BLOG: Wagon Group Report September

Update of Wagon Group activities over the past few weeks…

 

At Alton lipping brake blocks on a couple of vans have been ground off, and the brake rigging adjusted. Handbrakes have been adjusted on several wagons also, and wagons oiled/PAD examined. Several vans have also been varnished, to hopefully extend the time before they need a major repaint. Normally our vans are repainted circa every 5 years, but 60 year old ply sheeting on some vans reduces this timescale. 

 

All we need now is some Fitness To Run tests to be carried out (for wagons both at Alton and Medstead), and the current somewhat restricted number of wagons on the freight train would increase substantially.

 

The BR Meat van has now reached it’s second undercoat stage, and the new south side doors were successfully trial fitted and bolted on. The old north side doors will be left in place for the time being, they being a useful reference for the door fittings for the south side. The solebars and buffer beams have been black topcoated.

 

Work progresses on the toilet shed, with the water supply connected and drainage run completed. Some fitting out internally needs to be completed, and we await the railway’s electrical expert to connect up the power supply.

 

Up at Medstead repairs to rotten T&G on the sides and ends of the model railway PMV S 1995 has largely been completed, and the exterior is mainly undercoated, with the green topcoat to follow shortly.

 

The Gunpowder van gets ever nearer completion from it’s very extensive overhaul. The first black topcoat livery has been applied, the roof is white (not sure how long that will remain pristine white though!), and internally it is being authentically painted also. The livery is GWR, which will at least make it compatible timewise with the wagons from the Somerset and Dorset Trust.

 

Finally, but not least, on 21st July we unveiled a brass plaque on the Cattle van by the dock at Medstead. This was in respect of our Wagon Group member Dave Vella who sadly passed away some 18 months ago. Dave’s family and a good few Wagon Group members were in attendance, and many thanks to the station staff who helped with the refreshments afterwards.

 

Chris Le Corney