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ISSUE 76 - JUNE 2002
INTRO
This year I did not ask for submissions for the Running Dates section as it has proved quite time consuming to keep on top off, and I am not getting as much free time as I used to. However Tony Fox has volunteered to deal the information and send it to me formatted. If you would like to promote your DMU running dates please contact Tony at his new address.
Saturday 13th July is the deadline for Issue 77 of The Railcar.
TRA
NIR 1342(c) During a door overhaul process at
Eastleigh, late May 2002, it was found that the supply of hinge pins, BR Cat No. 918/010472, were non-compliant. The hinge pin, basically a 1/4" BSF bolt with a tapered head into which is mounted a grease nipple screwed into an M6 thread, had been drilled too deeply causing weakening in the area under the head leading to failure.
The pins used at Eastleigh were machined by WILCO Manufacturing and supplied by FH
Tomkins. In the event of failure the pin will fall out of the hinge. Loss can be detected by cursory examination of the door hinges. Please ensure all doors with the above type of hinge are checked ASAP, especially if the door hinges have been overhauled or repinned recently.
CONTACTS
Change of address Tony Fox, Hawthorn Cottage, Hollow Lane, Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk, IP20 0JP. Tel: 01379 586472, e-mail anthony.fox@which.net.
SUPPLIERS
COMPRESSOR PISTONS Chris Bull had been trying to find a source for new pistons for compressors. On his trawl around the country he found one which may do. It comes complete with matching gudgeon pin for £40 plus vat. The piston is the same size (except it is 8 thou larger in stroke) but the gudgeon pin is a smaller size. So an insert would have to be made to go on the little end in the connecting rod to take the new gudgeon pin. Contact F W Thorntons of Shrewsbury 01743 357081 The ref no is 19720. The contact name was Jason who was most helpful and knowledgeable.
EP VALVES Does anyone know of any suppliers of the needles and other parts in EP valves? Contact the editor.
PRESERVATION
CHURNET VALLEY 104 pictures by Paul Moxon
| In 50455 the front saloon's lino was cleaned. Six metal seat frames were stripped & painted first in red oxide, then chassis black. On was later test assembled one with cushions to view the finished effect. |  |
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Further sliding side windows were dismantled and cleaned. An exhaust leak in the guard's area was traced to a small hole near in a box section, and a two-part repair section made up. The reupholstered drivers seat & back were refitted. The guards area was repainted allowing the replacement of the vacuum gauge, and various other small fittings. |
On 50517, early May saw Frank Nicholas complete the rewiring of the cab switches & controls. All that now remains on the electrical front to complete is to sort out a couple of poor contacts in various lighting switches. Whilst charging '455's batteries, the act of someone climbing into the guards area caused the number 9 fuse to blow. Upon further investigation an earth fault was discovered, between the negative side of the batteries and the vehicle's frame.
| The reupholstered & refurbished drivers seat was fitted to 50517. Cab seating wise, there is just the 2nd man's flip up seat to refit to the refurbished (but currently dismantled) mechanism intended for 50517. The two exhaust tail pipes (from above the rear bogie to the roof) have finally been fabricated using a mix of new lorry components and second hand DMU parts. |  |
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50517 is now resident in the shed at Oakamoor for body preparation and repaint. By the 26th May Kevin, Dave & Rob, had been filling, sanding, filling, sanding & more filling & sanding for almost 3 weeks. |
After all of the members of the group had (between them) spent five full days on scraping the old paint off the roof, it was deemed good enough to be "hoovered" clean and the corrosive galvanised "Mordant T wash" was wiped on. The following day the roof was etch primed, along with all of the bare aluminium, and by the 1st June, the roof was resplendent in grey topcoat, with the cab dome painted white.
| The repaired passenger doors had been delivered to the shed, (from Kevin's father's garage where they had been refurbished) and both had been trial fitted in-between painting the roof. Plans were to have '517 painted and lined by 16th June, and then… We start all over again with 50455. The introduction into service of the completed 2 car-unit has been scheduled for the Diesel Gala on Sat./Sun. 28th / 29th September. |  |
MID-HANTS W55003 has received its 2002 RESCO exam. The only failure was an AWS bell that, once replaced and put onto the test bench, behaved faultlessly!! The vacuum cylinders are to be replaced/overhauled and a UAT done on the axles in the near future. The unit received a good wash and brush up and an A exam over the Jubilee Bank Holiday week(end) and is now stood down for a few weeks whilst L721 takes the DMU roster. W55003 has had charge of the DMU roster since the start of the season together with 'Daisy' appearances during 'Thomas' events.
L721 is now in service on the MHR. Congratulations to Bob Allen & Geoff Bailey. Now the fun starts.
NORTHAMPTON & LAMPORT W51400 is still in working order. The only problem we have had over the winter were two slightly leaking fuel pipes and a slight leak on the fuel tank. The leak is the normal leak at the join of the filler pipe and tank. Painting is still to be completed as the NLR cannot provide space in the bay to allow the work to continue in safety.
W55001 has had most of its electrics replaced on the underframes. I managed to get one bank of batteries round the wrong way when they were replaced. It's amazing how warm they get whilst charging!!! Once turned round the batteries charged up well. The No 1 cab is stripped down ready for replacement of the electrics etc..
MRC 114 The 114 at the MRC was recently hired to train crews for the Eurailscoute Class 121 camera vehicle.
- If you can help any of the following groups with their needs or information, please e-mail us at editor@railcar.co.uk
FOR SALE
Sewing Machine - Chris Bull advises: Free to a good railway home is an industrial type sewing machine powered by a single phase 0.25 horsepower motor. Until his recent untimely death it was used by John Davies for his tailoring business. His brother Bernard Davies, (ex-Director for the DFR) has now offered it to our DMU Group. We have no use for such a machine having our own seats upholstered by our 'man from Derby'. It is therefore free to any other group that would find a use for it on a railway.
Very Approx size 40" x 36" x 24" , buyer collects from Treorchy in South Wales. Two strong man lift! Please contact Bernard Davies on 01443 773280.
Seats - Over 30 Seat frames with newly upholstered backs but NO swabs for Class 119 A quantity of new seat covers for HST and unknown seats. Nottingham (GC) DMU Group.
Fluorescent Lighting - the strip lights and defussers 4 x 2 lights and 7x 1 light for sale at £10 each including plugs and inverters. Derby Works-Built DMU Group.
WANTED
Rubber Connector - Does anyone also know a source for the non-standard size toilet pan to flush tank rubber connection piece? Class 107 Ltd.
Valves - Does anyone know a source for the little footpump valves used in the toilet sinks? They seem to retain water and freeze breaking the plastic top and both our spares are now broke, but repairable with a new top piece. Class 107 Ltd
Pictures — Any Class 101 pics, particularly ones of the Lowestoft – Ipswich sets with aerials on cab, or any ScR ones. Sharon Gray.
QUESTIONS
Does anyone out there remember using the buffet facility on a 119 / 120 unit in the 60s / 70s period? What did they sell in those days? Dave Henwood, e-mail Rebecca.Henwood@btopenworld.com.