ISSUE 92 - OCTOBER 2003

INTRO

Saturday 15th November is the deadline for Issue 93 of The Railcar. Submissions to editor@railcar.co.uk.

NEWS

101 FAREWELL TOUR FNW have indicated that they will run a tour, likely to be on a Sunday late in December, lasting about 7 hours and encompassing Buxton and Barrow. No further details available as we went to press.

CLASS 101 NAMING Tony Fox reports: The dedication of 51434 in Matthew's name went off very well. About 50 people watched the ceremony, which was conducted by Helen McDermott, a BBC E. Anglia TV personality. Peter Clay, Dave's son, drove the unit to Wymondham and back without a hitch. It looks very smart and a worthy memorial to Matthew. Peter started with BR together with Matthew on the same day so it was appropriate that he should drive the first train after naming. The commemorative headboard was presented to Matthew's father after the run. Pics from Jim Poor, including newly arrived 101 695, below.

WEBSITE The Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group now has a website at www.mrt-railcargroup.co.uk.

 

CLASS 117 SAVED The power cars from set 313, formerly C452, has been bought by Carl Hookings. DMBS 51339 and DMS 51382 have initially moved to the Midland Railway Centre for a repaint and other work before joining Carl's 3-car 115 stored in the former Barry depot. Also due to join them in mid-November is a Class 108 from Swanage.

SUPPLIERS

UNLOADER VALVES The DMU Group (WM) have been experiencing problems with unloader valves not cutting-in properly at the lower pressure of 75-80lbs per sq. inch. Over the past year a good deal of research has taken place with our friends at Dean Forest. It was found that the rubber seats on the non-return valves (the one buried inside the body of the Unloader) were leaking past the aluminium seat in the body. The only way to put this right is to mould new rubber seats on the valve stem. It is not possible to recut a new seating in the body, Therefore the rubber seat must be renewed. We found that part of the problem was that the rubber had hardened and had formed an irregular seating which cause the blow-by and upsetting the working of the unloader unit.

Trevor Daw has taken the matter to a manufacturer who is conversant with this type of problem. He has placed an order for a tool to be made so that a new polyurethane seat can be moulded on to the stem. The price of £36.50 each, based on a minimum of fifty valves is the only way forward, this does include a tooling cost of £1.60 per item. Right: one of the redone valves.

If any owner has this problem with their own units and would like new ones made. Please send the valve stem only so that a reasonable order can be built up. DFR and DMUG(WM) are having three moulded for assessment in service. I hope others will support this speculative venture.

At the same time we are manufacturing the gaskets for unloads. A large one for the body to air receiver flange mounting, and two smaller ones for use on the bellows and end cap, a third one is placed under the pressure adjusting end cap opposite the bellows. I have not specified a gasket for the silencer chamber cap, owing to the price of tooling up. This is not pressure critical, therefore it can be left as a face to face joint or a thin seal of silicon gasket will suffice, even a piece of old envelope will be good enough for this No firm price yet but will be in the region of £2.50 for a set.

Send you valves to: Trevor Daw, Fern Bank, Beausale, Warwick, CV35 7NX.

PRESERVATION

W55003 GROUP Ian McDonald reports: I've just changed my third fuel pump on W55003 this year. The first two were well aged and failed within a month of each other. One with blocked filters, that shows how old it was the filters were in the body of the pump, and the other with governor problems. The third one failed also with governor problems. When we rebuilt it we left the tell tail off, it was always blanked off on this pump, and we believe this caused too much pressure to build up in the main rack causing the seal to the governor to fail and thus allow diesel into the governor body. So ensure tell tails are always fitted.

I also noticed that this engine and the floor of the unit was very 'oily'. I initially thought it was oil escaping from the exhauster. After changing the fuel pump I started the engine and noticed a fine mist being produced everytime No. 3 injector was pressurised. It was spraying onto the 'hot' exhaust manifold. This was caused by the injector feed pipe, from the centre bracket to the injector head, failing at the neck where it came out of the nut holding the pipe onto the centre bracket of the engine. A right sod of a job to replace on the unit as the hatches appear to have been put where they are of least use. I think 101s & 108s score points in this case. The moral always check for unexpected oil and diesel deposits especially in view of the upcoming changes to the fire systems.

FOR SALE

Class 119 - DMBC 51073 at Dereham. For details contact Mike Evans 07974724853.

Class 151s - Endeavour Rail Limited bought the class 151's for rebuilding for use on the national network. As it is unlikely that they will be allowed to run and accordingly, they have put them up for sale - 2 x 3 cars, built 1984 by Metro Cam, along with two coupling translator wagons. Serious enquiries please to David Humphreys at dgh@vodafone.net or 07787 967694.

Spares: Leyland Cylinder heads (New!) to suit 680 engines.
DSD unit for Blue square multiple unit (Ex-Works).
Sun Blinds for Blue square multiple unit. (New!)
Door locks (new boxed)Suburban type with interior handle.
Striker plates to suit the above.
Wheel wear compensator unit (ex CL117)
G&C DMU Brake valve
+ other odds and ends. Contact Jo Coultas (Churnet T&RS Group) e-mail jocoultas@yahoo.co.uk.

Class 117 items - two bogies, less final drives and vacuum cylinders. All tyres 77-80mm. Class 117 aluminium doors. Dave Clay, MNR Railway Station, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1DF.

Leyland Railbus Demonstrator - number RB004, which was shipped to the United States in 1984, and travelled widely before returning to Derby works in 1986. Powered by 200bhp 6-cylinder Leyland TR11 diesel engines, with fully automatic gearbox units. For further details see issue 88. Serious offers invited. Contact: David Barlow by email on dbsouthgate@tiscali.co.uk or on 07764 308350.

Rolls Royce C6 horizontal engine - ex-DMU, currently fitted to a much modified RF bus at Cobham Bus Museum, which was converted to a glider winch unit. Previous history not known but is in good running order and does not appear to be modified from rail use. (still painted metallic purple same as some other engines around and still fitted with fluid flywheel). The vehicle is likely to be dismantled for spares for other preserved buses, for which the engine is of no use to and so open to serious offers. Contact Mike Nash, 07836 656692.

Throttle rod return springs - DMU Group have had a small batch of springs manufactured to the original specification with a corrosion resistant finish, price £5.40 each p&p extra. These will give a long and reliable life. The BR type were made with soft wire hooks which wear through fairly quickly. The new ones have hard wire hooks and should not fail in service. Trevor Daw 01926-484670 after 7pm any day.

Engine parts - Two x TL11 cylinder heads, ex store probably new with original tape over valves. One Leyland Leopard coach fluid flywheel similar to DMU power cars. Offers to Trevor Daw 01926-484670 after 7pm any day.

Silencers - Pressed Steel Heritage have surplus items for disposal: Two ex-Class 116 vertical silencers, £50 each. Contact Mervyn Rogers 01277 623141

Injectors - New injectors for Leyland 680 engines. BR part no. 15-77004. £18 each plus postage/carriage. Contact David Aldridge (55000) 01626 879453.

WANTED

Bubble Car: The Bideford and Instow Railway Group are interested in renting a DMU bubble car to enable them to start running services on their short length of line next year. Are any bubble car owning groups interested? Contact Stanley Thomas at 12 Clovelly Close, Bideford, Devon. EX39 3DN.

Drivers brake valve - wanted for Class 103. Richard Thornton richard.thornton@hmce.gsi.gov.uk

Partition parts - A couple of Class 108 alloy poles and fittings, and a couple of sheets of glass are required to reinstate a partition in Iris, removed in research days. Stuart Mackay 07974 565 243 or e-mail editor@railcar.co.uk 

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