ISSUE 41 - JULY 1999

INTRODUCTION

It will soon be October and the National Convention. It was agreed that the venue for future events would be mutually agreed two years in advance (to allow for forward planning). Does your group want to host the 2001 event? Let us know and we will print the candidates in the September issue, out two weeks before the WSR event, when the location will be decided.

How should this be done? A discussion? A show of hands? A secret ballot? Names in a driver's cap? Let us know what you think.

Saturday 14th August is the deadline for Issue 42 of The Railcar.

"The Railcar Association"

Evan Green-Hughes was able to reunite Mike Evans with some more of the original bits of the class 111 recently following a mysterious phone call to Llangollen from someone who had taken things off it when they thought it was going to be scrapped at Manchester. The parts are thought to include: the works plates, a light shade and some other fittings, including the door tread plate(s). Mike has also got the original seats thanks to Tony Fox who located them somewhere else. This goes to show how valuable a communication tool the TRA has become - was such quick contact possible before?

Equipment For Loan The Northampton & Lamport DMU Group has the following equipment available to other groups to assist in overhauls/repairs, in return for a donation to the Group:

  • Leyland final drive in situ removal frame
  • Vacuum cylinder removal frame
  • R14 gearbox lifting frame
  • Freewheel lifting frame

All require to be used with a jack (not supplied). For further details contact Martin Harris (01536 723833 6 - 9pm)

Supply Problem The Dean Forest DMU Group recently had to overhaul a vacuum brake feed valve (found under the drivers desk). The rubbers had perished so they had to fit their only spare unit. They now have the problem of replacing the three seals in the unit. Contact with Westinghouse Brake only produced one, the other two are no longer available. Chris has send us copies of the drawings kindly supplied by Westinghouse. All DMUs have the same feed valve, so these are something that everyone will need in the future. Does anyone know of any other supplier?

National DMU Convention - Accommodation The Williton Traction Groups have sent us some details of accommodation available near the line.

In Bishops Lydeard:

  • The Lethbridge Arms, Gore Square, TA4 3AN Tel. 01823 432234
  • The Mount, 32 Mount Street, TA4 3AN Tel. 01823 432208
  • West View, Minehead Road, TA4 3BS Tel. TA4 3BS Tel. 01823 336344

In Williton:

  • The Forresters Arms, Long St, TA4 4QY Tel. 01984 632508 E-mail forarms@aol.co.uk.

The Taunton Tourist Information office can also help on 01823 336344.

NEWS

101 LIVERY CHANGES Further to the list published last year in issue 26, more Strathclyde vehicles have been painted black above the destination box. After a lull, it appears that all cars are being done as no full yellow ends have been seen for some time. Units 688 and 694 are confirmed as black.

PRESERVATION

PIPE FITTINGS The DMU Group (WM) have sent us some further information regarding the Ermeto pipe fittings. They are manufactured by Betabite Hydraulics (1994) Ltd., Stuart Road, Manor Park, RUNCORN, WA7 1TS, Tel. 01928 579569 Fax 01928 579818. They will send you a catalogue if you telephone them. They are also stocked by James Lister & Son, Hydraulics Division, Spon Lane, Smethwick, BIRMINGHAM (who also have other branches all over the Midlands).

These fittings are non-standard but they will produced as long as there is a demand for them. Where it is not crucial this group has bought Ermeto/metric fittings as a safeguard for the future. The air supply to the gearbox EP valves on Class 108 DMC 52064 has been replaced with metric and black nylon hydraulic tubing.

DEAN FOREST 108 51914 On 20th June the No. 1 engine of this spare DMBS burst into life after some six years of standing out of use. It ticked over nicely with a clean exhaust - no partial eclipse of the sun. Air leaks are now being investigated. This car has now moved (a short distance) under its own power for the first time in preservation.

LLANGOLLEN 108 At Llangollen the DMBS 51907 is in the paint shop and is being repainted in blue and grey - it has had some new upholstery on the seat backs and some welding on the front and back. They are hoping to get the trailer done next month before moving back onto the 104 which is scheduled for body repairs, repaint, alternator conversion and feed valve repairs.

