Wagon Restoration and Maintenance

March 2007 to date

Demonstration goods train climbs towards Wanders Curve and (linked) at Alresford down distant

Photos (27th April 2008): David Warwick see also and

Work continues on the David Andrews' brake van framework Photos (5th May 2008): Chris Willis

With a Matt Allen freight charter running in the morning and the goods running all day we had a most pleasant visit from Tom Adams and Nick Broderick from Steam Railway.
I believe it is intended top run a full page spread in the next but one issue

Chris Willis, 27th April 2008

24th April 2008 Our new BR Brake Van at Alresford seems in better than expected condition. I suggest that sometime during the summer the roof (which does not need replacement) is made watertight. Peter Milnes of the Bluebell Railway is making the remaining window mouldings for the Hampshire unit. We had enough mouldings recovered from Eastleigh to complete one car and half of the second, so Peter took some of our hardwood with him to complete the task; we are obliged to him for doing this. Sincere thanks must go to five Bluebell Railway members who bought more timber and helped us to sort out the remainder: (l-r) Dave Clarke, David Chappell, Peter Milnes, John Coleman and Richard Salmon, the Bluebell's Webmaster. Chris Willis
From: Ian.Johnson Sent: 29 April 2008 08:53 Subject: Brakevan Gents A little history of Brake Van DB 95133x (the last digit is missing but may be visible under the paint): Diagram 1/505 to lot No 2207 Weight 20 Tons unfitted Built Faverdale in 1952 to an LNER design Number built to this lot: 240 (DB951276 - DB 951515) Therefore it is an early one, but the lamp brackets are not in the LNER positions therefore one of the first BR built with this arrangement. Regards Ian

15th April 2008: After the recent Thomas events, a quiet non running day at Alton! A mineral wagon (doing what it says on the tin) sits patiently waiting to be unloaded just as countless mineral wagons did. This did not make Doctor Beeching a happy man! Contractors were busy resurfacing platform 3. At one stage there were 2 SWT Desiros trains in platforms 1 and 2, a real engineering train for the resurfacing works, and the road railer weed killing unit shuffling around the sidings! It's a departmental ballast/spoil wagon called a Rudd, built from 1989 onwards, so nothing to do with Dr Beeching I'm afraid, but it is being used for what it was built for. Regards Colin Chambers Managing Director Mid Hants Railway Ltd 'Watercress Line'


We had a busy day on the Lowfits today. The tent on the second one has served it's purpose and dried out the floor timbers. It is now starting to get in the way, so we dismantled it. The solebar and ends/sides have reached undercoat stage, and we have now dropped the ends/sides to improve access to the underframe. We have also removed all the floorboards, having numbered them first (31 in total) ........ to aid subsequent replacement. However as they appear to be pretty well life-expired, numbering may not have been necessary! The wagon looked a lot better at the beginning of the day under the tent, than at the end, but at least we have exposed all the underframe areas. The first Lowfit had the lettering and numbering stencils applied and masked with newspaper. There was very little wind which makes it a lot easier. A quick spray with white paint, and remove the stencils. Final touching up with white paint and then bauxite, until it looks right, will have to wait for another day.

	Reports and photos (15th April 2008): Chris Le Corney


13th April 2008: Rapid progress has been made to the interior of the CCT in the last two weeks since it was cleared out. Outstanding items are one door mechanism, one tread plate to fix, two vent covers to fix after varnishing and the door rebates to repaint before this vehicle goes to Alresford for a fitness to run exam.
There has also been progress on the Brake Van with the running boards completed and glossed up to their penultimate coat Report and photos (13th April 2008): Chris Willis

28 March 2008:

Lowfit B 452718 at Alton has been pretty well totally derusted and painted in BR bauxite above the solebar. You can still just about make out the start of the number on the second bauxite panel on the side of one of the photos. This is just as well, as with two similar Lowfits one could easily get confused.

There is a small cast plate on the solebar: "Due for repaint in 1962".
I assume if it had been repainted then someone would have removed this, but with the plate still being there it would suggest it has not been painted since it was built in 1955!
The wooden floor needs replacing, plus the lettering and numbering to complete. At the same time more "fun" will no doubt be had in the coming weeks derusting the second Lowfit.

