ISSUE 56 - OCTOBER 2000

INTRODUCTION

Well, that's the fun and games over for this year. Thanks to Tony Fox for the full report of the Gala. In the end there were five groups competing to hold the 2002 event, and this led to mumblings that there could perhaps be a smaller event, mainly a social gathering, earlier in the year. What do people think?

And something to think about for next year — on the Tuesday after the 1999 WSR gala there was the Paddington accident, and on the Tuesday after the 2000 ELR gala there was the Hatfield accident. So in 2001 make sure you are home from the Mid-Norfolk before the Tuesday!

Saturday 11th November is the deadline for Issue 57 of The Railcar.

THE RAILCAR ASSOCIATION

2000 Gala
A full report can be found here. 

APPEALS

Blue Pullman Apparently Microsoft and another firm are releasing train driving simulators soon. As with flight-sims, these can have add-ons for different vehicles, lines, etc, and we have been contacted by a firm doing a Blue Pullman package. They want to know if anyone can tell them, via the Editor, what these vehicles sounded like, to make it as authentic as possible.

NRM Paul Ellis is under growing pressure from the museum to get the Class 108 into traffic as soon as possible. Paul and his dwindling team can handle the outstanding engine work, but are appealing for help to complete the wiring of a replaced fire control box. Paul can be contacted on 01904 330827.

PARTS & SUPPLIERS 

SEAT BOLLARDS Chris Bull reports: seat bollards, single ones that screw into the seat base with one approx 5mm bolt, are known as perradin bollards (not sure of spelling) and are produced by a firm in Galway, Eire. Tel. 00353 952 1382, approx £2:50 each.
They are available cheaper via East Lancs coachworks, item 62-11118 at £1:25 each approx.
East Lancashire Busbuilders Ltd, Whitebirk Ind. Est., Lower Philips Road, BLACKBURN BB1 5UD. Tel. 01254 57061.

PRESERVATION

DERBY LIGHTWEIGHT Some progress was made on the unit when members from around the country gathered for the group's AGM at the end of September. Further work was done in laying the plywood floor, fitting timber window framings, assembling partition 'jigsaws' and cleaning up overspray and corrosion from window frames. The work needed on the underframe was assessed.

• 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.

FOR SALE

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.

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 DMU Group:

We had offered, via Railcar, our luggage / Guard's compartment metal grille / cage, from class 108 DMBS M51914. Two people have commented that this, ideally, should be left in place as being original! However, I believe that this is not so. We have the evidence for all to see showing that the layout was built to exactly the same plan as our DMBS of 1958, E50619. The original cupboard and fire extinguisher mounting bracket positions can easily be seen in the paintwork. The door position changeover (from centre to side/offset), also reveals a screwed up partition in place. This appears to have been Formica-covered on refurbishment during the 1970s (with orange Formica).

On examining Brian Goldings book on DMUs (a pictorial record), it shows on Fig. 60, page 38, the original outline drawing/plan. A look at the Guard's compartment reveals a centre doorway to the seating area, not the side/offset and corridor as we now have.

The question is: when was it altered? On refurbishment in the 1970s? If anyone has details then please tell us, we would like to know.

We are intending to put the Guard's compartment back into its original as-built layout. We need to remove it and put the door back in its proper place to enable a slight widening of the passenger/guard's compartment sliding door area. Along with the removal of the nearest two-seater frame in the passenger area, this will allow wheelchair access into the passenger compartment via the Guard's double doors.

The cage is due to be removed in November and was offered free to any interested group via Railcar. Mike Froud of the Class 107 group has claimed it for its future life in a Derby-built DMU.

NEXT ISSUE : 15th November 2000

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