DOCJACOB

I was more than delighted to be hiding in the shed on Saturday. The PW fellows had my sympathy as I arrived 09:00 and by -9:30 its was almost a white-out. Things did pich up later but it was still pretty miserable conditions. One image shows all the ballast wagons in use pending the arrival of the N2. This is an absolutely massive undertaking, and is due in part to BR removing all the ballast on closure in an attempt to discourage any preservation attempts. I also decided (rightly or wrongly) that I was fed up chopping bits off so decided to make a start and put the footsteps back in place. The steps are in 10ft lengths and the first job was cutting a 45 degree angle to splice then together, additionally a substantial metal reinforcing plate was added underneath and the riser section alaso serves to reinfore the join. Obviously she has lived a hard life and some of the brackets had to be encouraged back into position, the corners not surprisingly are the worst offenders. Next job is ordering all the wood for the end and somehow we will have to replace the massive longitudinal beam running from veranda to veranda. A final push will need to be made in March as the N2 is swaping places with the brake van and I want her protected as much as possible from the elements

Slightly different day today as helped the guys with the first load of ballast being taken doen the track. Consist was Trout, and 2 Catfish. The locomotive was an old friend and I was very fortunate in the 80's to get round the old Tioxide woks in Grimsby so saw her working in earnest. (usually visits here were closley scrutised due to some Greenpeace Activist types getting in once and scaling the chimney, so my request to see and photograph only did rather surprise them) Then back to the other job and the door was removed, all the screws came out with hefty persuasion. Started to split the door up into re-usable and pattern parts. The glazing is some sort of perspex material so reduced safety risk. Currently at home receiving a liberal dose of T Cut to remove masses of over paint and years of grime (yes I really am that stingy)

Bit of a change in tack now. Wood still awaited though as the N2 is coming for the Easter Gala and she will be swapping places with the Brake van I feel a project week coming on soon. Obviously she isn't suitable in her current state to be outside vulnerable to weather again. As additional consequence of the N2 coming there is a big push on with ballasting and the Trout, Dogfish and 2 Catfish have all been pressed into service. One of the Catfish is however poorly and has received attention from both myself and one of the others who has done some major welding. SR Brakevan appears to have gone AWOL so the footsteps are now waiting in the shed. Pipe wagon plank replaced, and a bit more presentable for the time being.

Couple of older snaps from N E Lincs area. 31. 541 with single Departmental coach at Brocklesby 5/1993 31.212 on the loop from Immingham to Grimsby. Taken at Woad Lane Crossing near what was then Ciba Geigy now Novartis I think

Firstly Happy New Year to all on the Forum I had a rather prolonged break over the Festive Season and the first job of the New Year as replace the worst of the bunch of planks on the Pipe wagon. This was the usual unpleasant job as a) very cold b) miles away from any power, hence long walk back and forth c) had to work off a small embankment with thick brambles for access After a bit of scrounging a spare broken scaffolding plank was utilised. Yes all the cuts were by hand including the joy of narrowing it from 9 inches to 6 3/4 inches. A 56 inch long cut! Didnt dare use the circular saw bench incase of unexpected nails. Finally sized and pre-drilled. Then a quick visit to the paint shop. Also visible are the upper footsteps for all 4 corners of the SR Brakevan .

Fairly staple fare in the 90's in Humberside area. Usually found in pairs on oil workings. The 5 in a group (at Brocklesby) were usually seen on a Friday afternoon heading off for engineering work. They generally returned on a Monday afternoon. A few of my own images in places that are virtually unrecognisable/unaccessable today: 2 images at Barnetby before the new blue bridge. 2 images at Melton Ross 2 images at Brocklesby before the platforms were closed to public access.

Not much to report this W/E. Spent most of Saturday in Leeds collecting my daughter from University and being forced to endure Xmas shopping. Did go on Sunday and progress was slow. Removed the ironmongery on the corner post in anticipation of complete removal. The veranda rail was removed and its a jolly nice piece of hard wood with rather good quality mortice and tenon joints. Cleaned up the channels in the concrete and will need to probably burn out the two bolts in the middle. Cut some scaffolding board up for footsteps and then headed home

Various issues (Primarily staff Xmas party meant I was a bit fragile on Saturday) so it was a Sunday visit. 2 primed steps ready for either the Trout or the Catfish. Really must do something about my workspace as it looks dreadfully untidy Made a start on the footsteps for the SR Brakevan. Then during my wanderings had found 2 Acro props so these were positioned at the veranda end and the steel cladding sheet removed. One of the images shows 2 heads of the coach bolts are now just clear of the concrete floor. Not a job for the faint hearted as some bolts easy and some very very tricky. RS+H Birkenhead was on Santa duties. The 08 was positioning stock earlier and was parked in a siding. The somersault signal in the earlier posting has now grown an arm and out of sight a start has been made on relaying/slewing track so clearance ceases to be an problem.

