class 504 emu

just to let people know that work is progressing on the unit. the rewire is now complete and refitting of pannels making of new plannels for the inside has started. people have commented on the look of the unit, but it is all sound and has been sealed and made water tight apart from where locals do the windows!! the out side just needs a repint no point doing that if it has no inside!!! so repint will be last thing done. hopefully have unit finshed this year


class 504 e.m.u. 1959-2009

 

Fantastic news

I have all kinds of memories of these units, right down to being on the units as 31308 pushed them over the Buckley Wells crossing from the BR depot on the Saturday night, and 40145 pushing it back over the crossing on sunday morning after the ELR took ownership of the depot at midnight.

sadly I also recall the politics leading to the other unit being delibrately cut up and scrapped and depriving the ELR of the chance of a 4 coach suburban set but c'est la vie. At least the survivor has a chance !

 

Here's a few more from the last few days...

 

thanks for the update, it will be nice to see it finished

 

just to let you know Class 504s have a page on face-book will update it with pics and news etc
its a open group so you can just look, join or put on your own pics of 504s on it

its name is
Class 504 E.M.U.s

thanks paul

 

new surports for ceiling panels are being fitted see pics.

 

Will you be putting route maps / mirrored picture frames on the back walls ?

 

yep, we had some fitted when it was used in TTTE event but someone nicked them !! After the said event.

 

Thats bad..

I'm sure you could knock up some frames, print some new maps and a plastic glass, then nail it to the wall (extreme but it wont go missing again !), if I remember rightly it was 1 Map and one Mirror at each end of the compartment, though I recall seeing advertisements as well.

I remember the Bury Units having edison screw fit light bulbs rather than Bayonet Style though without any covers (just the bare bulb), back in the 1980's screw fit bulbs werent that common, well to me anyway.. I discovered this when one morning the bulb fell out onto the seat next to me, they were bare uncovered and half knackered, and other things like the guards microphone to the driver never worked, and the cooking stove in fact the heating in general, or if it did work there was a window that wouldnt close.

Bury unit lighting was notoriously dim on the non-refurb units.. sometimes Heaton Park Tunnel was just darkness, you'd come out of the tunnel on the Bowker Vale side with everyone sat in everyone else's lap because of the "bounce" on some dodgy trackwork in the tunnel and a section gap just as it was accelerating from the station... though the seats where always comfortable.

Ive probably got a couple of interior photographs of the units in service in the 90's if there of interest.

Cant wait to hear the compressor of this unit, slamming of the doors, ring of the bell, though leaning out of the window at Queens Park Jn looking to see if there was anything in Red Bank sidings, and then again as you came up from the tunnel into Victoria, seeing what was parked at the signal box..and the snap/jerk of the third rail shoe or the arcing in the rain is all history..