Peak Rail General Discussion

This is beginning to sound alarmingly do-able. I suggest we repair to the peakrail-enthusiast@yahoo.com group and continue our discussions there.

Tim

 

from Harvey of the carriage and waggon dept.

C&W
1835 - RMB
Repairs have been underway to RMB 1835 over January and February, with the RBR deputising. The small saloon area is being restored. The window frames have been removed, the fixing rivets and sealing mastic weren't really that functional any more after 48 years. Some welding has been done behind them, then the frames have been cleaned up and the sliding windows repaired, then refitted with new mastic and rivets. Some of the quarterlight and mainlight rubber seals have been changed for slightly better old spares after sorting through sacks full of assorted seals. Window repairs are much easier to do on a bench than when they are on the coach, although I reckon I've still spent 5 hours on each window frame. The seating has been dismantled in the saloon. The quantity of rubbish, bits of food and dust under the seats and behind heater grilles was disgusting. The panelling and seat ends have been stripped and revarnished, after a bit of a saga with one bulkhead. Its back together now, but with an unsightly repair. The black stain on one (at the back of the boiler flue) has been bleached out slightly. The window surrounds have been stripped and re-varnished and Dave has fitted some new Teak beading around them. Some bits of the seat framing had been broken, these have been repaired. The old marmoleum has been pulled up and the floor levelled a bit. Really the whole coach wants gutting, so the floor can be lifted to allow corrosion to the floor crossmembers to be repaired, but we don't really have the resources to attempt that. Some repairs might be possible from the underside. As it was the joins have been levelled slightly to compensate for the corrosion that is lifting them up. New marmoleum has been laid, this is really a summer job is its very hard when cold, so cracks easily, so it was warmed up with a heater in the store room first, then when glued down had to be weighted down with thick slabs of plywood and fishplates to keep it flat while the glue dried. New side trim panels and head rest wings are currently being made, the old plywood backing boards had been damaged by damp and wear and tear, new ones have been made and foam and new moquette have been obtained for these. Some temporary seats will be fitted as the seat repairs are still underway. These seats were really good when the coach went back into service in the early 1990s, and have worn out through Peak Rail use since then. The seat top rails have been stripped and revarnished, Dave has made some new seat numbers, the originals having had varnish slopped over them in the past, and also conforming to the BR 1 facing forwards, and 1 back system, Peak Rail now number seats conventionally. The mounting holes had to be opened out slightly with a router cutter ground down to fit. Dave is also repairing the bar shutters that have had the laminate damaged by staff using the shutters to lift the bar top. Fair enough we could have predicted that was what people would do as its easier, and a vital bolt was bust. Some other odd emergency jobs have been carried out. Hopefully next January February we will be able to give the large saloon the same treatment, although its larger so that might not be possible in the time. The year after could see repairs to the bar area, I want to strip the shelving out to weld new panelling in behind it, and the shelves could do with work also. The water tank wants dropping for repair, and there are much more substantial repairs wanted to the floor supports, this may entail stripping out the bar and heating in this area. It would also be good to sort out the store room, and put some shelving in there. Another year could see the doors and vestibules repaired, new parts are wanted for the locks and hinges and droplights, and the wooden door checks want removing to allow repair of corrosion to the door aperture steel framing, which is corroding. The vestibules want floor and panelling repairs, the floors are jacking up due to corrosion underneath. The year after could see the gangway repairs, new steel channelling, some new mounding timbers, replacement of the panelling and mounting studs behind it, and some sort of repair to the now almost completely missing ferrobestos facing pads. That would allow a repaint after 5 years, this would have to happen in service as its too cold in January/February, even under cover.

1970 - Mk1 RBR
Some problems with the connections between this and 4974 affecting ride weight were experienced over Christmas. These two coaches had had disagreements before, without us getting to the bottom of it. Both buckeye jaws were changed for different ones, much measuring and gauging carried out, and some work done to the gangway faceplates. The problem seems to have solved itself fortunately, although I'm still not quite sure how. An oven thermocouple has been changed and a light fitting repaired. The passenger end door was been removed, it had started to rub on the upright that supports the panelling. This was jacked out to create clearance again, then the door replaced.

14060 - Mk2a BFK
The gangways are under repair. Colin and Tony conclude the way they are designed in a Mk2a makes them almost impossible to dismantle, let alone reassemble. Some of the gangway faceplates have been renewed.. Some more bodyside repairs have been underway.

80777 - Mk1 BG
New timber sections have been made and fitted to the floor in the doorway area, after the steelwork underneath was repaired and painted. This then allowed timber sections on the door bottoms to be made and fitted, these seem to come in several different sizes. Damaged footsteps have been replaced. The new steam pipe is now ready to fit, some bits of ETH cabling underneath will need to be moved slightly. The coach has been painted after absorbing 10 litres of filler, I called it a day at that, particularly as winter was on its way and we didn't want to leave the paintwork until April say. Some missing ancillary parts have been replaced underneath, and replacement of some internal boarding is underway.