NORTHAMPTON 117 51367 Internal work has seen the window frames on one side refurbished (stripped, repaired & four coats of yacht varnish). Wall panels above the doors and ceiling panels have been cleaned and repainted cream. Doors have been repainted green and cream. Seat frames in the rear saloon have been painted dark blue and backs and cushions replaced from spare. Seat cleaning, come using an industrial carpet cleaner, has begun. In the cab some of the switches/indicator lights have been rewired and one demister motor repaired, with the other yet to be fitted.

The cab has had a half yellow warning panel and lining applied. The underside and bogies have been steam cleaned and colour coding of the pipework, control boxes and fuse boxes is underway.

NORTHAMPTON 122 55003 W55003 has had tyre turning, UAT axle testing and axlebox overhaul, undertaken at Central Trains' Tyseley depot to main line standards. On site it has had a general bogie overhaul including steam clean, lubrication and repaint and the underneath of the unit has been steam cleaned and repainted. The vehicle is now back on its bogies and, with overhauled cardan shafts by GKN, has been used for demo runs with the NLR's Class 117/108 during the Diesel Gala on June 12th & 13th.

A couple of problems were found during the weekend. First, a broken fastening lug on the high side vacuum hose at the No. 2 end caused a total loss of vacuum whilst running around the Class 117/108. It had to be rescued by the Class 27. This was temporarily cured by clamping the hose to the dummy with tie-wraps. All vacuum hoses will be replaced once painting is completed. Secondly, a leaking crankshaft main seal at the fluid flywheel end of the No. 1 engine will require changing. The engine was shut down when not required and only a small amount of oil although there was a danger of fire where it got on the exhaust pipe. This will be done in situ although the engine will need to be blocked up as the fluid flywheel & main engine support bracket have to be removed to get at the seal.

Good weather should allow some reglazing and the final painting into green with small yellow panels and a matt black roof.

Externally this will leave only work on the door locks to be undertaken. The door window mechanism have been overhauled as required and lubricated. The main problem found was the lack of lubrication in the glass runners. These have felt liners and the trick was to lubricate the felt liberally with ordinary lub oil, then run the glass up and down to get the oil in the right places and the windows will slide smoothly.

The final interior job is to refit the door panels. These have been cut ready to fit by Bennetts of Bedford in the same material as the side panels.

Light fittings the same as W55003 have been sourced, without glass, and broken/missing main saloon pieces can now be replaced.

WEST SOMERSET 103 DMBS 50413 is still enjoying the seaside air at Minehead, while DTC 56169 has had all body work welding repairs completed. They wish to thank Tony Shackell for giving up some of his holidays to finish this. The nine aluminium window frames that had been previously primed and undercoated have been riveted back in place. Most of the coach has been repainted in grey primer prior to final smoothing down before undercoating. When we started to fit the seats recovered from class 101 units we found that the floor that had been fitted five years ago was not at the correct height. To date the floor in the first class saloon has been refitted to the correct level. The other saloons will be completed during July. Other interior work completed has been the refurbishment of the wooden door panelling. The two-aspect blinds supplied by Chris Bull and the DFR DMU group have been fitted and look superb.

They plan for the Park Royal power car to be at Bishops Lydeard station during the convention for the use of trade stands and sleeping if required.

WANTED

Commode Rails - 60 of these are required for Class 117s to replace items stolen whilst at Crewe Brook Sidings. Railcar Enterprises.

Fuel Filters - we would like to find a source of the cloth element type for the first filter in the fuel line as fitted to 680-engined DMUs. The type is CAV BF11 BS599. They can be found in the BUT Overhaul Manual - section L56. Does anyone know if they still exist, and from where? Dean Forest DMU Group.

Bogies - information about a source of spare Class 108 trailer car bogies. D.M.U. Group (WM).

FOR SALE

Headcode rollers - we have a few rollers and small-diameter end caps suitable for two-aspect (not four!) headcode blind/boxes. They were rescued from Southern EMUs but will do for two-aspect DMUs. They are free to any good DMU homes. We can bring them to the West Somerset Event. Dean Forest DMU Group.

Window rubber - Beclatite internal window rubber (50p per metre). Railcar Enterprises.

Mileometer - axle journal fitting suitable for a Class 122. Class 122 No. 55009 Mid-Norfolk Railway.

Class 121 DTS - 56285, ex-Sandite vehicle DB977486. Body in quite good condition, no asbestos, some window frames missing. Bogies complete with brake gear except for vacuum cylinders. Interior gutted but spares available including seats. £1500 ono. Contact E. R. Smith on 01635 862738 Fax. 01635 874394.