Sunday Signals Gang - 23rd Nov

Given the wet and windy forecast, the signals volunteers stayed in the warm and dry of Ongar station - wire-bushing, sanding, Ferricon rust treating and undercoating these LNER / BR (E) tubular signal posts. We are indebted to Henry Edward (ORPS) for saving these and donating them to the railway for restoration and re-use. Items such as these are essential as we progress towards bringing back steam & heritage diesel.

The pictures are taken in the (drier) afternoon and show Mike & Derrick hard at work preparing the posts and painting the finished surfaces.... an impressive smooth finish lads, and should look very LNER when we have them up and signalling trains once again! If you have any signal parts (of any age or region) you would like to be preserved / restored and continuing to signal trains, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Simon (email link here pls). In the case of these posts, we even arranged collection from his garden, and can easily arrange HIAB equipped transport thanks to our kind friends in Emerson Crane Hire.

Saturday Hit Squad - 22nd Nov

With the fine dry weather, the Saturday Hit Squad decided to use the south facing canopy to stay out of the northerly winds - and while there waggled a few paintbrushes at this 143 year old structure. We sanded and applied primer to the rest of the canopy, and then came the fun bit of applying the LNER cream! If you are sharp-eyed you might even see a rare picture of Simon (who normally is behind the camera!).

While we are up ladders / scaffold, there are jobs at all heights(!), for all ages and abilities as we restore this station to its former glory. Why not come down and lend a hand to this satisfying and historic restoration as we work towards re-opening?

Vanwide's transformation leaves mouths wide open

We are pleased to report on the progress of the restoration of our BR Vanwide (B783563, Wolverhampton 1962, Lot 3391). This vehicle was transferred into Army hands (hence the green livery) prior to arrival at EOR. Following the work on the Shark brakevan, the team decided to take advantage of a few good days of nice weather to restore this useful vehicle (commonly used during engineering works) back to to its original BR livery.

On Friday 14th Ed & Simon both took a day off work and peeled back what was left of the roof felt and stripped back the rotten wood, removed the roof metal end caps (for restoration) and adding timber, before then putting on the new roof.

Next the badly blistered and cracked paint was sanded back and (white) wood primer applied to the bare wood.

The Saturday Hit Squad (which this week included David, Richard, Stephen and Simon while off-site Ed kindly prepared the roof metal end-caps) tackled the vehicle on the 15th, preparing the (previously yellow) corregated metal ends, sanding these back and treating the rust with some magic stuff, and priming the wood in Weathershield primer (in a tasteful pink) and the ends in Williamson's metal primer (green).

Come Sunday 16th, during the Open Day, despite the best efforts of the weather we were keenly watched by the visitors who had come to see what volunteering was all about, as David, Ed and Simon painted the vehicle in BR Bauxite (being a fitted vehicle this used to carry this livery complete with "XP" branding).

Come the end of the day (and after we had packed away the tools at dusk), we have a nearly finished BR Vanwide, with only the door runners and a few other incidentals to finish painting, before painting on the numbers and livery. During the winter this vehicle will be shunted over the covered pit for inspection, brake tests and any remedial works to the running gear, the underframe being in good condition). We hope this wagon will continue to be very useful for the railway and hope that the restoration of this vehicle back to its former glory will preserve it for many years to come and help to remind the public how freight used to be handled by BR.

"Saturday Hit Squad Hits North Weald"

The Sat Hit Squad are an enthusiastic cross-department team that meets on Saturdays. We tackle achievable projects around the railway where we can make a positive difference, and help other departments on larger projects. The jobs we tackle are very varied, and are suggested / chosen by the team, hopefully taking best advantage of any dry weather!

This last Saturday (1st Nov), given the wet forecast we decided to look under North Weald station canopy. The team erected the scaffold, and were soon sanding and preparing the 120+ year old structure, removing the old LT paint back to a sound surface. This was then painted in wood or metal primer (pictured), ready for application of the LNER green & cream. Some interior painting of North Weald signalbox was also tackled during the heavier rain. Previous projects in the last few weeks the team have tackled has included re-roofing the Shark brakevan and also sanding / priming this vehicle.

The team is very relaxed and always has a friendly welcome and extra cuppa for new volunteers. Contact: Simon simonhanney@hotmail.com