The Railcar Association News Bulletin ISSUE 158 March 2020 EDITORIAL could travel on preserved Gresley 142. I wish them all the best of luck with Given the past two months there is one Pacifics or Class 50's at full cry. What a the continued maintenance and topic which simply cannot be ignored: transformation in attitudes over the last preservation of their units, remember the preservation of the Class 142's! The 30 years, as our first generation fleets, that buying them is the easy bit! last two months have seen an many restored to as-built glory, have additional nine sets touch down onto done so much good for preserved lines. 2020 CONVENTION our heritage railways, making the Class It would seem many of the “platform We were close to getting a date 142 very quickly the fourth largest DMU enders” have short memories and now confirmed, however the announcement class in preservation at 26 vehicles. accept first generation units as heritage that Flying Scotsman was to visit the When counting the sets that have been at the same time as pouring scorn on Mid Norfolk Railway for October has set aside for community use, along with the 30 year old pacer fleets. I will look altered the railway's situation. We have the sets pledged to preserved railways forward to them being proven wrong, currently been advised that an October later this year, it is looking possible that when a Greater Manchester Orange date is still likely but the exact weekend the Class 142 may become the largest Class 142 in five years time is taking is still to be confirmed. of all the preserved vehicle fleets: the part in a diesel gala, with visitors current “title” being held by the Class commenting favourably on its 1980's NEWS 117's with 53 survivors. retro charm! Dean Forest Railway: In preparation for the 2020 running season, Brian The reaction on social media has been In conclusion, I would not be so quick to Smith (Mid Norfolk Railway) visited the mixed to say the least. I have been condemn these new arrivals who have, Dean Forest Railway to undertake disappointed to see the amount of vitriol in the main, been located on smaller 'Fitness to Run' exams on the group's poured towards these new arrivals by lines without strong first generation five Class 108 vehicles. The exams “enthusiasts”; thankfully most of the fleets. They are built very differently to showed that the vehicles are generally names that I recognise from the world the first generation vehicles we are so in good order, but the group now have of preservation have offered far more used to, so it will be natural that most of a list of jobs that need to be completed mature, reasoned and balanced them will have their own groups who to ensure they are fully fit for the year responses. Many people involved in the will build up their own skills to look after ahead. Initially, the priority is to get the early preservation of the now respected this type of unit (spare relay 2-car set ready for the DFR's 50th first generation vehicles will remember anyone?!?). However cooperation is Anniversary event on March 28th & the malice and criticism of their efforts still possible and The Railcar 29th. DMBS 51914 is coming to the end to save “Bogcarts” - at the time Association's help will be available to of a protracted overhaul, which included considered as not real trains when one any who have recently received a Class replacement of the cab front, and is now coupled back with DTCL 56492 as the final jobs are worked on. 2020 sees the 60th birthday of these vehicles and a running day is being planned on Llangollen Railway: Class 104 Class 127 51618's bodywork continues Saturday 25th July to celebrate this 50454/50528 have provided all the to progress. New door jambs are now milestone. Once the 2-car set is back in early season workings so far, with good on site; the outwards-opening guard's service, the 3-car set (DMBS 50619/ loadings during half term week: up to door on that side has been partially TSL 59387/DMCL 51566) will be 100 on one train. As usual, disturbing de-skinned and its profile has been withdrawn from service to allow a the control air filters on exam led to an 'adjusted' to be something like correct number of maintenance tasks to be EP valve playing up shortly afterwards; for the vehicle. undertaken. This set has performed all a few other niggles also turned up but DMU duties at the DFR over the past nothing that couldn't be coped with. The North Norfolk Railway: Class 101 few years, either as a 3-car or 2-car set, bodywork is getting a bit 'tired' and a E51228 has received its reconditioned whilst 51914 has been out of traffic. It is plan is being hatched to give it a tidy up engine, which following a successful thought that 50619 has worked every after the April Thomas event, pending a test made the unit (E51228/E56062) year since it was built in 1958. more substantial session at a later date. ready for the 2020 season having missed last autumn. It was this set that Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Exams The Class 108 & Class 109 “Wickham” ran for nine days over the half term and routine items have been the order are unchanged, though the latter will week, again with no problems. The of the day recently. Mainline machine take over midweek services in a couple “reserve set”, M51188/M56352, is doing 55034 has arrived at the railway ready of weeks' time to spread the mileage just that: sitting in reserve but to star at this year's Multiple Memories around. operational for when the other set fails Gala. or requires maintenance. All being well the current situation should allow Class surprisingly well. Insulation for this 101 4-car formations to be repeated vehicle has been delivered and stored, this year at key special events. as has panelling for the first section of ceiling. Work is ongoing on the luggage RESTORATION NEWS rack supports - a lot of holes and studs Derby Lightweight 79612 to re-thread - and sorting out the doors (Wirksworth): The interior restoration and door locks, along with making of the trailer car continues, with most of preparations for the ceiling. the ceiling and wall panelling now up. Class 104 56182 (North Norfolk): Mild Class 100 56097 (Butterley): Work weather has allowed the welding continues on the electrics at the front; repairs to the middle saloon to surge once the mountings for the new jumper forwards well ahead of anticipated completed before Easter. The front socket boxes are welded on, this timescales. The whole area has been 1/3rd of the vehicle took over a year to section of the electrical work can then needle gunned fully identifying areas complete the welding, so such progress conclude. Much elbow grease has been that require replacement. Most of the on the middle 1/3rd really shows how expended on cleaning the red paint lower “feet” that attach the sides to the much better a condition it is in! Away liberally splashed around by the underframe require replacement, and a from the restoration tent, smaller items asbestos men off the formica of the six foot section on the drivers side, but just as important have been interior partitions. This has turned out which had a bad leaking window, has progressed, including the mechanism also been removed from the waist down for the route indicator box, the sliding for full replacement. The exterior skin windows for the middle saloon, the roof only requires patches mainly, however vents and the underframe cable three out of the eight windows do trunking. require new window bottoms. So far, the secondmans side has been Class 105 56456 (Llangollen): Interior completely renewed where required panelling continues, with one side of (framework and skin) and any bare the first class completed. Although the areas rust primed. Meanwhile the new panelling is plain grey, rather than drivers side is approximately 1/3rd of patterned, it needs a very close the way through its repairs. All being inspection to reveal the difference well the welding work should be between that and the original. A plan is NEW SECOND GENERATION VEHICLES Since the last bulletin, the following Class 142 sets have been preserved: 142017 (East Kent), 142019 (Whitrope), 142020 (Whitrope), 142027 (Chasewater, spares donor), 142028 (Wensleydale), 142033 (community use, Wales), 142038 (Mid Norfolk), 142060 (Wensleydale), 142084 2-car set is now split between the two (Rushden) & 142091 (Rushden). The railways. being made to lift the vehicle over Railcar Association website continues Easter, in order for the main underfloor to be updated as new vehicles come on Although not presently regarded as wiring between the two ends of the stream. preserved as such, Class 121 55034 vehicle and the main fusebox to be moved by road from Crewe to the replaced. It is also hoped to turn the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in tyres at the same time. MOVEMENTS February to star at their Multiple Restored Class 117 3-car set Memories Gala in mid March. W&M Railbus 79963 (EARM): The 51356/59488/51388 plus parts donor almost completed vehicle was moved 51392 returned from Eastleigh Works to outside in order to clear the shed for the the Swanage Railway during February famous Beer Festival event. This after their epicly expensive overhaul to obviously gave the opportunity for mainline standards.