Report and photos: Chris Le Corney

Photo (15th March 2008): Henry O'Dwyer

8th March 2008:

On light duties today, I have managed to finish the red undercoating to the coal wagon

Report and photo (8th March 2008): Chris Willis

Chris, despite exhortations, just won't let illness interfere with his voluntary work! ... tw

6th March 2008:

Today we replaced some rotten floor timbers in the red Toad brake van W17392.
If anyone has ever wondered how brake vans are so heavy for their size .... all was revealed under the old floor boards. Obviously the Great Western at Swindon used their scrap and offcuts to good effect and it must have taken a good deal of effort to get all these bits to fit, so tightly were they packed. Unfortunately we could not see any discarded nameplates! With the new flooring in place they will remain hidden for another 25 years.
BR used concrete to add weight to their brake vans - not quite so interesting.

Report and photos (6th March 2008): Chris Le Corney

13th February 2008:

A 42 ton flat wagon leaves the MHR - may she rust in peace

Photos and report: Dave Tilbury

2nd February 2008: Fitting 'cupboard doors' on the coal wagon at Medstead & Four Marks. A MHR limited edition 4mm scale model of this wagon in appropriate signwriting will soon be on sale
Three photos (2nd February 2008): Henry O'Dwyer

17 January 2008:

We started yesterday de-rusting the two Lowfits (B 452718 and B 453433) which have recently been moved to Alton during a lull in the current wet and windy weather.
As you can see, we have also put up a tent-like structure over one of the wagons to keep it dry: the plan is to work on the undercover one when the weather is damp, or on the not undercover one when it is dry. Hence in a few months time one will be able to determine if the weather in Alton has been predominently wet or dry by which one gets completed first !

Report and photos (17th January 2008): Chris Le Corney

13th January 2008: David Edwards has completed the step running boards on CCT 1765 and prepared them for painting. Apart from a "fitness to run" exam and the aforementioned painting, this concludes the exterior work to this CCT. Other members of the gang have been dismantling the CCT/PMV doors recovered from the IOW for component recovery. The parts will be used on the new doors to be made by David Edwards for our next ongoing project PMV 1995s. David Andrews has been putting his father Roy's skills as a mechanic to good use by preparing the salvaged hinges and new bolts for the cupboard doors for the coal wagon. It is hoped to fit these on our next visit, weather permitting. Rob Score has completed the laborious task of painting and fitting the new door clips and chains to this vehicle. Photos and report (12th January 2008): Chris Willis


8th January 2008: Chris Willis wrote - "So, gents, may I please pick your brains again for some history of 1851,1765, and 1768?" The 'bible' for this sort of information is Southern Railway Passenger Vans by David Gould. 1851 was built in 1940 and withdrawn in 1976. It was bought by W&AR and arrived at Alresford 25/10/76 with 1995. I think 1851 was the one that had been used for fish traffic and it took us a long time to get rid of the smell. 1765 was built in 1938 and withdrawn about 1981. This one must have arrived after my time as it is not on my list. 1768 was built in 1938 and withdrawn in 1977. Bought by W&AR and arrived 21/7/77. Also on my list are - BY 765 built 1939 and withdrawn 1976. Bought by W& AR and arrived 26/10/7 PMV 2196 built 1934, to DS142 1954 and withdrawn 1972. Bought by MHRPS from Yeovil Jc it arrived at Alresford in the last BR train 6/3/76 PMV 2188 built 1934, to DS 11 1954 and withdrawn about 1978. Bought by Standard 4 Locomotive Group and arrived 17/3/79. We seem to have acquired a lot of these vans, but they provided quick cheap covered accommodation - and I liked SR vans. David Vidler Alderbury UK
28th December 2007: The restoration by Chris Willis (caught doing some painting) and gang is progressing very well. From a rusty underframe earlier in the year, it is starting to look rather good. The only timber work to be completed now is on the "cupboard" doors. The wagon will be painted in a Private Owner livery of the "Colliery Supply Company" based at Winchester - in a very similar style to the enamel sign on the side of the Building Group Shed at Medstead. This should look very attractive, indeed so attractive that you will want to buy one of the 4mm limited edition scale models of the wagon we are commissioning in aid of our wagon restoration funds. These should be available from around May/June 2008. Report and photos (28th December 2007): Chris Le Corney

BR steel highfit at Alton The last photos of this were in May, but now it is looking a bit more flawless than floor-less! It was April when we put the top coat on the sides, and it has been overtaken by two other wagons in the production line because of two non-standard axle boxes at the London end (presumably swopped by BR in its internal user days at Bounds Green) which did not fit properly and were loose in the axle guides. Thanks to Colin and the crane gang who welded a shim to one side of the axle guides, the axle boxes now fit. There are still some more new floor boards to go in and some attention needed to the brake gear (thanks Colin) but it should soon be ready to join the goods train fleet.

