"Birmingham" front ends contrast in Pentrefelin; the newly arrived (and slightly later built) class 110 on the left, and long-term resident class 104 on the right. Turns out they fixed some of the dumb design features by the time they built the 110 - time will tell what new ones they came up with!
During our most recent work meetings at Llangollen, most of the effort was devoted to the 'M' exam on the class 110 although there were other things to do including a Fuel Point (FP) exam on the Wickham class 109. Further information about the work that has been carried out at Llangollen and Butterley can be found in the 'Unit-specific work' section below.
Class 108 trailer 56223 with its smartened-up bufferbeam and solebar.
"What's this pile of junk?" Spares from the soon-to-be-scrapped class 127 at Butterley. Some of this lot will help keep ours in traffic for years to come; if only we knew which bits we will need.
Newly-arrived "Rolls" C6 engine and sundries for the class 110. Another engine behind, believed to have died many years ago, but we'll find out (sometime).
"Miscellaneous" stores on the newly created patio in Pentrefelin. Radiators, fluid coupling, fan drives and compressors. Vital supplies for the long term, secured while we can.
Not quite worthy of a mention in 'Out and About' but worthy of note nevertheless because it isn't often that the wheels of our 'Mess coach' have chance to rotate. The coach recently made a brief foray from its normal home to enable other vehicles behind it to escape.
The blue class 08 08202 was used to do the shunting.
Since the previous report the Wickham class 109 has been used to provide some 'A' timetable services as well as a private photo charter.
Restoration progress, with more woodwork in the toilet of the 'Cravens' car 56456 in Pentrefelin. Quite a lot of work will never be seen again (we hope) once the job is complete.
And some more woodwork. Sometimes the hardest part of the job is working out what it should be; no drawings available, and the originals were taken away by the asbestos people over 15 years ago.
Adjustments being made to accommodate a luggage rack. The original rack was 'lost' many years ago, in a crude 1980s bar conversion. Now it is being reinstated with newly-cast brackets.
Wickham Class 109 50416/56171
The Wickham became due for a Fuel Point (FP) exam that included the usual oil level checks and top ups including the following...
Exercising oil muscles and joints to attend to fan drive oils on an old railcar. If only we could have a pit jobs such as this would be considerably easier!
Topping up the oil in the no. 2 gearbox.
Class 110 51813/59701/51842
A lot of effort has gone into various aspects of the Major (M) exam on the newest member of our fleet...
Changing fuel filters. Well, changing most of them, and fitting those that were entirely missing.
This filter was certainly filtering, though what it has collected I really don't want to know!
The cardan shafts "left the chat" some time ago for overhaul. Fuel tank on the left, gearbox in the middle and air tanks on the right. Behind are the no. 2 engine and alternator.
Getting to grips with a final drive inspection. Another job that is much easier with a pit!
First time we've looked inside on this set, and it's actually pretty good so far. The main reversing mechanism that lets the train run in either direction. The bit in the middle of the picture (the "sliding dog") moves on splines and engages with one of the gears left or right to select a direction.
More filters: this time a control air filter in the unloader valve. The valve controls the air pressure in the system.
It's a wonder any air got through the filter at all: the felt is choked with oily carbon and miscellaneous 'gunge'.
Testing the air system's safety valve against a master test gauge. It opens when the pressure gets too high - but this one wouldn't shut again.
Sometimes a simple clean will cure things, but no such luck this time. Time for a new one.
Vacuum hose seals that have definitely seen better days. Fortunately just a moment's job to replace.
Inside, the 'de-lino' team cracked on. 1st class was stuck down much better than 2nd class for some reason.
Lino all gone from 2nd class.
1st class also stripped - who missed the bit on the inspection hatch! One for next time.
Greasing screw couplings and corridor connections on the class 110.
Contemplating an overhauled cardan shaft delivered for the 51813 no. 1 transmission.
Looking pleased with the newly-fitted cardan shaft: the gearbox is behind. The other one (for the other engine on this car) is for another day when it returns from overhaul.
Changing gearbox oil filters. The 'SE4' type gearbox is larger than the others on our fleet, and much rarer - only a handful of preserved units have them.
Two of our volunteers engaged in detailed discussions about the finer points of engine oil changes.
Greasing a freewheel with the 'new toy' battery grease gun.
Minor usability improvement: modern drain taps being fitted to the radiators.
"So what do we do with these?": Contemplating engine air intake filters.
The engine air intake filters are a type we've not had to deal with before. For now, all the bigger 'crud' was blown off it until we can source new replacement items.
Compressor air intake filter probably somewhat beyond its "use by" date: the new one in the bag is white!
Greasing radiator fan bearings.
The "EP" valves (and the relays that control them) for the engines, gearboxes and final drives open for inspection.
Brake tests on depot to see if it is likely to stop once it's going. All appears well, so there's only one thing for it ...
First adventure out of Pentre yard and down the 'back road'. At the controls was our Traction Inspector who worked on the class 110 units several decades ago as part of his 'day job' at Neville Hill Depot near Leeds. Performance was described as "lively", not bad for a 65-year-old train with only three of its four engines operational so far.
An interloper in the guard's van: "Llangollen Railway 2017"
First class seats in 51842 being stripped ready for reupholstery. The frames will be shotblasted and powder coated too.
First class saloon in DMCL 51842 starting to look a bit empty. The lino will have to wait a little while however.
Gloucester class 100 51118/56097 (undergoing restoration at the Midland Railway, Butterley)
Over at Butterley, it's the back end of ... the Gloucester trailer. It's actually the first signs of panelling along the back wall: some of the supporting wood framework cut and installed. The driver's side wall is nearly all installed and beaded too.
Also in the Gloucester trailer, the 'passcomm' over one of the doors was reinstated. The aluminium surround had been gritblasted and powder coated to smarten it up.
Thanks to Allen Chatwood, John Joyce, Andy Lowe and Mike Martin for supplying the pictures that were used in this edition.