GCR Wagon Group

hey

A new blog has been set up showing the progress of the restoration of A6071 Shell BP tanker at the GCR. it can be found here

A6071 wagon update

Tommy

 

Good work! What are you using to strip the old paint, crud etc away?

 

We just basically use angle grinder with wire brush attachment. It takes it back to bare metal. Whilst doing this we noticed there is a very thin layer of some sort which we have to take off, if we dont we cant have a smooth finish. The bad side of doing this is is it does take the brush down quickly

 

Blimey that must be taking a fair old while

 

there is two of us on a tuesday and one on a saturday working on this. We have been attacking the barrel since October, with a break of 3 weeks in december. Having 3/4s of it cleaned and primed is pretty good going if you ask me. And it may seem a long job, however we are seeing pride in our work. Especially as the sole bar is complete.

for completion:
1/4 barrel (east side) plus top sections cleaned and primed,
east brake parts
undercoat barrel
paint barrel in gloss
Paint logos
2 west axles and axle boxes
possible new oil pads

Its a pretty small list and I have the faith it will be in service for October gala, if not it will be ready for Janaury. With this and another one almost complete at Loughborough shed, it will make a good sight

 

Got to say, Tom and Keith have been doing a great job on this after it was started some years ago by others, in fact quite a few people have worked on this wagon over the years, and thanks are due to all of them (you know who you are).

Wire brushing is a pain but it's a low-cost option compared with shotblasting (which I am currently looking into for a couple of other vehicles) and to be honest, it doesn't take that long to cover a large area with a 9" grinder.

 

The only time I've had to do wirebrushing before is on automobiles, nowhere near the same amount of area to cover! Must feel good knowing that you're futureproofing it with lots of fresh paint!

 

It is rewarding, it especially rewarding when you look at the east side (side not started) and then the west side. Before we started on barrel, work was pretty un-noticeable to others due to the fact it was all sole bar work. Now the barrel is being worked on, we are getting compliments on our work from other groups at the GCR

 

who says the cold weather stops out door restoration, Even if its a little work it still counts. More info in blog

 

Tom, re your latest blog, I have one of the missing buffer mounting bolts in my desk drawer at work, just need to remember to order a couple...

 

I now remember you have them as two had either sheared when we took them off or the thread was completely worn

 

brakes have been dis-assembled and re-assembled, does look good. Still hopeful for January Launch, if weather doesnt stop work

 

The weather has moved progress along nicely. Two axle boxes that were untouched are now in undercoat, a third wheel is now in primer and half the south end is now in undercoat. Lets hope the weather stays warm and progress can be made on the east side in the next month of so

 

third wheel is now fully in primer, fourth has work started on it. West brake gear is also having work done. Current progress means January Gala is seeming possible

 

If you havent read the blog recently, and havent visited the GCR to see our progress (visible just) then do read the blog. Three sides have now had their first layer of gloss applied, the west wheels are awaiting gloss and the insides have been cleaned. A finish is in sight, and with a similar tank wagon almost finished in Loughborough Shed, the reallisation of having 2 newly overhauled tanks in similar livery will enhance the freight train next year.

 

We have now launched a website for the group, which also has updated links to the blogs as these on here are now outdated (I apologise)
The web address for our group is www.gcrwagongroup.co.uk. At present it is very basic however the stock list will be updated over time

 

Quick update, work has been carrying on even in this bad weather we are having. Work has concentrated upon the east side and undercoating has started.

Also the website has been updated with future projects and blogs updated so do check out www.gcrwagongroup.co.uk

tommy

 

Although,it-costs,-when-you-look-at-the-man-hours-saved-it-works-out-cheaper,-a-day-blasting-is-around-350-400-pounds.
I-would-really-recommend-going-down-the-sandblasting-route,we-had-a-coach-underframe-done-at-Wirksworth-it-took-two-days-with-one-man,which-included-priming-and-topcoating-rather-that-6-months-of-work-with-a-needle-gun...-
I-think-this-is-the-way-forward-for-me-so-Ive-bought-my-own-blasting-pot-and-all-the-associated-gear-so-I-can-do-mk1-coach-body's-and-bogies-etc,
-just-savin-up-for-a-260-cfm-compressor-now-to-power-it-all!-lol

your-doing-a-great-job-btw,-would-be-nice-to-see-a-couple-of-tanks-in-one-of-the-GCR's-freight-trains,seem-to-remember-there-was-black-creosote-tank-operating-a-while-back

I-always-remember-starting-the-other-one-of-those-tanks.one-of-Mr-T's-which-was-going-into-yellow-SHELL_LUBRICATING_OILS-livery(like-the-hornby-model)-but-I-never-finished-it..

Daniel-Smith

 

Daniel,

You are of course right about sand blasting, provided you can keep the stuff out of bearings etc, and we will be going down this route on a couple of other vehicles later this year, hopefully, although probably not the next tank wagon (whose identity you have guessed already, by the way). I gather that you still need to get in all of the fiddly corners after the blasting has missed them, and this is really the time consuming bit. A6071 has been a longer project than it would have been, partially because some of the volunteers working on it have moved on over the years, and partly because we have had to make bits which were missing, but Tom and Keith are really dedicated to the cause and doing great work - we could do with more like them - although strangely the productivity has improved while I haven't been there as much myself, which should probably tell me something!

The black creosote tank B998926 is still in service, and Shell-BP A4513 is nearing completion at Loughborough, so things are looking up for the GCR's tank wagons at present. It would be nice to get A7514 and Esso 2335 back into a decent state - we would be getting some way towards a proper train of them then - but I fear that those two will take a lot longer.

Going back to A6071, if anyone has one of those large valves off the discharge pipework which is available to help out a 65 year old tank wagon whose original is damaged beyond use, please let us know, as this would complete the restoration.

 

excellent!-So-the-eventual-plan-is-to-have-a-rake-of-these,-thats-brilliant,that-will-be-a-preservation-first-surely!

Keep-up-the-good-work!