Work has started on putting the floors back into the two compartments that have been stripped. This view shows the corrugated floor panel which has been cleaned up and coated with red oxide primer. The floor support along the edge and underneath the partition has been renewed.
The pictures below show the floor panels being replaced. We are using as much of the original as possible as the depth of floor with the foam insulation is 30mm, therefore the foam insulation is being re-used. If we didn't do this we would have to use two 6mm sheets of ply and one 18mm sheet of ply just to cover the floor.
Both of these pictures have been taken in the second compartment.
Work has been in progress to restore the various fittings that go into the compartments, here the grills that fit below the seats have been cleaned and painted.
The ducting for the hot air system has been cleaned and painted. The mark 2 coaches have a central steam heating radiator, a large fan blows air through this and along the ducting into the interior of the vehicle.
Below, the seat frames have received the same treatment.
The floor plates that span the gap between the coach and the corridor connection were very corroded, here an old plate is clamped to new steel plate, this forms a pattern for the new plate to be cut out.
The passenger end of the coach with the floor plate in position.
Another view of the completed plate, it has an aluminium edging strip and is covered with rubber for non slip purposes,
A further view of the end taking shape, here the inner rubber shield and its metal support has been fitted, (the white bit and the steel to the left of it)
A view of the top of the corridor connection, with the damper and security chain in place.
Another view of the dampers and chain.
below, Bill has been with us for the last week, he has made excellent progress on the compartment floors, here seen at the bench marking out the next bit of ply wood.
Another visitor this week is Andy, here seen cleaning up the vestibule doors and end panels. Not to sure about the choice of headwear though.
Another view of the same, this time the camera has been noticed, with a verbal comment! absolutely excellent job though.
A rare view of Richard working on the plate work at the parcel end of the vehicle. Rare because when the camera comes out, Richard goes the other way.
NEXT BLOG NEWS MID AUGUST, HOLIDAYS!