NVR Wagon Group Updates

Fascinating, albeit a sad read - thanks for that. I shall be making a donation in due course

I have to say the wagons are the first things I look at on my visits: one that always gets my attention is the shock-absorbing wagon. There's a reason for this: I remember these wagons being loaded with bricks at the brickworks in Farcet and Yaxley when I was a child and more to the point, my elder brother actually used to be one of the people loading them when he worked for LBC at a summer job.

It wasn't unknown for a barrowload of bricks to become unbalanced and end up on the track having fallen down the gap in the loading bay; this would usually prompt severe words from the checker...

The other eye-catchers there are the CWS coal wagons - it would be great to see those done up one day although I can see that the priority is the express freight - trains I certainly remember on the ECML.

 

@Big Stu, I have no problems with you providing updates, as and when.......

The van train is certainly growing, though I'm intrigued about what criteria are used to determine the tyre profiles & whether they pass or not!

Oh, and can we nick you SR brake?.......

 

You're not the only one Dave! Tim posted this request on Facebook:

"CALLING ALL WAGON INSPECTORS

We have a wagon that has been pulled out of traffic due to tyre profiles. Our wagons are inspected to Network Rail standards as that is the only standards we have. This wagons tyres are only one millimetre under standard, but have nevertheless failed!

Does anyone out there have additional standards that we might adopt to allow this wagon to get back into traffic without a wheelset swap or tyre turning?

It is unlikely that this wagon will travel more than 100miles a year, so the current wheelsets should last for years if permitted to pass slightly relaxed standards."

If anyone has any useful input on that, feel free to PM me and I will pass it on...

Certainly..........not!

 

Had a look at some of the wagons today, which seem to be getting some paint on them Noticed a banana van as well for the first time, a type that always intrigued me as they were heated!

Also paid my respects to Mr. Foxwell at Yarwell.

 

We managed to rub down and paint all of the bodywork and one side of the chassis on another one yesterday Not far off being returned to traffic, although we don't know when it is likely to be shunted out of the siding where it is currently sat.
https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/710633725793271

Currently failed due to axle box issues, but hopefully there may be a plan for that van in the not too distant future...

 

First update for 2018 (well it was my first session on the wagons this year, although others braved the elements in January!).

Sunday saw seven of the group attacking the Civils brake van (B954024) which has been out of action since last year when the roof was removed by a storm! (Facebook update can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/743784839144826).

As the brake van is a little 'tired' it has been decided to strip it back and re-build rather than just fix the roof, such that it should be good to go for a few years. The duckets and the panelling from both balcony ends and one side were removed, along with some of the end windows (sadly, although a lot of screws/nuts could be undone, the angle grinder did have regular use too!). Pictures from one of the other group members via FB:

Once strip down is complete, the structure can be assessed for repairs before re-panneling the van with correctly sized panels.

Replica resin plates were fitted to LMS Wagon number 470944 as well as BR Van B768248, which having had it's brake rigging painted and refitted earlier this year is now awaiting a fitness exam and can then hopefully join the running rake (once shunted out from the carriage shed siding).

If you are interested in having replica plates made up for your wagons, Tim is happy to discuss your requirements and give you a quote

B759852 is still waiting for replacement wheel sets to be brought down from Overton and swapped. For those who don't know, 'Ferry Meadows' station has been renamed 'Overton' (for Ferry Meadows) as part of the NVR 40th anniversary. Overton was the original name of the station when built in the 19th century, although it was renamed Orton Waterville early in the 20th century.

Once B768248 & B759852 are in the rake we will have six wagons running - over half way to our current target of ten.

 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there on Sunday, but strip down of the brake van panelling was completed and the end door/window areas were rubbed down.

https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/757029264487050

 

A cheeky mid-week session by some of the guys has seen the remaining ducket removed and also the stove, revealing a rotten floor in need of replacement...
More rubbing down, and some measuring up in preparation for the rebuild.

https://www.facebook.com/nvrwagongroup/posts/761893660667277

 

There seems to be steady progress on the vans at the NVR - one seems to be awaiting wheeling?

 

Yes - apologies for the lack of updates, but work has been ongoing on multiple fronts.

We got most of the way through a wheel swap a few weekends back, but the horns needed some remedial work before the replacement wheel sets go under the wagon - this wagon has previously been restored, but failed due to flange wear on the wheel sets (possibly due to the worn horns). Due to the unavailability of the steam crane, we had to do it the hard way using hydraulic jacks and sleepers for packing. We then man handled the old wheel sets across to a parallel set of tracks (and back across again by the donor wagon) and put them under the donor wagon which is not intended to be a runner.

There has also been good progress on the civils brakevan (interior now fully painted, floor oiled, exterior remains to be re-panelled), although that has been temporarily put on hold while work is focussed on producing a good rake of wagons for the upcoming steam gala.

One of the other wagons has also been rubbed down ready for a complete repaint.

I'll post some photos later, but you can see most of the stuff we've been up to on the facebook page in my signature below.

Stu

 

As promised, a few photos from recent weeks/months (for those who don't wish to use FB)!

Josh spent a lot of the day working like a trojan on the jack during the second day of wheel swap effort!
Wagon Group in action (Steve is hiding round the other side somewhere).
What happens when you leave your vehicle parked near P'boro.
Tim and myself on the easy part of manhandling wheel sets (it took five of us to shift the wheel set between adjacent tracks).
Shifting the donor wagon sideways to get it back on the failed wheel sets (on the third day of wheel swap!).

Work on the Civils brakevan - Josh and myself cutting inserts to bolster the frames.
Steve bracketing and reinforcing the frame.
The reinforced frame (fresh wood mostly there to provide new anchorage for the replacement panelling when it goes on).
The interior painted, with floor sanded, oiled and varnished (mostly Tim's hard work).

B785122 rubbed down ready for repaint, B771300 repainted and awaiting replica plates.

 

Thanks Stu.
What oil do you use for the flooring?

 

Hi Bryan,

I believe it was linseed oil (although looking back through the wagon group chat there was also a suggestion of using Sadolin, so I'm not sure what got used in the end, as Tim's FB post suggests it was stained as well as oiled - so possibly both!). I'll ask (the floor was done on a day I wasn't there I'm afraid).

Stu

 

Good to hear the good train will be out again soon... Must have friends in high places in the Operating Department...

Sounds like good progress is being made and looking forward to a lengthy freight train passing through Overton soon!

 

I'm just intrigued about a varnish that will sit happily on oil.

 

Quick update from the last couple of sessions.

B771300: Chassis cleaned and painted. Body painted apart from one side doors which have been repaired. Lettering applied.
B785122: Chassis cleaned and painted. Body painted apart from one side doors which are under repair.



(Haven't forgotten about the question above - will ask Tim when I'm helping on the vans next Sunday.)

Stu

 

I am really looking forward to seeing these do a 'run', you know.

A fitting memorial to Mr. Foxwell.

 

Me too! If it all goes to plan, I think the dates to keep free are 1st/2nd September at the Steam in Green weekend. Confirmation/details to follow when available...

 

Looking forward to doing a photo charter with 34081 and the 10 vans.

 

Both days clear here. Not least of which because I want a brake van ride.