Bulleid 4-DD Preservation

Thanks for your interest Luke. Please keep an eye on our "News Page" on our website www.bulleid4dddoubledeck.co.uk for progress reports. Mostly site preperation, as we covered the unit in December and until the weather improves it is still covered. We are hoping to do a cosmetic paint job on the cab soon to make her look more presentable.

 

A bit off topic. Looking on the Bulleid 4DD web site. It's a shame the LBSCR Billinton Brake Third built at Brighton Works and the LSWR four wheel passenger luggage van built at Nine Elms in 1896 weren't saved. I'm sure the Bluebell would have found a use for them.

 

They were saved in a way in that the owner removed them when when they were in danger of being demolished. I believe that they have been inspected but no one wanted them. The truth is that there were many more complete bodies available that were protected by being inside bungellows.

 

A Quick search on VCT shows a few more coaches hiding in the bushes.
SER six wheel Third - http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3546
LSWR six wheel Third - http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3545
LBSCR Billinton Third Brake - http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3544
LSWR four wheel passenger van - http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3543

 

The LBSCR Bilington Third Brake and the LSWR four wheel passenger van are those shown on our website. They were hidden behind a huge pile of tyers and earth that had been dumped. The group have spent the last two months moving this and leveling the ground so we can get a workshop and have room for parking. The LSWR six wheel Third is hidden behind the DD coach. The SER six wheel Third must be near one of the Bulleid Locos on site as i have not seen it. I will have a look when i am next on a working party. As i say its a shame but there really are better examples still being found elsewhere. However if anyone wants to have a go at one i am sure we can point them in the direction of the owners.

 

The Loco group looking at unrebuilding 35011 General Stean Navigation are going to have a Members/Open day at Sellinge on the 23rd April, members of the 4DD group will be on site that day and we hope to have the cab uncovered and on show.

 

It was a big weekend for the project with work starting on rust removal to the underframes and bogies. The feedback from those on this weekend team is that the underframe seems sound which is good news. We have placed some photos on our News section of the group website. Please do not be put off by the rust to the panels on the coach sides we are aware that they will mostly need replacing.

Other work carried out was the on going shoreing up of the embankment next to the site and the installation of drainage ditches. The team are nearly at the end of the removal of the flytipping that has taken the last few months. Again photos of this are on our website.

We are now looking forward to geting on with the restoration.

We do need more people on our team. Currently we have aproximately a dozen or so active. We run work parties on most Saturdays, some Sundays and one or two Tuesdays a week. We do need to know whos coming in advance so anyone interested please register (no charge) via our Yahoo Group. we may be able to arrange a lift from Westenhanger Station which is the nearest station.

23rd April is the next planned Saturday working party, the 35011 General Steam Navigation Group will also be on site that day as they are premoting their own project with a members day.

 

a dozen in a working party is excellent....(I only have one Tuesday in my weeks (-:

 

Correction not a dozen in a working party this is the nunber of members who are helping pratically , the max we have have is six with three or four being the norm, and that inclues the owner, and as its a Double Deck we are allowed two Tuesdays in our week.

 

We are on the look out for a 3 link buffer no.#321 system as used for internal coupling on SR Surburban EMUs if anyone has one hiding away please let us know. Thank you.

 

Sadly I think for many of us the problem is we want to see it and many other vehicles saved, even if only as static museum pieces, but if we contributed to everything we want saved we would be bankrupt and neither is there enough museum space to store things under cover. Wishing the project well but can't contribute anything either as a volunteer or in cash.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Just wishing us well is great. You can help just by spreading the word, the more a project is talked about then the chances are that eventually someone will hear about it who can help.

 

Given link to your website a plug on Twitter and FB. Glad to help, even though only a small element.

 

Thank you Johnnew, this all helps.

 

If OVSB had turned his mind to coaches do you think they'd have looked like the one at images 111 and 50? https://www.facebook.com/HeritageSnapper/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1027283537368276

 

He did - they looked inside like this:



and this:



Outside?



No-one could accuse him of conservatively following what had sufficed before!

(Source: https://twitter.com/mrtimdunn/status/636207707263995905; http://www.ssplprints.com/image/101477/bar-scene-in-the-bulleid-tavern-car-c-1930s ; http://www.ssplprints.com/image/431391/the-jolly-tar-tavern-car-1949

Tom

 

Haha! Sorry I meant road coaches but I now understand the real attempt to make the Wessex Express bars feel like a (very uncomfortable) pub

 

I live in hope that a Bulleid Tavern Car will one day ride again. I genuinely like them.

 

I think the scalloped interior might have been a bit odd if you were three sheets to the wind!

I wonder how they painted the exterior? I assume all the faux-brickwork was painted in by hand - quite a substantial job.

Tom

 

Big news this weekend from the group. The first paint has been applied to the underframes of 13003, probably since the units last overhall. We have spent weeks removing layers of brake dust from the frames. Photos of this are on our Facebook Page.

We have also taken delivery of a large shed which once errected will form a workshop/store.

The team have also opened and photographed the inside of the Guards Van and Cab plus explored the ventilation system which is in very good condition considering that the unit has been left in the open for 40 years.

Body work will await the time we can get her under cover, but we have also located spare glass for the broken windows.