ISSUE 54 - AUGUST 2000

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to Paul Moxon we now have comprehensive reports of the individual Longsight 101 cars on the web site.

Saturday 16th September is the deadline for Issue 55 of The Railcar.

THE RAILCAR ASSOCIATION

2000 Gala
The East Lancs. Railway have now confirmed the event as being on the 13th – 15th October (Fri. – Sun.). While still not finalised, the current plan is for Driver Experience trips on the Friday, following last year's success. In the evening there will be a fish/chip/beer special. On the Saturday there will be an intensive DMU service, with the formal meeting in a local venue at some point. More details next month. Suggested local accommodation is the Old White Lion, the Waterloo, or the Rostrevor, although the local tourist offices could give a full list as well as contact details for these places.

2002 Gala
Next year's gala is at the Mid-Norfolk, but we now need volunteers to host the 2002 event. Candidates will be printed in the next issue, and voted on at the ELR meeting.

NEWS

CORKERHILL NO MORE Glasgow's 101s worked another week after the Golf Specials, and the last day's running was well recorded in the local newspapers, thanks to the SPTA's efforts in making sure the public was aware that it had finally got rid of its "slam door" stock.

That weekend (Sun 30th) 684, 687, 692 and 693 travelled south under their own power. Running via Glasgow Central, they left about 10:00, 20mins earlier than booked. Apparently, by the time they got to Newton, fire bells started ringing and three engines had to be shut down. This caused some delays to services. They did eventually make it to Newton Heath by the evening. On Tue 1st they were transferred to Longsight. One (693) entered traffic on Friday (2nd) working the 05:53 Manchester Picc. – Sheffield, then runs to Marple, New Mills, etc. The rest remained at Longsight "under exam".

The four sets leaving Glasgow Central 30/7/00 John Miller

The other four working sets (691, 694, 695 and 689) moved south a week later on 6th August. This time they were loco-hauled (37 109 + 37 219), and left much later, passing Polmadie about 20:00, again 20 mins. earlier than the booked timings.

The four cannibalised vehicles were removed from Corkerhill by road.

LONGSIGHT 101s Longsight's 101 659 (51213 + 54352) is reported as being off lease since 18th July. As 51213 was running with "triple" 660, the trailer from this set (54343) has been stored and 51189 is now running with 654 forming a new triple. On 3rd Aug. set 659, and the trailers from 660, 661, 662 and 664 were moved from Longsight to Shoeburyness by 47 774. 101 654 was due to come off lease on 8th Aug., which may see 51189 forming another triple with the two remaining power/trailer sets.

BUBBLE FOR SALE On the Carriage Exchange web site 55032 is offered for sale, price to be advised. It is lying at the Heritage Centre, Crewe, and no other details are available at this time. Contact: C.A.R. Services (UK) Ltd., 43 Horsefields, Peacemarsh, Gillingham, DORSET SP8 4UH. Tel. no. 01747 825810 (daytime only) or 01691 681091 (Phone/Fax). E-mail address is c.a.r.serve.clive@virgin.net. The website can be found at: www.peakrail.co.uk/carspare.htm.

BUBBLE INCIDENT Ian McDonald reports that the unit that was derailed near Aldridge was 55029 in Silverlink colours. Damage was sustained to the No. 2 end brake gear and cardan shaft. 51400 was used as donor for the parts. The unit was rerailed and dragged back to Soho by a Class 37 off Bescot. The repairs were carried out by Bletchley fitters at Soho and the unit was then run down to Bletchley for further inspection. One wheel set off the No. 2 bogie suffered a chipped flange and once all inspections were finished the unit was sent to Tyseley for tyre turning. No damage was sustained to the bodywork. The children who put the gas bottle on the track have been apprehended by the BTP. 55029 has now finished its work around Birmingham and is standing down at Bletchley pending possible further use in the Birmingham area.

DUPA NEWS Diesel Unit Preservation Associates' M56491 is going to Bressingham for their Thomas Weekend 18th – 21st August, and will return to the East Anglian Railway Museum for their Thomas event on 25th – 28th August.

DUPA has also agreed to hire M52053 & M51568 to the Keith & Dufftown Railway as backup vehicles for 53628 & 54223. The vehicles will be ready for 1st March 2001, after some cosmetic restoration to 51568, with first-class seats to be recovered and an exterior repaint. 52053 has an engine with water in the sump — this needs to be cured or the engine replaced.