	Report & photos (November 2007): Chris Le Corney
13th October 2007: With the mild weather today, excellent progress was made with fitting the side planks to the coal wagon and we have got as far as our funding will allow us to go for the present.
	Report and photos (13th October 2007): Chris Willis

Sent: Tuesday, 9th October 2007 10:15 PM
Subject: 16-ton Mineral Wagon Alton
We virtually finished the 16-ton mineral wagon B 264632 at Alton today - apart from some more top-coating required required to the frames underneath. The inside was completed a couple of weeks ago despite still being partly loaded with coal! The diagonal white line on the side denotes the end of the wagon with the end discharge flap (for those works/power stations with end tipping discharge equipment).
The wagon was built in 1957 and re-bodied in 1974. The re-body no doubt resulted from the miners' strike in 1972 (was it?) when Arthur Scargill won and coal mine closures were slowed/stopped. Consequently BR discovered mineral wagons required a longer life expectancy and the planned wagon reduction programme had to be reversed and a large number re-bodied to keep up with the demand.
So it's a happy 50th birthday for it!
Regards
Chris Le Corney

6th October 2007:

Roy Andrews with the last tread plate cleaned up ready to be fitted in the CCT

Photo (6th October2007): Chris Willis

18 September 2007: From: Chris Le Corney Sent: 18 September 2007 18:15 Subject: 16 Ton Mineral Wagon As you can see from the attached, we have now topcoated inside the BR 16 ton mineral wagon as far as we can - now we have to shovel the remaining coal from right to left to derust and paint the remainder of the floor. The topcoated floor was so good, you could eat your lunch off it. The cheese sandwich tasted very good after 5 hours painting. The exterior above the solebar has now largely been topcoated also.

15 September 2007: This morning saw a historic event take place with a photo shoot organized by Matt Allen take place with a goods train and #73096 between 7am and 10am. There were some very happy and impressed photographers. Progress this week has seen a milestone reached on the CCT with all the exterior odds and ends completed bar the making and fitting of the step boards and step board brackets. The country end doors have been eased and adjusted and they and the destination boards were given their final coat of paint. A welcome visit from the MHR Preservation Society chairman Jim Russell saw him thanking David Edwards for the ongoing refurbishment of the window mouldings for the "Thumper" and asking if he could call on our services once again to make some new hardwood mouldings for the inside of the doors using samples recovered from Eastleigh as patterns. We are happy to oblige. Jim also asked if we would refurbish the roof of this EMU: the winter months are nearly upon us but we may be able to help next year. Some months ago David Edwards discovered on a visit to the IOW Steam Railway that many of their CCT/PMV grounded bodies have also had the ironmongery removed and stored. They told him that MHRPS could formally apply to them for the release of some parts missing from MHR wagons and due consideration would be given. Jim said he would be delighted to enquire for us. - Chris Willis
	Photos: Chris Willis and David Edwards
Photo (right, 15th September 2007): Henry O'Dwyer

2nd September 2007: A very intensive and full weekend with some dry weather for a change has seen the CCT's old roof stripped and new torch-on felt applied (see Henry's photo, 1st September 2007, below) followed by the first coat of anti-glare paint. It only remains for new rain strips to be made and fitted and a further coat of paint and the job is complete. Sincere thanks must go to David Edwards, Roy Andrews, Henry O'Dwyer, Chris Le Corney and Rob Score for giving their help and time to this project, some giving the whole two days.
Financial assistance from MHRPS Chairman Jim Russell for two scaffolding towers is also very much appreciated. Barry Stratton of the Urie Locomotive Group paid us a brief visit on Saturday and has very kindly agreed to make us four sets of new stepboard brackets for the new components cut to size the previous week. Report & photos (1st & 2nd September 2007): Chris Willis Henry O'Dwyer found photo opportunities in his two days with the wagon group
Photo (1st September 2007): Henry O'Dwyer

24 August 2007

We have now finished works to the South Western Tar Distilleries Wagon at Alton, and hopefully it will be moved to Ropley shortly for the fitting of a through vacuum pipe.
Geoffrey Wood is also going to sign-write on the lettering and numbering on the tank sides. It took me long enough to do that on the solebar!
The yellow patch on the left hand side of the tank with "CC" on refers to membership of the Commuted Charges scheme for which most PO wagons were registered. For an annual sum this permitted wagons to move free of charge when empty after a loaded journey and to and from works for repairs. This saved the railways considerable paperwork in producing consignment notes for such moves.