Fair comment re thread name and its one of the many jobs to do. Currently a GP, local Cancer Care lead, CQC GP Advisor and occasional wagon restorer. Firstly the risers for the footsteps were cut out and by good judgement (luck actually) only a tiny bit of waste. There was an image (now removed) on another thread that clearly showed the risers fitted between the brakets. And yes they are all individually slightly different in length; that makes 18 different sizes. As I was on my own again I had to use a "heath robinson like contraption" to hold everything steady BR wagon will be on backburner for next few weekends as was asked to look at the steps on the SR "Pillbox" van and they are pretty ropey and on balance probably down right dangerous. Lunchtime meant some exotic visitors to see and then the task of writing a long Xmas list of wood needed.

Appears the minor hiccup with image uploading has been resolved. Firtly proof the last corner has finally disappeared under a coat of red primer. Sure I've missed one difficult to spot bit though. Next one of the handrails had a fight with the pipe bender and obviously lost. Image shows it in position temporarily for painting in white primer. Lastly it was inside and the metal sheets that protect the sides from the stove. Anyone got one for sale and I'll probably be interested? Before anyone asks I did them in-situ as I guess due to the age of the van there would be asbestos close by. Yes indeed there is and its sandwiched between the wood and metal cladding. Hence its staying put! Next job is the steps as short of volunteers to help me with the major carpentry needed

Nice set of images but at the risk of labouring a point they are actually of 2 different classes. 10390 is a LNER D50 class and in this case its ex NBR 494 Craigendoran. A class of 3 locomotives and usually found on trains in Glasgow Helensburgh area. 10425 is a great little picture, agree its St Margarets and she lasted till 1931. There are images of her working on the Lauder Light Railway. Looks almost 'toy like" with solid steamroller type wheels and a couple of ancient 6w coaches in tow. Nice to see such a model as doesn't appear most popular of prototypes?

No pictures today as minor upload issue from my phone. Unless I've been careless there are no more bits to paint red on the under frame! You can't imagine how good that feels.

Firstly continued the red theme, made a slightly better effort at the bending and in-between had to keep an eye on my helper who seemed engrossed with trying to find a rodent! Getting nearer to when nothing more to paint and woodwork inevitable.

Finally managed a few hours work. The chassis, including some tricky areas is slowly turning a shade of red. The footstep brackets met the pipe bender. Not entirely sure that its proper intended use though. A commendable A+ for effort in reshaping but a B- on overall result. If I'd applied my grey cells it may have been useful to tie a string between the end brackets to work as nominal edge thus number 2 bracket wouldn't need a fine 1/2 inch tweak! Ah well must have been all that lead I inhaled grinding paint off???? Thanks to Boris for the comments/advice, all the buffers appear OK

I dont actually own this wagon but have the pleasure(???) of rebuilding/working on it Currently the final colour scheme is undecided but I dont believe a narrow footstep version is currently to be seen in preservation so may may well end up grey with stencils again. The longerterm is to use it for brake van rides so I regret a few modifications (brakes and sealing entrances immediately spring to mind) will ultimately be needed. As regards weathering liberal quantities of coal dust, even under floorboards in the interior! Thanks for kind words.

Thanks for the tip. I really hope they are solid but shouldn't really be surprised if otherwise. One corner of welding (not shown) has split and I'll make a guess that water has got in at some point, then froze with the inevitable expansion consequences.

Firstly a triathlete friend who was retiring dropped off some tools to new home Still waiting for woodworking help, seems latest idea is total wood renewal not splicing. All in all probably a good idea I'm just waiting for helpers and wood to arrive. Off to more of the clean up job. The buffer beam is a before and after job. Yes I did wear bucket loads of appropriate protective gear but still cause immense hilarity in the mess van as I looked like I'd escaped from the black and white minstrel show. Would have been cleaner if playing in the coal wagon!

