ISSUE 43 - SEPTEMBER 1999

INTRODUCTION

Three supplements this month: one gives further details about our hosts for the convention at the WSR; another is a welcome article by John Joyce (Llangollen) on overhauling feed valves. Many thanks John. The last one is analysis of responses to the last issue's questionnaire.

The only proposal to hold the 2001 gala has been from Railcar Enterprises at the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

Saturday 16th October is the deadline for Issue 44 of The Railcar.

THE RAILCAR ASSOCIATION

National DMU Convention Bob Pugh has stated that Class 103 trailer car 56169 will be available at Bishops Lydeard over the convention weekend for display boards from other groups and their sales/trade stands. It will also be available as sleeping accommodation if required.

If anyone has slides that they wish to be shown on the Saturday, please bring them along; and if you have any "OO" model units, these can be run on their layout.

Jim McWilliam Jim has accepted our invitation to be Guest of Honour at formal part of the Convention on the Saturday afternoon. Does anyone have a suitable photo of a vehicle that has been through his hands and is now a credit to the movement? TRA will produce a framed enlargement for presentation. More help is needed. Can anybody produce an illuminated address? - such as anyone with background information or anecdotes on acquisition of vehicles and spares from MC Metals, the company's formation and operation, etc. Please contact Tony Fox (Tel. 01473 890511 or e-mail anthony.fox@which.net). Also, does anyone have a definitive list of the DMU and EMU vehicles handled by MC Metals over the years?

Stockton & Darlington Cavalcade TRA sent the following to Steam Railway:

"On behalf of the members of The Railcar Association, first-generation DMUs and DEMUs are hereby nominated for the S & D 175 commemoration in 2000. Over 200 cars are now in preservation and scores of these are in good operational order. By mid-2000 several will be main line certified (one DEMU already is, of course). The subject will be aired at TRA's Annual Convention in early October on the West Somerset Railway, after which a more formal proposal letter to you will follow. Any guidance you can offer on the format and content of such a proposal would be appreciated."

NEWS

117 CARS MOVED The three-car unit formerly belonging to Pete Waterman finally moved from Crewe Brook Sidings on the 23rd August hauled by D9009. It was necessary to have the axles ultrasonically tested, a certificate to run on Railtrack and to be put back on TOPS.

TC 59490 moved by road to the Swansea Vale Railway, purchased by the Llanelli 116 Group.

DMS 51402 was purchased by the Northampton & Lamport Railway. When this car is able to enter traffic their Class 108 DTC 56495 will be sold to the Dean Forest Railway.

DMBS 51630 arrived at East Dereham (purchased by Railcar Enterprises) and after charging the batteries both engines were started without any problems after four years of storage (four years less wear!). Although a final drive is missing, a bogie has been purchased from Adtranz.

PRESERVATION

BURY DMU GROUP Class 110: The refit of DMC 51842 is all but complete. When first returned to green, apart from the removal of the blue and orange Formica, the interior was hardly touched. It had always looked the "poor relation" of the unit. After acting as a shuttle for a "steam" gala, the unit was withdrawn from service to recondition this car. The main job was to remove the fluorescent lighting and ceiling panels one saloon at a time. Rewiring and refitting to accept tungsten lights was duly completed and all lighting circuits successfully tested. This car was the first to have the BR refurbishment Formica removed. Methods have since been improved so, after cleaning the walls, the remaining glue marks were taken off. While at this stage, the gangway end wall Formica panel was replaced with varnished and stained sapele board — this looks far better. The same technique was used to good effect on all door panels and wooden edging. The floor has been repainted at seats returned.

Externally, bodywork holes were filled, the sides rubbed down and a first green coat applied. It ran in this condition during the July Diesel Gala. Since then a new panel has been fitted below the destination indicator. Lastly, the final rubdown and repaint was done (including whiskers and lining).

The rest of the unit has had the usual round of running maintenance and is in service.

Class 105: The trailer car (56121) has seen steady progress. Much more welding and panel replacement has been done with more to follow. Interior panels on the secondman's side have been lined with fibreglass and fitted. A new heater duct has been fabricated and runs the full length on that side. The toilet compartment is back in place with the tank in the roof space. Also, that side's windows are back in. This job required a lot of woodwork to be renewed.

DMBS 51485 remains stored awaiting restoration.

Wickham railbus: This has had its engine and electrical maintenance done to improve running. It has recently seen service in connection with some track work.

DEAN FOREST 108 51914 This spare DMBS is now able to run back and forth on both engines and transmissions - the usual list as long as your arm still pending. This vehicle has been fitted with a working four- aspect headcode, as has 56492.

LLANGOLLEN RAILCAR GROUP The 108 set's power car has been painted, lined out and lettered. The underframe has been steam cleaned and sprayed in chassis black, and some details picked out. The exhausts have been refitted too. Welding on the trailer car has been completed at last and now fittings are being refitted; cab end gutters, one handrail and windscreen washers so far, and wiper motor to complete the job. Interior work has included replacing the switch panels with brand new ones made specially. Both roofs have been repainted in black after some repairs and resealing.

The 104 awaits attention to bodywork (still) which is seeing a serious case of tinworm. The filler which has held the rust together for a few years is now dropping out so some serious body surgery is called for. With the work on the 108 the alternator conversion has sadly not progressed yet. The improved LED panel lights now fitted are much better. A new set of batteries and starter have sorted out starting problems on the DMBS although the DMCL awaits similar attention. An overhauled feed valve was fitted to the DMCL too.

Meanwhile the 127 has had a B-exam, taking no less than 10 filters on its one power car! (two oil & three fuel per engine) Sundry repairs but nothing very interesting.

50447, the spare 104 DMBS, is now at the end of our siding and looks much better without the tatty red van in front of it.

WANTED

Class 119 Parts - appeal for help in locating any Class 119 parts which had been removed at Gwent Demolition. Railcar Enterprises.

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

FOR SALE

Headcode box - we have a four-aspect EMU headcode box surplus to our requirements. Dean Forest DMU Group.

DMU - Class 115 as a restoration project. Epping & Ongar Railway 01277 366616.

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.

QUESTIONS

Advance Warning System - The AWS on one of our units has jammed in the on position, thus not allowing the isolation of the cab when driving from the other cab. Has anyone come across this problem? Could they supply any diagram or information regarding this problem. Many thanks. Chasewater Railway.

Alternator - does anyone know how to dismantle an AC203 alternator? Dean Forest DMU Group.

Regulator - how do you change voltage in regulators from 31.5 (Nife) down to 29.5 (lead-acid)? Dean Forest DMU Group.

BEFORE YOU GO...

This month's final thought from the Llangollen Railcar Group: All mechanical components of a DMU are called the same thing ("b******s") except for the particularly heavy or awkward ones ("f*****g b******s")!