NVR Wagon Group

Another 2 weeks have passed, and what I am now referring to as Maturday saw me progressing with the signal post.

So the 25th August and with bright sun shining on the post, I decided to prime it and any areas of bare metal on the fixtures.

In no time this was dry so a coat of white gloss followed by black was then applied.

The lamp casing also saw similar treatment, following a quick sand, the inside as well as bare metal areas receiving primer.

This was followed by white gloss for the inside and black gloss for the outside. A new front pane has been ordered and should arrive during the week.

I also completed one of my out standing tasks, my Barrel Ramps, these have had a repaint, another coat of BR Crimson and lettered appropriately. The iron work receiving a coat of black gloss

On to the 29th and a new arrival for the group and the railway as a whole.
A 1956 built BR Shark Ballast Plough Brake from lot 2657, built to diagram 1/587.
This has been bought from the Great Central Railway and once restored will be a useful asset for any future track work.

So to the main session for this week. 1st November with the main aim getting materials ready for our big winter push. More on this next in the next update.

One item that was a little more photogenic, than moving sheets and tools, was the completion of the signal post.

The pane did indeed arrive and after a quick signwite and the mounting of a LED work light inside, I’ll let the images do the talking.

Don’t forget, out first event for 2026 is now on sale, We see BR Standard 2MT 78019 join us running as 78064, the last Standard 2 built. Lilibet, my Scarab will be in action as well as other vintage vehicles as we host our first evening shoot in Overton yard, more details and how to book is detailed on our events page:
https://nvrwagons.co.uk/courses-and-experiences/

I popped into Overton on the 11th to carry out two tasks to help out on the 18th

First the exposed studs left by the removal of the redundant columns were cut down and the holes filled to allow vehicles to move over them.

Second the memorial signal, unfortunately is no longer operational due to the lever mounting rotting and requiring digging up and replacing. Due to this and the need to get vehicles past it has brought us to the decision to remove its fittings. This is to prevent damage to the signal and vehicles needing to get past. In the fullness of time the post will be repositioned and used as part of the future Overton resignalling plans. Although for the time being the components have been placed in safe storage and will be refurbished pending relocation of the post.

As a side note, for future events the post will take on a prototypical use, part of this has seen the lamp bracket move to the top of the post.

I also rebuilt and added some black touches to my pair of Sack Barrows, signwriting being the next step.

On to the 18th and continuation of the tidy that began last session.

The Tasc returned and was in use removing more items around the empty siding. The dumpers, more columns, redundant sleepers, German signals the list goes on. Tim’s Scammell flat trailer was also emptied.

The site is really starting to improve.

Jason and I stayed a little later to continue the signal post alterations.
Now fitted with a ladder and a lamp bracket to mount an illuminated instruction lamp. The lamp is in need of some refurbishment as well as the post requiring a lick of paint.

Tune in next time, one more session at Overton before our big winter work push.

Has it really been two weeks since our last update, how time flies.

So, on the 13th I popped into Overton to progress B780952. First task was to apply undercoat to the door edges. Once dry, I applied the top coat to these edges. I also applied top coat to the parts of the frame that are under the doors when closed.

I then set about finishing the underframe prep in readiness for some underframe black. Which I promptly applied.

With time remaining I also applied a fresh coat of matte black to the end chalkboards.

A few more finishing touches and the cosmetic work shall be finished. I left Overton with a very smart Vanfit on the back siding.

On to the 20th and the Wagon Group session. First task for me, the details, applying white to the lamp irons and brake handle ends.

Vacuum swan necks receiving freight brown.

Followed by technical markings and dates for Paint, Lift, Brake Overhaul, Oiled and Pad Exams. Although these are fictitious dates, with the actual dates held in our records.

Tim had manufactured new wagon plates, so he and Alan promptly fitted them.

This completes the vehicles cosmetic overhaul.

The vehicle requires the reinstatement and commissioning of the Vacuum braking system. Additionally, a Pad exam and an oil remain outstanding. These tasks will need to be completed before the vehicle enters traffic.

Alan, Stu, Tim, and I then carried out a few odd jobs on site. We covered Tim’s Brakevan. We built a ramp and assembled a sack barrow. That, I’m afraid completes this update, we’ll see what we achieve over the next two and let you know.

It’s that time again, another work session with more progress on B780952.

Jason, Paul, Tim and I focusing on the vehicle.
Jason and Paul continuing the prep work of the chassis, removing rust, flakey paint, moss and other detritus.

Tim’s focus was the fitment of the South side door pin and lower stopper plate on B780952. He also took a look at Palvan B778810 which had issues with its South side door locking bar and some paint work.

The upper bar retainer had bent allowing the door bar to fall away from its locking position. Tim manufactured and fitted a retaining strip to prevent this. Then turned his attention to removing failed paint work before priming and top coating, the vehicle will need a full repaint soon as it has not faired as well as hoped.

For me I carried out my favorite activity, that being signwriting. Telegraph code, gross weight, running number, express speed marker, wheelbase, tare and paint symbol being applied to both sides.

Finally, we gave a very special item a quick outing in the evening sun.

For those who may not be aware the Station Building at Overton was originally from Fletton which was the opposite side of the East Coast Mainline to Fletton Junction, todays mainline connection to the Nene Valley Railway.

