Sunday, 24 August 2014

Two sleepers "Gift Wrapped"

This last week has been spent "Gift Wrapping" coaches in preparation to their move south.  The two LMS sleepers have been completely wrapped in bale wrap, a heavy duty form of cling film used by farmers for wrapping their hay bales in.
A big shunt around and tidy up had to take place to get the mark 2 BFK out of the shed and  place it temporarily in the storage shed whilst this work is carried out.


This is the first coach to receive the treatment, the LMS first sleeper.  To achieve this we lifted the coach on the jacks, rolled the bogies out of the way and then rolled the plastic over the roof, down the sides and underneath the body many times over.  The body was then lowered onto the bogies, trapping the wrap between them and the underside.



The front view, quite a difficult task wrapping the ends around the buffers and coupling.  Quite a few rolls of duck tape had to be used in the process, fingers crossed that it all stays on during the move.


The next candidate for wrapping, the LMS third sleeper has arrived at Aviemore.  This vehicle is in better condition than the first class one having been under a tarpaulin for a number of years.

LMS 3rd class sleeper seen  from the other side

 

4 comments:

  1. Where are the sleepers heading? Its a shame to see them leave, but if it means they can be restored somewhere else, that is good. They are nice vehicles.

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    Replies
    1. The two LMS sleepers are going to the LMS Coach Association (LMSCA) in Derbyshire. The Gresley Sleeper is going to Bo'ness where it is going to be restored and displayed in their museum.

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  2. That's good news, glad to hear they will hopefully get restored. Thank you for all the work you put into this blog, its interesting to see what goes on in keeping the coaches and wagons in good condition.

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  3. There are three ex - British Rail LMS design Sleeping cars at Bluebell Railway for disposal at a nominal sum due to the presence of large amounts of blue and white asbestos insulation

    VCS and Bluebell Railway Refs are

    LMS 398 12 wheel First Sleeper built 1952
    http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=8
    https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/398.html

    LMS 603 Third Sleeper (dormitory) built 1951
    http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=11
    https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/603.html

    LMS 623 Third Sleeper (dormitory) built 1952
    LMS 623 Third Sleeper (dormitory) built 1952
    https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/623.html

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