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NVR Wagon Group Updates

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by B17 61606, May 21, 2015.

  1. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Whilst it could be fun, it's not really in the scope of the Wagon Group ;)
    As it is the Civils brake van, and we have two runners in bauxite already, it seemed a good choice...it's been a long slog, but we're nearly there now!
     
  2. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Hurrah! Josh and I finally managed to get across to Wansford for a session on the brake van...and I had to put petrol in the car for the first time since February!

    https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1395780803945223

    "DUCKETS AHOY!
    With four members of the Wagon Group in attendance yesterday we managed to refit both duckets so now the Brake Van is structurally complete.
    Whilst Jonathan, Stu and Josh fixed the duckets to the body of the Brake Van, Tim was making the window frames and fitting the windows.
    By the end of the day both duckets were top coated to match the rest of the body."

    Stu, Jon & Josh taking turns to bolt down; Tim making the window frames; Profiled frame; Hello Tim!; Glazing x 2; Fitted ducket; All painted.
    stu1.jpg jon1.jpg josh.jpg windows.jpg profiled-frame.jpg hello-tim.jpg window-fitting1.jpg window-fitting2.jpg ducket.jpg top-coated.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2020
  3. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    After months of not being at the railway, this weekend's second post-lockdown visit led to a third as well with trips up to Wansford both days! And Tim kindly delegated the reporting to me for this week...

    https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1407931839396786

    "This weekend saw work being carried out on the brake van on both days, and it was all about the metalwork. Saturday saw Tim, Stu, Josh & Phil (once he'd completed assessing a guard returning for first shift post lockdown) work on drilling out the lamp holder, grab handle & hand rail mounting points through the new panelling, and bolting the various holders, handles and hand-rails to the paneling. Unfortunately, it turned out that two of the grab handles had smaller holes than the M16 bolts we had standardised on, so Stu took them home and drilled them out in his home workshop, returning with Josh on Sunday afternoon to finish fitting them. Stu wielded the angle-grinder to chop off excess bolt lengths, until the slitting discs ran out. The lower bolts for the last four vertical hand-rails need a new solution (likely to be a captive nut welded in to the metal bracket work), hopefully that can be done this week to allow the last of the metalwork to be fitted..
    On both days we had help from Dave (@Duty Druid of this parish) of the Mid-Hants Wagon team - much appreciated Dave, a pleasure to put a face to a name - and we hope to build on such exchange relationships with other wagon groups as we move forward. On Saturday, once the trains had finished running, we showed Dave the wagons currently stored near the tunnel on the Oundle siding."

    End of Saturday x 2; Drilling out grab handles; Josh screwing things up; End of Sunday x 2; View down the shed; Running rake currently stored on the Oundle siding at Wansford following some vandalism issues at PNVR.
    IMG_5594.JPG IMG_5593.JPG IMG_5614.JPG IMG_5616.JPG IMG_5634.JPG IMG_5636.JPG IMG_5590.JPG IMG_5608.JPG
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2020
  4. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thanks Stu!

    Had a cracking two days with you guys - really enjoyed myself & was only to happy to muck in. :) ;)

    You've got an impressive & growing rake.

    Hopefully I'll be able to welcome you to deepest darkest 'Amphire & don't forget your overalls! :Jawdrop:

    A few pics from my time on the line....... & not a wagon in sight! (don't want to steal your thunder!)

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50344848758/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50345486606/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50351630283/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50352488732/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50360613652/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50360609612/in/dateposted-public/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/50359748773/in/dateposted-public/
     
  5. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    A combined update today covering work from last Saturday (when we had hoped to be there, but it didn't happen) and today (Wednesday).

    So Saturday first: https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1430184880504815

    "Restoration continued on Brake Van B954024, but there was one bolt hole securing the handrails on the side that couldn’t be found on the inside. It turned out the hole was behind the upright partition at the end of the bench next to the stove....so out came the partition undoing some of the interior woodwork and paint, in went the bolt and then everything went back together. This took Tim and new recruit Jason, who joined us for the first time today, most of the day, but by close of play both doors had handles and Private signs fitted.
    Meanwhile Phil and Cliff carried on with the Palvan, which is now almost all in undercoat. Cliff has put in hours work sanding this van down and it shows as the finish is superb. The Palvan still needs a new roof and doors before final painting."

    doorhandle.jpg palvan.jpg palvanend.jpg

    And then Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1433328316857138

    "Another great session today with Tim and Phil cracking on with Brake Van B954024.
    The final handrails were fitted to the outside and bolts trimmed to length. Then Phil set to work touching up the white paint and also a bit of grey in a few places.
    Meanwhile, Tim had a bit of a tidy up and cleaned down the chassis to get several months of dust off the black paint (as we’d already painted the chassis at the beginning of the restoration). Then Tim painted the black panels on the body sides ready for lettering.
    We’re on the home stretch now and all that remains on the outside is the lettering, painting the stepboards and veranda floors, and fitting of the resin D-Plates that Tim has already cast. A small snagging list remains on the inside including fitting the chimney for the stove and a bit of paint, but nothing major."