Report and photo (24th August 2007): Chris Le Corney

18 August 2007:

We have started work on the Colin Chambers and Les White 16 ton mineral wagon at Alton, which is now partly in various shades of primer. Kevin very enthusiastically started derusting and priming inside, but has come up with a slight problem: the wagon is still partly full of coal for the steam cranes. Any trainee firemen at Ropley looking for a bit of shovelling practice?
The steel sided highfit and SW Tar Distilleries Tank wagon in the background are very near completion

Report and photos: Chris Le Corney

12th August 2007:

Progress this week on the CCT has seen the town end doors eased and adjusted and a final black gloss applied. Inside the vehicle the side doors are being prepared for their final coat also, and the ceiling vents have been stripped back to reveal the original mahogany and varnished

Report and photo (12th August 2007): Chris Willis

24th July 2007:

The tar wagon with first coat of red solebar.
It was going to be the top coat, but it needs another one!

Photo (24th July 2007) and report: Chris Le Corney

7th July 2007:

Is this a first in Railway Preservation?
Today we had two father and son teams working at Medstead:

Chris Willis, Dave Andrews, Roy Andrews & Alex Willis

Photo (7th July 2007): David Edwards

24th June 2007:

With the welcome addition of Geoff Snow and Rob Score to the team today many outstanding items were completed despite the appalling weather: the PMV has had its final coat of red floor paint; the concrete hut at the end of the siding has been cleared for use as a paint store in accordance with Health and Safety/COSHH Regulations. Meanwhile David, Roy and Rob have been cutting down four Acro props to lift the cabin of the Brake Van slightly and make it secure for the bottom rail repairs to be made

Report and photo (24th June 2007): Chris Willis

27th May 2007: Demonstration Goods Train

Photos (27 May 07): Henry O'Dwyer:

One Two Three

23rd May 2007:

SW Tar Distilleries wagon and BR steel highfit at Alton. The highfit has been completed externally above the solebar but as you can see from the internal view the underframe, brake rigging, brake cylinder, etc., are in red primer. The wagon is owned by Paul Fairclough and progress would be speeded up if Mr Walden did not keep pinching him every Sunday for yet another Building Group little job ............. However, Kevin Macdonald has been helping last few few weeks on this and the tar wagon.
The tar wagon is largely in white primer now - a dirty job removing all the rust and grime from the framework at solebar level. Fortunately Kevin does not like heights, so I kindly volunteered to do the high level de-rusting and let him grovel in the low level dusty rust clouds ............. There is no photo of Kevin as he does not like having them taken!

Report and photos (23rd May 2007): Chris Le Corney

18th May 2007: The PMV was shunted to the siding nearest the running line and the coal wagon to the "Town" end of the middle siding. This means that the PMV can now be completed and fitted out as a mobile carpentry workshop, whilst the coal wagon is more accessible for Dennis Grace to finish the welding repairs Report & photos (18th May 2007): Chris Willis

2nd May 2007:

The "A" type container in Kent now has had topcoat of BR Maroon. Effectively this is now completed (apart from lettering and numbering) and work has commenced on the "AF" container which has the green sheeting over. When the latter is completed around about autumn time, they should both be moving to Hampshire to form part of the MHR demonstration goods train

Report, photos (1st May 2007) and hard work: Chris Le Corney

29th April 2007:

A week with rapid progress has seen the CCT preparation taken around to the running side and the new timber for the doors ordered.

On the coal wagon the good weather (and recent donation of £150 from MHRPS South West London Group) has helped us. The chassis was cleaned down to bare metal, primed and glossed within the weekend.

A quote has been sought for the floor timbers and we'll measure up for the side planks in the very near future.

Report and photos (except the one with Chris) (29th April 2007): Chris Willis