NVR Wagon Group

This week sees another evening at Wansford Wednesday, our Facebook followers will have already seen.

75006s transformation into a heavily weathered 68070 is complete with the addition of smoke box number and shed plates.

The numbers and crests were trial fitted to 3193 in preparation for its transformation on Sunday 29th.

On the topic of trials, the sudo Boston enamel sign was also complete and test fitted in a number of positions.

On to the weekend and a long day Saturday, Not many images taken as it was all hands to the pumps.

Pad exams and oiling were carried out on the vehicles moving to Wansford soon, these being the Conflat, Palvan, Mackerel and one of the Vanfits for W iron repairs.

Those items within vehicles that needed to remain at Peterborough were moved into another van, the load in the Palvan was also levelled and evenly distributed for its return to traffic.

The signwriting was completed on the South side of the Palvan as well as chassis details and wagon plate.

The majority of the work was focused on the Conflat, not yet mentioned by us is this vehicle will be loaded before the charter with one of Matt’s restored Containers so to facilitate this a floor is required.

First however, the chain pocket sides were manufactured and fitted.

To keep the forecast rain that never appeared away a tarpaulin was set up.

The floor and its retaining strips were then cut, routed and bolted.

With the sun well and truly set the floor was complete. On to Sunday with Matt on site in the afternoon to apply top coat to the chain pocket sides, which was primed last thing Saturday,

The wood preservative also applied Saturday can be seen as well as the completed wood work. Matt also painted the protective plates, close to were the chain pocket lids should be, black.

Some may have noticed we have applied a full length floor covering the chain pockets, more for ease of floor manufacturing, false chain pocket lids will be fitted.

Lettering still to apply, and this will be done next week, after the planned move to Wansford.

So that’s 3 vehicles on their way to the running rake next week. Just in time for our charter, still places and time to book. Two weathered locos representing Boston based J94s.

Matts at it again, Monday afternoon he popped into Peterborough to apply undercoat to the now completed south side doors of the Palvan

The random piece of ply also received a coat of black to its back.

Tuesday evening and more painting, this time assisted by Jason, with a coat of Bauxite and finishing off of the underframe black.

Still at it Wednesday with a touch of homework for Matt, the random ply receiving the first layer of top coat, it may begin to make sense what it’s going to be.

The Fogarty trade poster was created and the first trial poster printed off and “stitched” together. As well as the numbers for 3193 which were sign written on to magnetic sheet.

Second and third coats for the plywood.

Thursday evening saw Tim and Matt making some charter preparations at Wansford. One of the photographic opportunities will see 3193 exiting the Eastern Portal of the Tunnel. A touch of vegetation clearance, the Limited Clearance board was refreshed and the end of the CCT was painted to look “in traffic”. On the day of the charter a tail lamp will be placed on the vehicle to make it look like a train travelling in the opposite direction.

Thursday also saw Tim and Matt give loco 75006 a “wash and brush up” in preparation for its transformation.

It’s the weekend, Matt on site at Wansford with poster paint to hand applying a base coat of black to 75006, this is the start of the heavy weathering.

On to Sunday with Jason also on site assisting Matt. His mission was to clean the cab and make it look as presentable as possible.

Tim popped in with the smoke box door number and shed plates, Some measurements taken as a little adjustment is required, then they will be fitted and weathered.

For Matt applying the livery details, Running number, Route Availability and BR crests. All with poster paint.

As can be seen above a light smear of oil to give the illusion of a little too much water in the tank and once dry more black applied over the details as well as some streaks of lime scale and some other variations in colour.

All of this is of course in perpetration for our Charter on Monday 30th October, proceeds go towards the continued restoration and maintenance of the NVR wagon fleet.

Friday saw our freight experience course, with happy participants driving 37714 visiting from the Great Central Railway, courtesy of the Heavy Tractor Group.

On to Sunday and the big push to complete B778810. First task to manufacture and fit the upper door frame, as the original one has become very rotten.

A new door was also manufactured. A little more complex than a standard pattern van, but rather simple once we had our heads round it.

Once complete it was on to the physical task of hanging it, some lifting and drilling and it was in place, although it’s much easier to write than do.

A little fettling required to get the door to close correctly.

A touch of primer was applied.

The outer door also had its damaged lower section repaired with a new ply sheet spliced in, a new bottom frame and a touch of primer.

Not the only vehicle worked on, B707261 had its floor planks cut to length.

