LMSCA TO severely damaged by fire :-(

We had begun bonding the screws before the fire, and the recent dismantling works have proven that the screws do come out if they are warmed slightly with a blow lamp melting the adhesive. The glue is over paintable and is an alternative in the Automotive refinishing industry to welding. Also we have abraded the heads of each individual screw to help with the adhesion of the filler, and we are trying a short-strand fibreglass filler over the screws which is stronger and water resistant should any moisture get at the back of the panels. the bodysides will also have 10+ coats of paint when the repairs are complete. Again the windows are going to be bonded with a car windscreen adhesive similar to how Rail Restorations Northeast had used prior to the fire; rather than the traditional clamp-wood and screws. We will see how incorporating some of these modern techniques may improve the original design.

 

We had begun bonding the screws before the fire, and the recent dismantling works have proven that the screws do come out if they are warmed slightly with a blow lamp melting the adhesive. The glue is over paintable and is an alternative in the Automotive refinishing industry to welding. Also we have abraded the heads of each individual screw to help with the adhesion of the filler, and we are trying a short-strand fibreglass filler over the screws which is stronger and water resistant should any moisture get at the back of the panels. the bodysides will also have 10+ coats of paint when the repairs are complete. Again the windows are going to be bonded with a car windscreen adhesive similar to how Rail Restorations Northeast had used prior to the fire; rather than the traditional clamp-wood and screws. We will see how incorporating some of these modern techniques may improve the original design.

 

It'll be interesting to see how that all pans out. Did you also bond the panel joints?

For windows at Didcot we use the traditional sub-frame, nuts & half-moon washers as per the originals, but use Arboseal for bedding the glass. It's not cheap but it does work - fully overpaintable & retains flexibility for years.

I wonder if the issue with screw heads popping the filler is down to the filler being too hard once cured. We use Isopon P.38 (or equivalent) and it does pop with time. The 'traditional' spec is for 'hard stopping' which was a mix of paste white lead , whiting (or french chalk) and gold size mixed to a consistency a bit stiffer than glazing putty. Obviously using paste lead is a no-no today (although chandlers still sell it for hull caulking), but I wonder if it's possible to re-create it using some suitably turgid gloss paint.

Another contributory factor is, I suspect, the common expectation that a paint job will last 10 years. A bit of 'paint archaeology' on one of our tin Colletts suggests that Swindon shopped front-line stock at 5-year intervals.

Pete S.

 

K14: the panel joints have been welded at the seams by Rail Restorations Northeast, and we shall be doing the same on the "new" end.
This week has seen rapid progress on the end and floor framework, the original timber was Pitch Pine for the cant rail, Jarrah for the bottom and end stringers and Teak for in between(waist rail etc) we are using Iroko as a replacement for all timbers, a trial fit was made today at Wirksworth:




Welding work has also been undertaken at cant rail level because RRNE hadn't done it correctly and there had been much water ingress, partly due to holes being left and also due to them using "silicon sealant" on the gutters which we all know is completely useless for this type of environment. We shall being using stainless screws , Arboseal to bed the gutters and Sikaflex or equivalent to finish them once in place.

Daniel Smith

 

An interesting pdf artical in Railway Herald regarding 27162's continued restoration:

 

Good to see it coming back together. Another vehicle damaged in an accident at about the same time, the LNERCA's Gresley BTO 43567, has arrived back on the NYMR today following completion of unerframe repairs at Barrow Hill. It is due to go into the paint shop for a re-varnish and other finishing off works but should be in traffic i time for the NYMR's Autumn Steam Gala, when it is hoped that Gresley BTK (which was also due to be delivered to the NYMR today) and Thompson TK 1623 will also make their debuts .

 

A recent update on our website can be viewed here: http://lmsca.org.uk/blog/ for both the projects at Rowsley and Wirksworth.

At Wirksworth since the last report more framework has been added to the south end east side of 27162 by our contractor. Volunteers have been refitting the brass window frames on around 3/4 of the coach. When the timber framing is complete at the south end and the steel panels reinstated we shall complete the fitting of windows, and the roof will follow.
Also we have begun bonding the glass in place, starting with the quarter lights and then the main windows themselves. The sliding lights have all been re glazed with new glass and await painting and fitting in due course.

The remaining body sides have had all traces of Rail Restorations NE paint removed with the trusty DA back the bare steel. The welded joints have been filled, and stopped and are currently awaiting final sanding with the inline sander prior to the application of 1K high build primer and 1K synthetic primer over the whole vehicle. This will be done in stages as the bodywork and windows come together and once all is in primer and flatted we can begin the several undercoats.

Daniel Smith

LMSCA volunteer

 

A new folder has been created on FlickR by John to show the resurrection of 27162 and its eventual return to service:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12121739@N00/sets/72157633716137670/

 

A recent photographic update of the work carried out in the last few months are now available on our FlickR site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12121739@N00/sets/72157633716137670/

The new end to the coach is now largely complete, the replacement doors are the final step prior to the outside being water tight, Painting has commenced, which has been done in stages as the structure and bodywork has come together, It will eventually be finished in unlined maroon whilst the interior is fitted out, and once that is complete, final painting and lettering will be undertaken.