Wednesday 28 March 2012

BR Mk1 TSO 4466

As promised in the previous posting, here is a selection of images I have been sent from other working members. First up, Allan Nunn has very kindly sent through the following images of his Mk1 coach No.4466 in the final stages of its complete overhaul:


The side away from the running line is now complete including the paint to the final door (nearest the camera), and lining out, all it requires is some touching up in places.


The 'public' running line side has seen its final top coats applied, although it still requires lining out.


The first transfers have gone on, giving the coach its identity for the first time during the overhaul. However I am told that more work is required on these.

Sunday 25 March 2012

Wagon Group Update

The latest wagon news update is now available on the Wagon Group website:

http://nvrwagons.wordpress.com/news-blog/

As a footnote, I am still incredibly busy away from the railway, but the end is finally in sight! If I am lucky I may get a chance to make a working visit around Easter. In the meantime some other working members have provided me with photo updates, which I will upload onto here over the next few days or so when I get a chance.

Thursday 8 March 2012

Hidden Gems

Due to a house move and work commitments, visiting NVR/wagon restoration has had to be put on the back burner for the last few weeks – hence the lack of updates recently. I hope to resume normal service as soon as possible!

We were however able to call in briefly last Sunday on our way up the A1 to visit "Rocks by Rail" (formerly Rutland Railway Museum), to examine some stock there. It is rare that I am at the Peterborough end of the line, and rarer still that I am in the secure fenced compound behind the station - so here are a few photos of some of the stock that can be found there, all of which is awaiting restoration work to varying degrees.


First up is P143288, a private-owner ironstone hopper. Its condition is not too bad, although the headstocks (bufferbeams) need dropping out and replacing, plus some other repairs. The livery is not thought to be original to this wagon.


In direct contrast is this wagon, No.P208445. It is believed it is the same type as the ironstone hopper above (clearly cut down, in industrial service at British Sugar?), but it is in extremely poor condition and is about to fall apart at the seams.


Also in a precarious state is this, LNWR gunpowder van No.11023.


Another LNWR vehicle is No.36993 (this is its LMS number, its original LNWR number is unknown). Later it entered departmental stock as DM395361 as a 'Pooley van' for servicing weighing machines across the railway network.


One of the vehicles in better condition is LMS open wagon No.237950. This one may be a candidate for restoration to running condition before too long, although we need to finish our current projects first...


...however these two 'vanfits' may be in front of it in the overhaul queue.


This is LMS CCT No.37066, which featured in the circus train for the James Bond film "Octopussy". It still retains the modifications made to it for the filming, such as the ribs to the roof, personnel doors in each end, grab rails on the side, and a hatch in the roof.


Finally is Danish compound 'Pacific' No.996. Something of an ugly machine in my view, lacking the grace of the Swedish 'B' class 4-6-0, the Victorian elegance of the Danish 'F' class 0-6-0T ("Tinkerbell") or the rugged good looks of the German Class 64 2-6-2T, all resident at Wansford. Note the colours of the Danish flag around the chimney, something (I believe) all Danish locos carry.