As the light began to fail, the door furniture was fitted, with the lower door bolt drilled and fitted followed by the door bar and it recessed P brackets.

That completes the manufacturing and mechanical work, the next couple of evening will see the completion of the painting for the van to make its debut at our photo charter.

So with that don’t forget our Boston themed Photocharter with visiting Austerity taking on the identity of 40F J94 68018.

In preparation a few bits have been progressed in the back ground, including a large piece of ply which has been trimmed, primed and undercoated, no more information than that at the moment.

Finally it’s to much hard work for some people.

Multiple fronts tackled today, The Mackerel is now complete, with final lettering , sole bar details and D plates applied.

The Palvan had the underframe painted, sole bar details applied as well as completion of the south east body side signwriting.

The south west door was prepared, primed and undercoated, a few small repairs being required.

Brake handle ends and lamp brackets painted white and Roof covering date applied at either end of the wagon.

The Conflat, received it’s D plates.

All four buffers were removed rust removed, oiled re assembled and paint touched up.

More brake handle ends and lamp brackets painted.p white.

Wagon label clips mounted, fitted and painted black

Although that was not enough our Fruit van conversion was cleared, the rotten floor removed and the chassis cleaned up in preparation for paint, This is looking to be the next project after the current ones are wrapped up.

Finally, still places on our Class 37 Railfreight course, any one interested please email enquiries@nvrwagons.co.uk to book.

Matt popped into Peterborough today to apply some more paint to the Palvan. Headstocks, the Northside main chassis rail and some details to the body supports.

Next session should see a new Inner South door and attention to the outer door which after a touch of painting will see the body work complete. Regards the brakes, the handbrake is serviceable with our winter project being to look at getting the running rake as well as the Conflat and this vehicle’s automatic vacuum brake in operation.

Finally keep an eye on our Facebook and website, the participants of our Sold Out Deltic Freight Experience have been contacted and offered a place on a replacement event due to the unavailability of 55009, so there may be a couple of spaces becoming available with 37714.

Friday was our Goods Experience with 2999, Lady of Legend, with plenty of happy participants.

Matt also took the opportunity to hang out with a Pal, Palvan B778810. Applying undercoat to the completed sides and doors.

Most normal people have desires to own a fancy car, or sky dive, Matt however has always wanted to restore a Palvan. So despite the warm wether Matt was down again Saturday, this time applying Bauxite.

On to the planned work day Sunday.

Matt starting with a touch of Signwriting.
The Conflat receiving it’s running number, Gross weight and Tare. The rest of the signwriting will go on the chain pocket sides when they are fitted.

Tim was also on site, adding some finishing touches, chalkboards and door striker plate.

Matt moved on to the Palvan, with the North side being marked up, and painted.

The vehicle finished its life with BR as an internal user at Boston Docks, and this has been reflected in the branding applied.

Unfortunately, the heavens opened, which curtailed any further work. Although XP was applied to the South side but this will need tidying up.

Still some work to do on the South side, most notably the doors, and attention to the underframe and headstocks but it’s all starting to come together.

Finally, we have upgraded our website, with a new address and contact, although use of the previous web address will send you to the new one, published media will be updated in due course.

The address;
www.nvrwagons.co.uk

Email;
enquiries@nvrwagons.co.uk

So a week of wagon work, let’s get straight into it.

Monday and after a quick going over by Tim with a wire wheel, Mark applied black to the north side of the Mackerel.

Over in Railworld, Matt and Tim continued with the Conflat prep.

Tim again with the wire wheel.

Whilst Matt continued removing the rotten steel and rivets from the chain pockets.

Tuesday and with the final rivets removed, Matt completed some final prep whilst Tim replaced a few life expired split pins.

Then it was on to some painting. Tim and Mark applying underframe black to the……………….underframe, with Matt first applying red oxide primer, followed by Bauxite. Unfortunately it was not possible to complete the painting as the heavens opened.

Wednesday and the painting continued on the Conflat with Tim, Colin and Matt in attendance.
This sees the Bauxite and the Black completed as far as we can, until the replacement chain pocket skins arrive.

Next attention turned to Palvan B778810 a stalled project from a few years ago that really needs to be completed. Now joined by Jason, the body was keyed and loose paint removed.

A rotten side sheet was also removed, with Jason and Tim cutting and drilling a replacement.

This was then Primed and Undercoated

A rotten door was also removed.

With the final task of the day being to apply undercoat to the north body side.