PARTS & SUPPLIERS

BRAKE BLOCKS Evan Green-Hughes has provided us with details for obtaining new brake blocks. They are made by Horwich Castings, Chorley, New Road, HORWICH. Tel. 01204 699611, fax 01204 695492.

A Class 108 uses type R20, part no 14/2803 and they are about £10 each and come with a certificate of conformity.

PRESERVATION

LLANGOLLEN RAILCAR GROUP A note on a "failure" in traffic of a 4-car working, for interest and information. The formation was 108 ("Maisy", at the Carrog end) + 127/105 ("Daisy", at the Llan end).

All was well until leaving Llangollen for Carrog. At Goods Junction, the air and axle light for the rear set (127/105) went out, but the air pressure was still shown as adequate in the leading cab. The driver found a leaking forward EP valve on the 127 and returned the train to Llangollen for attention, reporting that the train would only move in one direction. Subsequent tests up and down Llangollen station found no fault, and the train performed fine for the rest of the day.

On shed the following morning, it was found during the start-up checks that the air cocks between the two units were closed, not open. Unlike most other air cocks, the handle has to be across the pipe for the valve to be open. The sequence of events for Saturday could then be deduced.

The forward EP valve on the 127 evidently started leaking air at some point. Eventually the air pressure in the 127/105 set dropped below approx. 50psi, at which point the control air governor would have opened. Hence the air and axle light as viewed from the 108 cab went out, and yet the air pressure as indicated in the 108 cab was fine. Attempting to reverse direction from the 108 was futile as well as the 127/105 had insufficient air to operate the control governor. Now by the time the driver changed to the 105 cab to return to Llangollen, having reseated the EP valve, air pressure was sufficient and all was well once more. No further trouble occurred either!

Note: control arrangements on the 127 are significantly different to the mechanical sets. The 127 has a single air pressure switch which disables all the cab controls, closing at 65psi and opening at 50psi. The mechanical sets have an air pressure switch for each direction, but these are not interlocked at all with the controls apart from the air and axle light.

MID HANTS 55003 After the commissioning runs the unit ran its first revenue-earning trips on the MHR on the 15th July. It was utilised on a shuttle service between Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks, clocking up 60 miles during the day.

A few niggles have come to light. The No. 1 cab emergency brake valve was fitted such that the handle was too near the hand brake and you could catch your hand if not careful. Door B6 would not shut properly. The secondman's door on the No. 1 end was catching. All these problems have been fixed. The engines are now breathing properly with no exhaust coming out of the rocker box breather pipes. The exhausts are now burning very clear when under power: the No. 1 engine more or less completely clear and the No. 2 engine with a light blue exhaust.

The vacuum brakes are leaking on when under lap with the engines idling but it is suspected that the brake application valves need lapping in, using Brasso, to give an airtight seal. It is possibly oil in the vacuum system that is causing the problem.

During the Thomas week at the MHR W55003 will masquerade as "Daisy" in the Arlesford station limits during the weekends but will shuttle between Ropley and Medstead during the week once again as "Daisy".

Despite the MHR being a "steam railway", Ian thinks the operating people can see a niche for a DMU. Mum, Dad and the children don't necessarily want to travel behind a big engine. They want a ride on a train in comfort and to see the line. Where better than behind the driver of a DMU? The shuttles give the unit a chance to stretch its legs but don't overtax it and the crews find it easy to service.

W55003 finally got as far as Alton on Wednesday 2nd August, when the unit was being used on the weekly service along with Ivatt 2MT 41213.

TELFORD 104 A radiator right-angle drive gearbox expired during a service day recently, and the set had to be declared a failure as it can't manage the 1 in 40 on two engines. It was replaced for another before next weekend, thanks to the Llangollen Railcar Group who were able to lend one. The front end of 53531 has been tidied up a bit.

The three Telford vehicles, 14/7/00 Frank Nicolas

• If you can help any of the following groups with their needs or information, please e-mail us at editor@railcar.co.uk

WANTED

URGENT - Free-wheel bearings - K&WVR DMU Group.

Rubber grips - Does anyone know where to obtain the rubber grips from the underside of seat swabs. Ours are on their way out having done their bit. We would be looking for approximately 100, so if we have to manufacture, maybe other groups would be interested? Dean Forest DMU Group.

Batteries - has anyone a good set of batteries that they could sell? Railcar Enterprises.

