Progress Report

Doors

Two of the door frames have been identified as having deteriorated beyond repair so a frame plus a few patterns have been dispatched to the neighboring Midland Railway Centre at Butterley. Hopefully the two frames can be made from new there and dispatched back to Cheddleton to join the other four.

Electrics

The west side battery box has had all of the batteries removed and new Mk2 ones prepared for installation. Some of the wooden runners that each cell slides into had come loose so were reattached using some screws destined for the interior floors. The new batteries have been charged but they were the incorrect shape for the wooden spacers that hold them in, so each had to be dismantled, cut down and reassembled, which didn’t take

too long as they were only held together with some small nails. The inside of the box will be painted black (where the batteries go) and white (in the space above where you can look in) when the weather is more suitable. (it was snowing!)

Heater Ducts

The last of these will be repaired soon with the ones destined to hang outside getting a coat of black.

Rear Saloon

The hardwood surrounds for the corner “ports” to sit on have all been produced utilising the woodworking facilities in the carriage shed and have been test fitted prior to being protected before installation. A floor panel will need to be shaved slightly for some of these to fit in the rear saloon, as our

versions are wider than the originals so they actually sit on the floor, as the old ones were often found floating in mid air! The protection of the metal to minimise condensation has now been done to the entire saloon (see image) and a start has been made on putting the insulation back in at the toilet end, securing them with masking tape. The steel bars which hold the toilet tank up have also been cleaned and protected

Running Set

M50455 has had one of its compressors removed and stripped down on a bench for attention: this is part of a rolling program to maintain many components that have started to become less effective due to having been in service for four years. All four compressors on the running set will be swapped over time with M50455 having the first one removed. Mark, specialising in this aspect of restoration, has taken this on (see top image).

Potential New Volunteers

Two new faces were seen last weekend (confusingly both called Steve!), which boosted the number of working members to five for that day. After a guided tour of the units and Cheddleton, one Steve helped out with the battery box while the other was painting in the rear saloon. If either decides to return they will be most welcome.

It’s not all work…

Lastly is a mention for the Midland Railway Trust Railcar Group, who put on a great DMU Gala on the 29th & 30th March (see image). A few of our group visited and enjoyed the event which boasted units from five different classes in operation. Well done to all those involved, as having had a gala ourselves we know how much preparation work goes into them.