I've been quite busy last few weeks with sporty type things. Firstly got volunteered to marshal at a well known local race, 10miles and can best be described as "lumpy" Went to marshal briefing, got instructions and various mobile numbers for emergency use. Headed to my spot (just lucky I guess as 1/2 way point and middle of nowhere) No mobile signal just to top things off! Next week headed off to the inaugural Louth Triathlon, felt I had to show my face as I'd tried to get the same event off the ground 5 years earlier and quite a few from the Grimsby club were competing. Finally an ex club member and good friend now living away texted me to say he'd successfully swum the English Channel. I vaguely new he was planning something big and have to admit don't come much bigger! 14 hours and in his words a "tough gig" Anyway back to the wagon, and an early start. Amongst a number of jobs; whole solbar now needle gunned and primed, both duckets cleaned and primed and a start made on dismantling the brake system as it will need to be moved to the veranda as this wagon is planned to be used for brake van trips.

Quite a nice sunny day so treated my myself to a little walk down to the headshunt to oil some axle boxes. Managed quite a few amongst them one of 4 box vans at LWR. Never sat down to work out the individual identities though. In the back ground is DW 150486 according to the minimal paint job and VCT website. Not sure this is 100% right as all the axle boxes are stamped LMS and according to Departmental's website a wagon with this number was scrapped in Bristol circa 1980. Finally got the last metal repair plate off one of the corners. Had to resort to impact driver to free the screws. Then out with a variety of grinding implements to clean up a small bit more of the underframe. Finally had a group discussion regarding the axle boxes and the current opinion seems to be leaning towards a "jack up" solution to get the covers off and allow oiling etc

Agree 100% about the covers coming off some time but as plodding along I'm becoming increasing concerned as to the "savability"of this wagon. I would surmise (assuming roller bearings generally mean easier less frequent maintenance) that loosen 4 bolts and the covers should pull straight off? On the one I tackled the hooded over metal of the axle boxes seems to overlap an edge of the cover and stops this. i'm now worried that its "stuffed" If that's correct it will likely be a jack up job and that's just not an option. I'm also still worried what I'll find inside and strongly suspect the stuff on the outside won't be much different in consistency and lubrication qualities to the inside. Cornice piece I removed never ever saw a steamer they had sawn partially through the outside of the curve to make it flexible enough to bend to shape.

Apologies for the lack of updates recently but work, children, dogs etc all conspire to keep me away from my hobby. Anyway a bit more done today. Firstly someone else helpfully cleaned up the other ducket. Next the remaining roof canvas at one end was removed and some more rotten wood removed. Yes I know the roof is bowed in the middle. If Im not careful keep removing stuff and it will all collapse! Then a change and out with the paintbrush to an area previously needle gunned. Finally thought about trying to remove the roller bearing covers, this was was a bad idea and we stopped as just loosening the bolts resulted in shower of "crud" Sort of put off having another go as worry what I might find!

Having worked on the real full size thing, pictures do seem rather scarce. So far I found an image of one in a recent book at Cameron Bridge area Scotland and the 3 in my preservation thread lived out there final days trundling between Grimsby and Louth, there is one image of them hidden in the background of a photo in Davesrail Pics of Lincolnshire website. Others images exist of them on an isolated piece of track opposite Louth North signal box. LNER Wagons Tatlow has some ex works The only other ones I've seen are on Paul Bartlett wagon website, unless anyone knows different??? Overall a nice rendition of convertable and non-convertable types

Managed quite a bit today before a serious downpour stopped play. I also had an early visit from Santa and he left a large selection of discs Firstly started on the interior. Lifted a selection of floorboards and the ones still in situ seem not too bad and possibly redeemable, otherwise all the interior partitions will need removal. Generally a vile job, hot and sweaty and underneath the boards were years of fine coal dust that went everywhere including all over me! No evidence of any DPM so thinking about adding one if all the floor has to come up Next was the remaining ducket. This genuinely was a one man job as everyone else was busy. The remaining bolts succumbed to nut splitting and violence but the screws were a whole different ball game. Initially summonsed help when my daughter kindly dropped the impact driver off for me. This was fine till we sheared the tops of the cheese head screws and then had to resort to plan B and drill them out. This was in total about 3 hours work. Started on cleaning up but given the overcast conditions I started tiding up and not a moment too soon.

Been on holiday in a rather nice villa in Valbonne near Nice. 2 weeks passed all to quickly and regrettably then had to return to being a GP and earn some more money. Lots being going on while I've been away, track relaying in ernest and a new locomotive has arrived. Sections of the frame have been needle gunned and the ducket I removed has been cleaned up. Removed another angle bracing piece today and here it is partially painted. The same item, un-treated, is directly above it

A rather useful booklet, Deltics the final year seemed to cover it. I seem to remember too it was a "running in turn" that took them to Liverpool. Will post ISBN code when have a chance.