Latest News on Railcar 22

I was down at Didcot the other weekend, and the seating in the large saloon is nearly complete, apart from some final varnishing of the woodwork. The interior of the Railcar is looking very good. The driving cab seats have also arrived and look great, they have been reupholstered in green leather. There are still a couple of jobs to do. Varnishing of the 2 internal doors, one to the Oxford End cab, and the other to the Luggage area and fitting Rexene to the central vestibule area. The last & final job will be to fit green curtains to both the small & large saloon windows. This will probably be done at a later date.

I am sorry but I don't have any pictures, as I have not received them yet, but will add them when I receive them

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the nearly completed large saloon. One is looking towards the Luggage area door, and the other is looking towards the Oxford end cab, and the small saloon

 

Thanks for your regular reports! I love this railcar! Is the plan to have her back in service next year?

 

We do have plans to have her back in service next year. We were planning to have her in service this year, but the really bad weather at the beginning of the year, and having to replace the whole floor, and then having to have the lino relaid in the large saloon, put our plans back by several months

 

I have received news today that the inside refurbishment of the Railcar is now complete. All that needs to be done now, but we will be in hurry for is to acquire some Green material for the curtains, and of course have them made

The next stage is to organize a weekend where we will have to do some running maintenance, and as it has not been driven for a year, run a refresher course for all the Drivers. And hopefully we will have it ready in time for Easter, Its first scheduled outing is supposed to be the Steam Railmotor launch weekend, which is scheduled for the Whitsun weekend 28th-30th May

 

I have always admired these railcars and have seen No:22 at Didcot; albeit only in a shed, I look forward to seeing it run sometime soon!
Must get to Didcot soon, seems a long time since I was last there (1st May 2010).

 

Just come back from a great weekend at Didcot working on the Railcar. We needed to change the engine oil, put some fuel in the tanks and get some driver training done As she is now running Good Friday & Saturday of Easter. I will be driving her on Good Friday, so if anyone wants to pop down and say hi, they will be more than welcome. And of course there will be the added incentive of the Bar Car being open over Easter with its usual great selection of Real Ales.

here are a series of pictures of the very nearly complete interior, just waiting for the Green Curtains to be made

 

Lovely job - would be great in a gala with the steam railmotor! (mind you, seating would be a bit limited - can either of them haul an extra coach or two?)

 

The Railcar is capable of hauling a 60 ton trailing load as they use to haul the odd Autotrailer in service, but would really need a run round loop at either end of the line. Unless Railcars 20 & 22 were coupled together and driven as a multiple unit. The Steam Railmotor is also capable of hauling a trailing load of about 1 coach, and would also need a run round loop at the end of the line, unless it was coupled to an Autotrailer, in which case there would be no need of a run round loop, as she is fitted with Auotogear

 

Well that's my Easter treat sorted then! I love Didcot anyway, but when 22's working, it is very heaven!

 

The interior of 22 looked superb on Saturday. In fact, so did the exterior. Well done, everybody.

 

Hi Brider

Thank you for the comments about the interior, it took rather longer than expected to refurbish than 1st thought. The paintwork does still look good after 19 years

The next outing for the Railcar will the Steam Railmotor Launch weekend. I will be driving on Saturday. And the Bar Car will be open over the weekend as well

 

I had forgotten it was painted that long ago. Well worth all of the effort that went into it back then.

 

The Railcar will be in use all 3 days this Bank Holiday Weekend. as it is the Launch Weekend of the Steam Railmotor. I have unfortunately drawn the short straw and will be driving all 3 days. The bar car will be open and selling its usual selection of fantastic Real Ales. So if you fancy having twin AEC Diesel haulage, and soak up the Ales & atmosphere then pop down and introduce your self. I will be more than happy to show you how the old girl works

 

SOM [sorry old mate] Working dark days 2130-0700 on the long white fast trains. Best of luck

 

I will be there on Sunday or Monday one of the select breed who is more excited in 22 than the railmotor thingy!

Do you know whether the Chiltern Railways Bubble Car will be in passenger carrying service, or only on display? I still haven't had a spin in that!

 

I am not sure what is happening with the other units at the moment. I suspect the Chiltern Bubble Car may be opertaing on the Branch, along side the Railcar. I was told that I would be sharing the Branch with the Chiltern Trains 172 Unit, but I am sure that it will be a static unit along with the FGW 165 Unit

 

GWR Railcar no.22 is back in service at Didcot this weekend. One impact of the water tower being refurbished at present is the need to run a few more diesel services in the early part of the year. Didcot's current issue is not lack of coal, but lack of water.

 

82 years old and still going strong: