and be available by June. After that, Class 107 DMBS 51990 will get some attention but will probably not be in service before 2001 unless something changes.
The "Diesel Gala" is planned for 29th May and is shown as Enthusiast's Day in the Timetable, likely to consist of similar mix to last year with probably three DMU turns, (0900/1300/1800 ex-BofG) three diesel and four steam services with some double-heading and a look behind the scenes.
WEST SOMERSET 103 The six doors of DTC 56169 have been delivered to the East Somerset Railway for refurbishment by Cranmore Traincare and Maintenance Services. The contract is to re-skin the outside of the doors and the refurbishment of the window channels and locks.
Meanwhile, work on the vehicle at Williton is concentrating on the welding around the window frames. The body work is being prepared for painting into undercoat. Now the repairs and painting of the batteries boxes are complete the batteries have been refitted and charged.
ANSWERS
To Bury DMU Group: Re window rubber bump stops -
"RS Components, Maplin and Tandy produce small rubber 'feet' for their electronic kit boxes, available as screw-on or stick-on items. Those from Tandy sell at 0.99 for 12. They might not be the real McCoy item, but will probably do the job just as well."
In the Maplin catalogue the feet are Cabinet Feet, order code FW19V, 25p each inc. VAT, reducing to 15p plus VAT for 100+. He also suggests RS, screw fixing feet 543-254, ½ dia, £2.50 plus VAT for a bag of 100, and a company called CPC in Preston (01772 654455) for which he also enclosed a catalogue page.
We have passed these onto the BUDMUG. Many thanks for the replies.
WANTED
WANTED
MTK Kits - does anyone have any of these lying about their cupboards unbuilt, or willing to sell finished models? We occasionally have people contacting us looking for them, and this month someone is looking for a Class 103 Park Royal set. Editors.
Photos / drawings - Prints or (preferably) slides of Classes 304/5/8. Scale drawings / plans of ScR 303/311s. DC Kits.
Bogie drawings - Has anyone any drawings for the Class 108 driving bogie, re: arrangement of braking system?
Drawings are DE46302, and complimentary DE35459.
Also for the 108 Trailer cars, either DE34820 and DE35395 or DE35974 which is for the more modern bogie design.
We are also interested in any details of brake bushes and their relevant hardness, for our bogie rebuild project. D.M.U. Group (WM).
Injector Pump - has anyone out there got a scrap Leyland/BUT engine block with an undamaged 'Injector Pump Casting' (Leyland part number 528800). Apparently this also carries the fan drive. These are still available new, but at a price that is slightly outside the group's budget! D.M.U. Group (WM)
Stones electrical control box - as fitted to AC Cars Railbuses. Does anyone have a spare of the above they would be prepared to sell or know of anyone who can overhaul our current one (fitted to 79978). Colne Valley Railway
Parts - required for the Derby Lightweight restoration: 2 radiators (including fan and propshafts), 2 auto feed valves, dynamo for trailer car (bogie-mounted), pulley (multi V belt split type) and voltage regulator for the above, complete set of brake rigging for one axle of leading trailer car bogie, 8 primary and some secondary springs for the trailer, power car bogie, trailer bogie, and a fabricated steel type battery box. DLPG.
Class 108 spares - seat squabs upholstered in purple material, either with red fleck (used by WR) or orange/yellow fleck (preferred); one whole long section of luggage rack for middle saloon of composite car, with brackets; 2 alternators. Nottingham (GC) DMU Group.
Formica - any spare pieces of a blue laminate that was used in some first-class saloons. Pattern is a light blue and white linen effect, believed to be called 'Blue Linen'. Nottingham (GC) DMU Group.
Final drive steel dog - suitable for Class 122 55006. Railcar Enterprises.
Gearbox parts - top gear friction plates for an SE4 box (to be used in 'Taurus' ex-Otis Euro Transrail loco at Ordsall Lane in Manchester). Anglesey Traction Group c/o Antony Marsden, Press & Public Relations Officer, Anglesey Traction Group, 72 Pear Tree Court, Salford, M6 5AX
Spares - EP valves and the brass retaining brackets into the dynamo control box. To replace parts stolen from Class 116. Llanelli & District Railway Society.
DMU power car - to cannibalise, preferably a Class 108, must have final drives. Railcar Enterprises.
FOR SALE
Service manuals - (For sale or exchange) photocopies of the service manuals for Messrs. Self Changing Gears Ltd. gearboxes of types R14 and SE4. In colour where appropriate, including photos of the various bits under assembly. Oswestry DMU Group.
Service manuals - for R14 gearboxes and RF28 final drives, and also general instructions for the operation of Class 108 units in duplicated form. Some of the hand-drawn circuits do not copy that well, but is good for general information. The small manual shows basic electrical, air, battery and control circuits, quick-release vacuum system and details of components. There is also a chapter on Rolls-Royce-powered cars. Prices for copying and despatch will be notified individually. D.M.U. Group (WM)