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Latest News on Railcar 22

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by Railcar22, Mar 2, 2009.

  1. Richard20

    Richard20 New Member

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    Andrew Webb and I found one of 20's multiple control cables in a shipping container at Rolvenden, so if we could compare notes...:D
     
  2. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    I think there is only 1 cable per car, now whether you need both cables or only 1 we don't know, but 22's is where it was when the car was withdrawn in 1962
     
  3. Richard20

    Richard20 New Member

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    That would make sense as we were only able to find one cable. From the wiring diagram, it looks as though theoretically only one cable is needed as they both seem to carry the same wires, but two would be better to help carry the current needed to drive the EP valves.
     
  4. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    Proof of the pudding will be in the eating. It would be great to couple them both together and work them in multiple someday :)
     
  5. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Good stuff - why not start a "Latest News on Railcar 20" thread?:heh:
     
  6. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    A good week was spent at Didcot painting the 2 driving cab ceilings and partition walls. Although it looks like some of the new lino will have to be replaced, as it is lifting in places.

    I have attached a few pictures that were taken last week, although the camera is not that good, and neither is the photographer :)
     
  7. Nick Gough

    Nick Gough Well-Known Member

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    That'll be where the seat ends in the carriage restoration bay came from then?
     
  8. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    Yes they are. They still need to have a couple of coats of Varnish though, then the Rexine can be inlaid.
     
  9. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    I spent the weekend painting all the rest of the seat ends with Varnish, and all have now had 3 coats, so these will be having the rexine inlaid soon. Meanwhile the small saloon has had most of the window surrounds, and decorative woodwork refitted, then once the new lino has been looked at and any problems rectified, the small saloon can then have the seats refitted
     
  10. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    I haven't been down to Didcot for quite a while, so I must apologise for the paucity of updates recently.

    The Lino has been re-laid in the large passenger saloon; we do have a bit of remedial work to do our selves. While this has been ongoing, the seats have started to be fitted into the small saloon.

    I will be down at Didcot during work week, and will be able to give a bit more info
     
  11. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    A couple of colleagues and I spent work week at Didcot last week rubbing down & painting the roof of the Railcar. It now looks very nice in a uniform dark grey, instead of the old faded grey it was before. And of course every evening enjoying the great selection of Ales from the Bar Car

    The small saloon of the Railcar is very nearly finished, it just needs the final coast of varnish applied to the woodwork to seal it. I have attached a picture of the small Saloon
     
  12. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    Great news! Is good old 22 likely to be in passenger service this Summer? I've missed it!
     
  13. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    We would love it to be ready for the last of the summer, but I doubt it very much, the only weekend event that it may be ready for is the GWR 175 Weekend at Didcot in October.
     
  14. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    Thanks for that info. Just out of interest, is 22 effectively grounded at Didcot, or would it be able to visit a railway where it could be put through its paces? I believe I have read somewhere that large locos which are not main line approved are not able to be moved to or from Didcot? Of course, I might have made the whole thing up! I'd like to see a railcar running on a GWR line!
     
  15. 6024KEI

    6024KEI Member

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    Locos don't have to be mainline approved - 5322 has for example come out recently, and various locos went in for the recent 175 event including PDSR's Manor, but I think there has been a degree of reluctance to transport no 22 because its "undercarriage" is more vulnerable to damage than a loco due to all the machinery between the two bogies. That's not to say it won't ever happen but it probably involves insurance premiums etc that make it less viable particularly given its relatively low capacity (compared say to a loco that could haul a train of 6 or more carriages)
     
  16. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    We have no problem with the Railcar going traveling, but we have stipulated that it must go by rail, for 2 reasons the skirt would have to be removed, to travel by road, as it is too low to go on a low loader, and we would have have to have her repainted after a short while, as the filler in the screw holes would pop out.
     
  17. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    I was at Didcot last weekend, and witnessed the odd spectacle of you shunting with the Railcar! Having said that, she looked magnificent. If ours looks half as good when it's done, we'll be happy.

    http://jonedwards.photobook.org.uk/p66528450.html
     
  18. cymroglan

    cymroglan Member

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    Thanks for answering my question about the possibility of 22 going on holiday! As for being used as a shunter, who would have thought it! Versatile or what?
     
  19. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    The GWR thought about everything when they introduced these Railcars, there is a lever which goes across the width of the cab, this controls brakes, gears and throttle. In the down position the brakes are on, lift the lever up, it releases the brakes, lift the lever further, the gear that you have selected on the control panel is engaged, lift the lever further, and you can accelerate, bring the lever down, and the car is taken out of gear, and you can then apply the brakes, all from one lever, the heritage units do not have have this feature. This enables you to control the Railcar, while leaning out of the window.

    The shunting control lever is the Red handle that you see sticking up at about 45 degrees either side of the cab that is the locked position

    Thank you for your kind comments fireline, the paint work on the Railcar is now 18 years old :)

    PS Fireline you should have introduced your self, and I would have been more than happy to show you around the old girl :)
     
  20. Railcar22

    Railcar22 Member

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    I haven't been down at Didcot for a while to work, but will be down on the weekend 30th & 31st October. I have found out today that all the seating has been fitted to the large saloon. But there is still some internal varnishing to be done, and there is still quite a bit of the green rexine to be fitted to various bulkheads & doors. I hope to be able to get some pictures of the completed small saloon and the semi complete large saloon when I am down there next.
     

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