The overhaul of the underframe is now pretty well advanced, and the steelwork being made for the body of the wagon is starting to be erected.
Work continues on the brake gear and steelwork for the reconstruction of the body.
Following the arrival of this wagon underframe from Eastleigh Works, all the internal user modifications were removed. The two missing RCH pattern buffer castings were replaced using two suitable spares on site. The open-spoke wheelsets were swapped for two of the correct disc pattern (standard by the time this wagon was built) using one of the portable A-frame hoists and the ever-versatile JCB Loadall.
Bulleid Society members, taking time off from working on 34059, have made significant progress on needle-gunning and painting the underframe and running gear of the wagon utilising paint funded by the Bulleid Society. However, work had to come to a temporary halt in December when it became necessary to chip the ice off the underframe before work could commence!
Before and after... A new door pillar made from a SR bogie component. Little is wasted as the brackets are saved
to be used on SECR wagons.
Martin Skrzetuszewski
During the Autumn, the hand brake pushrods were overhauled and refitted; the rotten and split timber packing pieces being replaced with new. Four suitable second-hand end tee irons were identified on site at Horsted Keynes. These have been gas-cut and ground to the correct profile and will be ready for fitting shortly. Four lengths of steel angle from scrapped SR coach bogies were also identified on site at Horsted. These have been sawn to length, gas cut to rough size and profile and ground to the finished profile. After drilling and the fitting a door securing post, these will also be ready to fit. There is still some work left on the underframe before these components can be attached. Several missing rivets (removed as part of the Eastleigh modifications) have to be re-fitted and some redundant holes (from the same) have to be welded up.
Underframe of 12058, having had internal-user modifications removed. Richard Salmon
Photos and text © Richard Salmon and Martin Skrzetuszewski