That concludes this weekends update. In two weeks time we shall hopefully let you know what we have been up to.

Since our last update a number of working groups have met to progress our latest project. Vanfit B780952, a 1959 Charles Roberts built Diagram 1/208 Planked van, with plywood doors.

On the 14th August, Jason and Tim were on site undercoating the new doors as well as priming areas from the previous work session. Most of the frame was also prepped and primed.

On the 16th I was on site, completing the prep and priming the North side followed by an application of undercoat.

The 23rd was the main group session for this update, with Jason, John and I on site.
Jason focusing on the underframe, John on prepping and priming the South side, whilst I attended to the west end.

By the end of the session the South and West sides had been covered in undercoat.

On to the 25th, with Tim and I on site, after a little shuffle to uncouple the east end I was able to prep and undercoat.

Saturday I did find one of the South side planks to be life expired so whilst I painted the end Tim set about removing and replacing the plank. Calling on me when assistance was required. Although as can be seen, due to a lack of full width planks, Tim improvised. Once installed and with the undercoat out already it was applied after some red oxide primer for the bolts.

After lunch, what we consider the main event was carried out.
A full repaint of all 4 sides into Williamsons Freight Brown.

That concludes this update next session is scheduled for the 6th September, join us then to see what we achieve.

Unfortunately our planned freight driving course on Friday 8th August was postponed, so it was decided that the time would be well spent getting back to work towards our Paul Foxwell Express Freight Project.

With Van B780952 being not far off returning to traffic, it was the obvious candidate to get on with. The first job was to complete replacement of side planking. The inside planks had already been removed a few weeks before by Jason, Matt, and Tim, so all that remained was to remove the exterior planking. Mark, Paul, and Tim got on with this job, which required the coach bolts to be knocked out.

Meanwhile, Alan and Jon got on with sanding down and painting the original planking on the other end of the same side, above the previously replaced bottom planks.

By close of play, the west end had new planks fitted and the east end had been sanded back, primed, and undercoated.

Up bright and early the next day, with a keen attitude to achieve, the target was new doors on B780952. The first job was to finish the previous days work, so Tim and Annika got inside to refit the original internal boards.

Meanwhile, Matt trimmed off the excess thread on the coach bolts outside the van from the previous days planking. Mark, Jason, and Jon, then made a start cleaning back the chassis ready for painting. Matt also did some patch metal repairs and Jon a bit of wood filling.

After a spot of lunch and as everyone was feeling like getting the job done, Tim, Annika, and Matt made a start on the new plywood doors.

Once a bit of primer had been added to the new doors, Matt began to take the old doors off. Then it was time to get the new doors fitted, with Jason cleaning the hinges.

Tim then got his palm router out for a bit of door furniture fitting.

By close of play on the second day, and after pulling out a long session, B780952 was structurally complete on the north side and looking fantastic!

Next time, the final planks on the upper west end will be sanded and painted, metalwork on the ends attended to, then the whole van painted.

This Saturday we hosted our latest freight driving course under the title of ‘The Peak of Summer’. It gave customers a rare opportunity to drive on a standard running day, which has the added excitement of trains passing at Orton Mere. Featuring our running rake of 15 wagons behind Class 45 ‘Peak’ No 45041 ‘Royal Tank Regiment’, despite the slightly damp conditions, a great time was had by all.

Even Stu and Josh were full of smiles, when they got a ride in the rear cab of the loco for the light engine run home.

The previous Saturday there was a short session at Overton. Matt got on with the last bit of signwriting on the Banana Van…

…Whilst Tim gave his Brake Van veranda rails some tlc, and Stu and Josh helped with some tidying around the site.

The session was cut short due to an important development meeting with all Overton staff around some proposed changes to the station. As part of the Overton Goods, Coal and Travelling Post Office Depot Project, the British Railway Eastern Region 1962 theme needs to be embraced across the whole site. A meeting was therefore arranged with all Overton volunteers to discuss the plans and get people onboard with the living and working museum concept, which will create an immersive experience for staff and customers alike. Some changes were also proposed for the inside of the current station building, to bring the inside in line with the external alterations and to give the internal area more of a historic railway station feel. The proposed colour scheme for the outside of the building has been approved by the NVR board with a repaint hopefully taking place before next year. Any internal alterations will be slightly longer term, but it is considered that the external repaint will create an instant impression of what the project hopes to achieve around the rest of the site, allowing potential investors to visualise the 1962 theme.

Matt has been flying solo again and spent the day Saturday putting the finishing touches to the signwriting on Tim’s trailer. After a considerable amount of research, attention to detail, and plenty of man-hours, the Scarab Mechanical Horse and three trailers have been transformed into British Railways crimson and cream livery to form part of the planned 1960s living/working museum at Overton; under the Overton Goods, Coal and Travelling Post Office Depot Project. Here is the recent work…

…and here is a showcase of all the vehicles following the transformation…

In other news, we plan to have a small-scale opening of Overton yard this coming Saturday only, so why not come and see us and take a look at progress so far on the project.

Tickets are still available for our next two events if you’d like an opportunity to drive with our wagons.

For more details and to book, visit – https://nvr.org.uk/section.php/3/1/experiences