Update Jan 1st 2022

 Work on LMS brake van 730214 continued throughout November and into December.  Here the end steel frame work is being replaced

At the other end the outer steel panel has been fitted.

A view of the end panel from the outside.

By the beginning of December the van had been painted.

Now outside, the steps having been fitted and painted white with a non-slip surface applied.

Side view taken from the signal box.

Mark 2 TSO 5149 had been taken out of service in October with a broken window.  It had been struck by a golf ball when passing the course at Boat of Garten.  Back in 2008 when this coach was overhauled a decision was made to single glaze the side windows that had become fogged, the resulting gap in the rubber channel being taken up with hard wood inserts.  Over time these inserts had shrunk and were constantly having to be re-fitted, therefore the opportunity was taken to order and fit a new set of double glazed windows, along with new rubber all round.

Pictured inside the repair shed, this side has already had its windows replaced, just the other side to do, plus while it is in the annual service will be carried out.

On RU 1936, Murray has chalk stencilled the numbers and letters ready for signwriting.

This one says Restaurant Car.

 

Update October 21

 

In the last few months there has been steady progress in the kitchen of RU 1936.  The difficult job of getting the ceiling covered in stainless steel panelling has been completed.  This leaves some mouldings, sealing the joints, the capping of bulkhead edges, door surrounds and window flashings to do before fitting out can commence.

 View inside the kitchen

View from the other end.

Same view slightly lower

The steam heating on this coach has always been poor and another attempt has been made to get it working properley.  This meant taking it outside and placing it over the pit.

Pictured outside over the pit awaiting the steam loco to pressurise the system.

Some progress was made but once again the left hand main pipe had a leak and had to be removed.

During this last period a lot of attention has had to be given to providing another brake van to the p-way fleet.  LMS brake van 730214, out of use for a long time was brought into the shed for repairs.  Not a full scale restoration but enough to make it presentable and in a workable condition.

The roof had some patch repairs followed by a new felt cover.  As can be seen the end panels and vestibule floors were very rotten and had to be cut out.

 

 

A view of the other end with exactly the same problems.

Patch repairs to the bulkhead and window frames

Patch repairs to the guard's duckett.

The buffer spacer blocks which were rotten have been replaced with new.

New steps have been fitted

A new stove has been cast and awaits fitting in place.

Inside some patching repairs have been carried out followed by a coat of paint.

A view looking the other way

Were back

 Well, it has been a long while, but we are now operating again.

Most of the work has been around servicing and preparation for running again, each carriage in turn receiving a check over.

First into the repair shed were mark 2's 5228 and 5149.

Battery top up and check

Buck eye coupler gauging check, clean and oiling.

Brake and vacuum system check, using the shed vacuum pump.

 

 

Mark 1 SO, 4477 from the dining set receiving attention

As the dining set didn't see any use during 2020, it only managed one trip to the station to check that all was ok, living in the carriage storage shed kept the outside clean and polished.

Paintwork still pristine, even though it was painted six and a half years ago, in December 2014.

There was a large number of plumbing jobs due to frost damage, despite being drained down and heaters in place.  Mark 1 RU, 1928 suffered the most with five different bursts, four in the pipework and one in the pump filter.

The water pump on 1928

The filter casing had cracked.

 

 

The Officer's saloon, 45021 also suffered.  One of the taps on the wash hand basin had a vertical split in its side, the other needing a new washer.

 

 

RU, 1928 having its wheel bearing pads checked and oil changed.

 

 

 The kitchen, pantry and generator vehicles in the dining set were pulled out of the shed, taking advantage of some decent weather on the day.  They were split from each other and checked over.

 

 

Generator car 35201, a former courier vehicle on British rail, receiving attention.

This years offering sees the Officer's saloon added to each service train.  In preparation for its duties, it has received a wash and brush up outside the shed

Also receiving a wash and brush up is mark 1 FK, 13230.  This carriage has arrived from Boness on an extended loan.  It has seven first class compartments and will add to our catering offer.

A series of pictures showing 13230's arrival at Boat of Garten.

After the servicing activity had been completed, mark 1 RU, 1936, our long term project returned to the shed to have its restoration continued.

The outside is almost complete, rch cables, pass comm linkage, lining and lettering still to do.

The other side.

Inside work is progressing on lining the kitchen with stainless steel.

The view towards the bar doorway.

Up date, August 2020.

 There isn't a lot of news this time, mark 1 TSO, 5060, which had received its top coat of paint way back in March has been finished up to a point where it can be used.  The crest, lettering and its number will be applied later during the winter shut down.

 

In preparation for re-opening, all of our coaches were fitted with hand sanitizer gel holders.  These were placed at each end in the vestibules for passengers to use as they board.  The next stage will be to blend them in a bit by staining and apply signage above them.

We now have two more coaches on the railway.  These have come from Rogart where they were used as holiday accommodation camping coaches.

This one is BR 13470 Mk 2a Corridor First

and BR 13479 Mk 2b Corridor First