Thursday, and it’s time for some roof action.

Tim and Matt doing the honours, 8’x4’ sheet in each corner drilled and bolted.

Followed by two 8’ support sheets screwed across the width of the roof either side of the van centre, this was then topped with trimmed 4’ sections of ply

Further support pieces were then screwed along the centre line of the roof and again topped off with 3 trimmed pieces of ply.

This resulted in a very smart ply roof, requiring a sheet.

And if that was not enough, the new side sheet was fitted as the light faded on another day.

So on to the final day of our work week, Friday, with Tim and Matt on site.

1”x1/2” wood strips were screwed to either side of the new roof ply and the all excess bolts, screws and ply lengths were trimmed.

A suitable lorry side curtain was selected from stores and the furniture and strapping removed.

Trim panels were also manufactured for the lower portion of the side sheets. These are to strengthen the ply sheets which have deteriorated a little over the years the vehicle has been idle, although a full reskinning would be preferable with the rest of the ply in very good shape, this is a cost saving measure, with only the worst sheet replaced as described above. The plates were drilled and primed.

Unfortunately no images of the roof sheet going on as Tim and Matt just got on with it. The process was to roll the sheet up, lay it on to the roof. Then the west roof hoop was bolted into position clamping the sheet at that end.

It was then rolled out, 3 rail chairs roped to the end to provide tension, whist the second hoop is fitted.

The sides are then stapled to the previously fitted wood strips and the excess sheet trimmed.

Our PVC primer of choice was then applied and then the camera came out.

The trim plates as well as the door retaining latches were fitted and primed.

With the final task for the week being the application of bitumastic black to the roof.

This means the Palvan now has a roof again, a new door is required as well as repairs to another, then a further undercoat and topcoat. The Conflat requires a floor after its chain pocket sheets.

Three vehicles significantly progressed, with a few outstanding tasks this should see them back in traffic.

Again a reminder there are still places on out Saint Goods Experience, supporting these events allows us to progress work and return more vehicles to working condition lengthening the freight making the experiences even more challenging.

Please check out our events page for details

As a change of pace we move from Wood prep to Metal prep.

First vehicle DB992358. This was painted for the museum opening however did not receive paint to the north side, this was the focus for some of the group as it was scraped down and prepared. This will receive paint during next weeks work week.

The chalk boards on the vans in the bay platform were also keyed, primed were required and top coated.

The rest of the team focused on Conflat B707261. Again scraping and preparing, the rotten skin of the north chain pocket was also removed in preparation for new skins to be manufactured.

That’s two vehicles ready for some black paint, as mentioned some of the team will be on site all next week, progressing a number of vehicles and hopefully bringing a few back into traffic.

Still places on our Saint Goods Experience for anyone interested. Visit out event page for more information and to book.

A short update this weekend as work progresses on preparing planks.

Cut to size, primed and undercoated.

Don’t forget there are still places on our Saint Goods Experience.

Back at it this Saturday and with reasonable weather the completion of 768248s roof.

First a layer of primer, followed by a bitumastic top coat.

This was followed with a touch more paint for this and 780952, with the ends of the roof hoops and the metal work over the doors receiving Bauxite

Work continues with welding on vehicles in Railworld.

Whilst the rest of the team stripped rotten wood from one of the other vehicles at Peterborough.

The inner skin was removed and the planks deemed life expired removed.

New planks were primed, undercoated and top coated.

Once touch dry these were temporary refitted. Yes, some metal work required in the coming weeks.

A reminder there are still places on our Saint Good Driving Experience. Visit our events page for further details.

Here we go again, another session and another roof, this time B768248. First however Tim had to deal with a wasp infestation in one of the other vehicles.

Roof hoops were removed, the felt covering was pretty much in tact however has split in two areas the length of the van, it was also clear that the felt was placed on the original canvas roof.
It was decided to sheet the entire roof without stripping as this would be a lot simpler and quicker.

Fittings were removed from the tarpaulin and once placed on the roof, as with the last session it was secured at one end, Stretched across the roof and secured at the other end.

Matt then went round stapling and trimming the edges.

Unfortunately we were in and out of the van as the rain started and stopped, meaning we were unable to paint the sheet, so first job next session.

A reminder that two of our freight driving corses are on sale at the moment. Plenty of spaces for the Saint, although currently sold out a number of spaces should be reappearing for the Deltic so keep looking.

Visit our events page on this site, or view the NVR site for booking details.