    threequarter.jpg sideon.jpg veranda.jpg side.jpg
     
  6. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    More sterling work from Tim & Phil on the brake van.

    https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1439719206218049

    "On the home stretch for Brake Van B954024 today Tim and Phil were ticking off some final jobs.
    Inside, some of the metal fittings were replaced and painted white. The ducket insides were also painted white.
    Outside, the D-Plates that Tim had made were fitted, then the stepboards and veranda floors were given a coat of anti-slip black paint.
    All that now remains is the lettering on the outside and installation of the stove on the inside, followed by a few areas of paint touch up and a good clean."

    plate.jpg white-ducket1.jpg white-ducket2.jpg bracket.jpg door-handle.jpg phil-painting-steps.jpg veranda-floor.jpg brake-van.jpg
     
  7. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/1449734401883196

    "CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR!
    Today was meant to be the last session on Brake Van B954024, apart from Tim painting the lettering, but it was not meant to be......
    Whilst Phil was touching up the interior paint, Clifford was removing the film from the windows, and Tim was refitting the Stove.
    There was then a big tidy-up to clear away tools to the store, sweep up, and even manage to fill the coal bunker.
    However, plans were thwarted because Tim didn’t have the right tool to complete fitting the Stove, so this will have to wait until next time.....whenever that may be with the next lockdown imminent!
    Despite this, it’s fair to say the restoration is impressive and the Brake Van looks superb. The team were particularly impressed once the film was removed from the windows and this Brake Van has windows you can see through for the first time in years!
    There’s one final surprise in store once the lettering goes on, so look out for that update."

    illuminated.jpg evealing.jpg interior1.jpg interior2.jpg interior3.jpg interior4.jpg
     
  8. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    "However, plans were thwarted because Tim didn’t have the right tool to complete fitting the Stove"

    I can't imagine a big hammer was that hard to find...:D
     
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  9. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    You’ve obviously never been involved in Railway restoration projects. My experience is no matter what the tool you need for the job it’s never anywhere to be found. :)
     
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  10. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Big hammers and cast objects doesn't always end well... ;)
     
  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    I thought I could see a light on in a brake van far, far away...
     
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  12. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Joseph and the technicolour brakevan?

    "Opened my eyes, drew back the tarpaulin
    To see for certain, what I thought I knew

    far far away Big Stu was swearing
    but the hammer was hiding
    any tool will do..."
     
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  13. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Aaarrgh, no, anything but ALW :(
     
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  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    The follow on from that is that as soon as you finish the task by another tool, then the original correct tool will turn up.
     
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  15. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    When on a shed tour at the mid-hants, the guide pointed to a wall of large spanners and asked "what's the most important tool for fixing steam engines?" "A measure - them spanners are heavy, you don't want to lug the wrong one all the way to the engine" Makes a change from bikes. Our problem is putting the 10mm spanner down and having garage gnomes hide when you turn your back...
     
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  16. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    Apologies that this is a few days behind (originally posted on 5th November)

    https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/photos/a.359679294222051/1452840104905959/

    "Tim has been busy today looking after his own Brake Van - BR Standard B953944
    The roof was leaking again and a small crack in the canvas was discovered and dealt with. He has also cleaned the chassis and oiled the moving parts ready for winter.
    This vehicle has been in traffic for almost 10years and is starting to show signs of wear. The veranda floors are in need of replacing and a repaint would be ideal to help this Brake Van stay in traffic a bit longer. A red stripe has been painted in the white square on the chassis to show B953944 restricted to the yard."

    Wagon Group activity will continue under the lockdown (with suitable C-19 precautions, naturally), although at present I'm undecided whether myself and Josh will participate due to our elevated risk status.

    brake.jpg
     
  17. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    It'd be lovely to see that "Esso" tank wagon restored.
     
  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    So very true and often in somebody else's tool box. :)
     
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  19. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    Heh. One of my former colleagues would frequently raid my tool kit and treat it as his own - and when I blew up at him and a highly-respected senior engineer (goodness knows why he was, I thought he was useless) as it stopped me from doing my own job he got the message. From that point on it wasn't uncommon to find not only my own tools back in the box, but others from elsewhere too!
     
  20. big.stu

    big.stu Well-Known Member

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    It has been discussed. I suggested just a quick cosmetic, but Tim would prefer to do it properly, which requires lifting the tank to sort out the rather elderly supporting timbers. The added complication is that it is the washout tanker...and it's not our core focus, which is the vans. A lot of time and effort has been diverted to the civils brake van over the last couple of years, so we'd like to get a few more vans through now.
     

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