The annual maintenance of carriage stock has been progressing at a good rate during the autumn. SECR Brake Third 4145 was outshopped in November and rapidly followed by 4-wheelers LCDR Third 2515 and LBSCR Third 2343, the latter being required for the Santa Specials. Last in has been NLR/IWR Composite 6336. Whilst much work has been of a routine 'rub down, touch up and varnish', plus heavy interior cleaning, some upholstery repairs have also been needed, reflecting the heavy usage our stock receives. In 6336 the third class compartment is being fully retrimmed; the existing fabric had become well worn and our existing third class moquette is very similar to that fitted to 6336's first class compartments. A suitable brownish material has been obtained from the Severn Valley Railway, to whom we offer grateful thanks for making it available.
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LCDR Composite 6378 in
the C&W Workshop - December 2004.
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On the subject of moquette, we have been frustratingly trying to source a supply of suitable first class moquette but finally have found a supplier to produce a pattern to our sample. Being a special order a minimum of 300 metres has had to be ordered at a cost of some £4,500; this will be sufficient to reupholster all our existing firsts with any surplus being able to be offered to other preserved railways with Southern Railway carriages. On the subject of expenditure, we have also been trying to source a supply of lamp glasses for the Stones lighting fittings in our carriages. A manufacturer was finally found - in Poland! Again an economic order was necessary and 100 glasses have been produced at a cost of some £1,400. If anyone would care to contribute towards these exceptional costs, donations would be gratefully accepted. Don't forget that Gift Aid increases the value of donations by 28% for standard rate taxpayers; forms may be obtained from the Admin. Office if needed.
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6378's doors await restoration.
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The clearance of Wootton Siding required the organisation of a special working. This took place on 2nd November, when the opportunity was taken to remarshall stock in Griffin's Sidings as well as around Havenstreet itself. The result has been to reposition two of the stores vans in more accessible positions, with the S&T and C&W vans now being berthed on Goosefield No.3 siding. Three restored wagons, LBSCR single bolster 59038, 8-plank open 27936 and LSWR Road Van 56046 have been placed on the display siding in the station yard and present a very smart appearance to visitors arriving at the site.
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LBSCR 8-plank open 27936
and LSWR Road Van 56046 in the Station Yard at Havenstreet - December
2004.
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On the HLF restoration programme front, work has continued on LCDR Composite 6378 with 857 man-hours spent on it during 2004. All the compartment partitions have been installed and most of the exterior panels renewed. The interiors of the compartments have been stripped of old paint and the overall appearance greatly enhanced. The first wagon in the HLF restoration queue will be LBSCR 5-plank open 27834. Its sad remains are presently stored in the overflow car park field and a great deal of work is necessary prior to its rebuild. An ex-Isle of Wight sister vehicle, 27730, which was donated to the IWSR in 2002 by the Bluebell Railway, was moved into works on 2nd November. This had been rebuilt as a 4-plank dropsied ballast wagon by BR in 1967 and is in much better condition (relatively speaking!); it has been stripped to enable detailed measurements and drawings to be made of all the underframe members. This will assist in the preparation of new timbers for 27834 and, with some restricted finance available for the restoration of 27730, this latter wagon can also be worked on.
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LB&SCR 5-Plank Open
27730 - December 2004
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LB&SCR 10-Ton Single
Bolster was in the workshop for completion of repairs during October
2004.
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