Luggage racks - suitable for a Class 117, several of each different size required, to complete the restoration of DMS W51402. Northampton & Lamport Railway DMU Group.

Manuals - we have recently acquired a John Fowler 0-4-0 diesel-hydraulic loco which is fitted with a Leyland Albion Series 900 engine which drives through a torque converter a single-speed modified Fowler gearbox/final drive unit. Has anyone got any service, maintenance and spares manuals for this type of engine for sale or to loan to assist in the restoration of the loco to full working order? Northampton & Lamport Railway DMU Group.

FOR SALE

Starter Motors - at the Bucks. Railway Centre we have two that have been refurbished for the Leyland 680-type engines. Reasonable offer accepted. Chiltern Heritage DMU Fund.

Cage - we are planning to remove the guard's van cage fitted to 108 DMBS M51914 during the coming winter. This is the side passage type, complete with sliding door and square mesh. Removal is to facilitate disabled wheelchair access. If any group is interested in acquiring the metalwork (free), please contact me, otherwise it will be cut up and scrapped. Dean Forest DMU Group.

DMU wheelsets - 2x plain axle, 1x vee belt pulley axle, 1x final drive unit. All wheelsets overhauled 1992/95 and have been unused since. In very good condition, 34" diameter, 2" tyres and full new profiles. Price will be subject to negotiation dependant on quantity required. Loading will be arranged on site which must be cleared ASAP. Also available are 6x primary leaf springs, (4x 8 plates, 2x 9 plates) and a small quantity of bogie brakework linkage including adjustment screws. Full details from Paul Ramsden, Rampart Carriage & Wagon Services Ltd, Derby, tel. 01332 230543, mobile (anytime) 07801 924494, e-mail rampart.cw@talk21.com 

Buffet Car - Met-Camm-built 59575. Blue asbestos removed. Call for further details. Railcar Enterprises.

EMU Parts - (taken from Sidelines, thanks to Chris Bull) following the restoration of their four-car unit of 1938 tube stock, the London Transport Museum is reviewing surplus spare parts that had been held until the project was completed. In addition there are some parts believed to be from BR Southern Region EMUs that are also not required. Further details from: Head of Collections, London Transport Museum, 39 Wellington Street, LONDON WC2E 7BB.

LMS 57-foot full brake - built 1944. Very useful storage vehicle. Good sound floor, needs some exterior cladding replaced. Runs OK. Space needed to house DMU. Reasonable price to good home. South Devon Diesel Traction.

Seats - We have a quantity of DMU seats for sale for a nominal price from a vehicle in the 595xx series (thought to be 59518). Enough for one white van! South Devon Diesel Traction.

"DMU Disposal" book - by Ashley Butlin. The book is A4, 72 pages, and has a soft cover. It costs £7.95 including P&P from the publishers: Coorlea Publishing, Beech House, London Road, Washington, Pulborough, WEST SUSSEX RH20 4BA.

Final drives - Wabco (ex-RFS Engineering Ltd) at Doncaster have three overhauled RF28 final drives left in their stores. Please contact Paul Grayson on 01302 790050. They are anxious to dispose of them soon to make space. (Thanks to Class 107 Ltd for this).

BR flashing red LED tail lamps - we have a number of these and if there is sufficient interest we will fit new batteries and supply complete for £30 each. This is considerably cheaper than paraffin lamps and the batteries will last a very long time indeed. Contact us to arrange collection or delivery. Class 107 Ltd.

Brake Feed Valves - we have overhaul kits available, costing £15 per set, which includes two diaphragms and one seal. P&P is approx. £1. We had only 70, 50 are now sold, and when they are gone... Dean Forest DMU Group.

QUESTIONS

From Chris Bull, Dean Forest Railway:

Does anyone know correct spec/size for Leyland 680 engine / radiator fan, rubber belts? We have a BR spec. but local dealers don't have that in the 'fram' book!

COMMENTS

Ian McDonald (W55003):

Reply to Jim Poor:
The only question you need to ask yourself is what will happen in the case of a fire? Formica/Melamine has good fire-retarding properties and is resilient to everyday knocks and bangs.

I suspect your insurers will require you spray the panels with a fire- retardent covering of some sort if you go down that route. W55003 has been repanelled throughout with Formica. My insurers, and RESCO, required proof of the material used to ensure conformance.

NEXT ISSUE : 20th September 2000

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