MR Mineral Wagon
Timber sections in the largely new body are all now in place, final sections of strapping including newly manufactured J shaped straps are being fitted, which returns it to its as new specification. Various other fittings are being repaired and replaced. Some 'Crown plates' have been manufactured for the underframe, these reinforce the front of the W Iron bolts, and have been lost from this wagon at some point, though after 1923 they were no longer required in the RCH regulations. One poorly spring has been removed with the help of Derek Riley, this had one broken leaf, and another section where each leaf had corroded to maybe half its original section. Maybe this bit was under a joint in the floor so got wet a lot! Another spring is being cannibalised for spare leaves, in the absence of a pot of gold for wagon repairs. Usually they are paid for by either Tim, Ben, Andy Bodden, or John Powell in the Ferry Van department. We are grateful for the donation of some timber from Mike Edwards and Keith last year though, and some of this has been used in the 3" thick floor in this wagon.

Ferry Van
John is well into the second half now.

H. Coppock

 

Tim,

Give Dave a prod about getting his Simplex operational and getting the Buxton MES involved. I am not sure what happened to their portable track though.

 

Hi all
Attached is an unusual angle on the work started at Riverside,the tree felling etc. The pic was taken thro the end door window of the kitchen car of the Palatine on Wed 17th Feb when it was deputising for the RMB on the train. The view shows the clearance site looking towards the buffer stop of the Network Rail line and the road bridge access to Sainsburys. This viewpoint will not be available again as the other coach of the Palatine (the blue coach) is normally attached to the kitchen car.

 

Canonstar is the link broken or pic missing?

S&T

Pete and myself carried on with cleaning out the rear window of the luffenham box to fit the polycarb windows,the side one is now finished and pianted up,a second coat will be added next time,and finishing off the red too.

Kevin Jones has kindly donated a stove to go in the box for matlock, and the stove at Darley Dale is now working in the crossing box.

Rowsley

The deisel crane has been up and running assembling trackwork onto one of the long waggons for Matlock, also noted the HST lads hard at work in their shed,more work on the turntableon going.

the land opposite Harrisons way has been cleared even more for the council recycling yard,its about a quarter of the Rowsley site in size now.


Matlock

More clearance work scheduled.

generally everywhere seemed busy today,both train,A6 and i counted thirty odd aircraft (an airshow somewhere?) must have been the good weather.

 

Sorry Dom but I really thought I had attached the pic, here is another attempt
Sheila R

 

Nope - still no photo

 

tis ok i have problems getting pics uploaded too!

dom

 

This works for me .... open the photo on your web site - flickr etc. Right click it - go for 'properties' then copy the whole http path. Click the picture icon on here (gives you

 

S&T

continued to cut the polycarb for the rear window,one of the rear panels has had to be removed, this has been boarded over as the frames had reached a perishable condition, it appears that the window in the rear may have come from elsewhere as the dimensions dont match normal frame sizes of such boxes.

also finished off the missisng internal boarding left over from last month and spent some time painting in the windows, the afternoon was used up moving a pile of signalling into the store,to clear out more space between the sidings, more to be moved soon.

midweek i nipped down to church lane to drill some drain holes in the motor point detector box, as condensation has been building up inside,causing problems when it freezes,the detector box heater has been wired out the switch and put onto a permanent supply.

Class 50`s

the lads were hard at it doing various tasks including overhauling the turbocharger for one locomotive.

Rowsley site

the narrow gauge was being worked upon, Mr Briddon senior and younger were also busy working away and the HST lads were working over in their shed, the turntable fencing has started to be errected in midland style fencing.

Matlock

More tree clearance work ongoing this week and next, the jcb is hard at it ripping the stumps out the ground so were back to trackbed to work upon when relaying starts.

picture of the turntable fencing and the clearance work at matlock attached

 

S&t

The weather changed today so we made the most of this,. Pete and myself finished off the rear window(minus some painting) and started on the side windows,we also painted three quarters of the bargeboards,Pete has found that the same company that makes the polycarb for the windows also does a nice bargeboard,which wel affix to the front of the current bargeboards to keep them waterproof and short of an occasional red coat every few years wel not have to worry about rot etc.

Rowsley

the narrow gauge and turntable fence were being worked on today, the latter i believe is now completed.

Mr Briddon senior and younger were working upon various things and the 31 was having a check over.

Matlock Riverside

the tree clearance has reached the old wall of the loading ramp that used to be part of Cawdor Quarry, the jcb has been ripping the roots out of the ground and were back down to the old ballast formation.

 

S&T

continued on the window replacement for the matlock box,also spent half a day putting more of the store in order

am down a few days over the week after easter painting,working and sorting!

ROWSLEY

the turntable fencing is finished,noted the Narrow gauge,HST,LMSCA,class 50 lads working away this week on their respective projects.

also Mr Briddon younger has brough a larger box van in and the smaller PALVAN has gone off to up north.
Tim says Bens midland Plank waggon looks very good too.

Matlock

more works on land clearance and the drainage are being done on this weeks works train.

think the last of the trees from riverside have now been dealt with.

a picture of the works train attached heading for Matlock and the turntable fencing.

 

Good progress there - does the fence mean the table can be finally commisioned Dom?

 

from passing ive not seen any more work been done on it (the main structure) in the last week or so,so id assume all the extra work has been completed, as the decks back on again now, i believe theres some announcement due in course via the magazine or the publicity officer etc.

 

Err - when is the magazine being published and who is the Publicity Officer? It seems, Dom that you are the unofficial voice of Peak Rail

 

nah im just a good set of eyes for all the volunteers do down the line and the net is the future of news!!

dont know the publishing date boss, as far as i know mr Tait is the publicity officer,he has put a publicity statement on the forum relating to the passing of the turntable and an official opening date,celebrity etc today, ive asked him to put something official on the nat pres forum too,else il get permission to copy the forums announcement to here.

many thanks

dom

 

What site is Tait's bulletin on Dom? No sign of anything on peakrail.co.uk? Iain

 

Gala's and Events

 

reproduced with Tom`s permission.

--- In peakrail-enthusiasts@yahoogroups.com, "springfield.consultancy"
<dr.tom.tait@...> wrote:
>
>
> PETE WATERMAN – TO OFFICIALLY OPEN PEAK RAIL'S TURNTABLE
> SATURDAY 1ST MAY 2010
>
>
>
> Wednesday 24th March 2010 saw yet another mile stone in the history of
> Peak Rail as the newly refurbished ex-Mold Junction turntable was
> successfully load tested (static load) using Peak Class Diesel
> locomotive D8 Penyghent.
>
>
>
> Following this a dynamic test was carried out using diesel locomotive
> 37152 this locomotive being turned by hand and then using the vacuum
> motor fitted to the turntable, this test was also successfully completed
> and the turntable has now been passed for operational use.
>
>
>
> Built by Cowans Sheldon (60' diameter) and installed at Mold
> Junction shed during March 1937, as part of the LMS shed modernisation
> plan following the appointment of William Stanier as Chef Mechanical
> Engineer.
>
>
>
> As Stainer produced new designs of locomotives) Black 5's, 8F, Royal
> Scot, Jubilee etc) larger diameter turntables where required at Motive
> Power Depots throughout the LMS system. Mold Junction shed was closed in
> April 1966 following the withdrawal of steam traction on the North Wales
> Coast route. The turntable was removed direct from Mold in 1987 and
> initially stored at Buxton, refurbishment taking place at Darley Dale
> and Rowsley.
>
>
>
> This now gives train operating companies the benefit of being able to
> turn locomotives once the connection at Matlock has been re-instated.
> Members, volunteers and the public will be able to witness at first hand
> this magnificent achievement on the 1st and 2nd May at our Steamy
> Special Weekend.
>
>
>
> A tremendous vote of thanks must go to Dr Allan Wirth, Derek Ankers,
> John Weatherill, Peter Molloy, John Doran, John Screeves, Paul
> Wainwright, and Robin Westwood plus many others for all the hard work
> and dedication to see this vast project through to the end. A special
> thanks to Peter Bradnam from Tecroc Products Ltd for supplying a vast
> amount of the materials.
>
>
>
>
>
> Event Schedule
>
>
>
>
> A special passenger timetable hauled by 48624 (facing north) will be in
> operation on Saturday 1st May with the first train departing Rowsley
> South at 10.15am
>
>
>
> Pete Waterman will officially open the turntable with 48624 taking the
> honours at approximately 11.15am
>
>
>
> Passenger services will recommence with the 12.30pm departure from
> Rowsley South with 48624 now facing south. Throughout the rest of the
> day a variety of diesel locomotives including a selection from the
> Heritage Shunters Trust will be available to be photographed on the
> turntable.
>
>
>
> Furthermore enthusiasts will be treated to a special photographic
> opportunity on the Saturday evening with 48624 hauling a selection of
> mixed freight, starting from Rowsley South Station at 7.00pm.
>
>
>
> Sunday sees 48624 hauling all passenger trains, the first train
> departing Rowsley South at 11.15am, with diesel locomotives taking to
> the turntable for that special photographic shot.
>
>
>
> Special fares will apply to both days. For further information contact
> Peak Rail on 01629 580381 or visit www.peakrail.co.uk
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
>
> Tom Tait
>

 

The website has had a refresh and been updated,link below;

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/index.html