Spa Valley Railway, West
Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email: enquiriesatspavalleyrailway.co.uk
(Please
replace 'at' with the @ symbol)
1317 and other Thumper News
JUNE 2008 - CENTRE COACH RESTORATION
60616
is now back at Tunbridge Wells West, 23 years after it left when the line closed
in BR days. The coach has been at the East Somerset Railway since it was donated
to Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society by Hampshire and
Sussex Units Preservation Society. While there, it has undergone structural and
external restoration under contract by Cranmore Traincare and Maintenance
Services and well as ongoing work by volunteers from Spa Valley Railway and the
East Somerset Railway. The contract work was completed in May and the coach was
transported to Tunbridge Wells on 10th June. Outstanding tasks
include completion of brake gear overhaul and assembly of internal fittings. To
protect the work already done, the coach has been covered for the time being.
Above
Left:- 60616
shortly before leaving CTMS workshop – Photo J. Clapton
MOTOR
COACH AND DRIVING TRAILER
The
rest of the unit has been turned, using the low loader that brought the centre
coach.
The
centre coach is currently in our contractor’s workshop, on the second half of
the professional restoration contract. The welding work including pillars and
lower bodyside is almost complete. All the doors are being refurbished and the
next contract tasks are roof painting and floor repairs.
Left:- Filling the gap: installing a replacement compartment door in the centre coach – Photo D. Allen
To make good use of heated covered facilities and to save time and costs, volunteer work is carrying on in parallel with the contract work. Our tasks have included installing replacement sliding doors, applying protective coatings to the bodyside interior and door pillars and clearing the work area of stored seat fittings. Two week-long stints over Christmas and in January saw the ceiling painted and most of the interior woodwork sanded.
Right:- Workshop view of the centre coach – Photo J. Clapton
MOTOR COACH RESTORATION
The motor coach is also under cover, to allow continuing welding work to the bodyside and pillars. This work has now been completed on the saloon section of the coach.
Right:- Motor coach repairs – Photo M. Jenkins
The
driving trailer has been covered with new heavy duty tarpaulins, to protect it
until restoration can begin.
AUGUST 2007 - SUMMER DIESEL GALA - 3RD - 5TH AUGUST
1317 operated a full schedule of services over the three days of Spa Valley Railway’s Summer Diesel Gala. The weather was sunny and warm throughout, and many passengers had come to see and travel in the newly restored motor coach interior to Birchden. South East Locomotive Group members kindly assisted with beer sales in the driving trailer and Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group ran a sales stand along with SELG on the concourse.
Above Left:-
1317 rests in the run-round loop between services, at Tunbridge Wells West on
the 3rd August - Photo J. Clapton
Above Right:- 1317 at Groombridge,
Below Left:- Janet Clapton, one of the restoration
team, sitting in the motor coach surrounded by new Trojan moquette and freshly
varnished seat ends and fittings – Photo P. Gilbert
Below Right:- 1317 at
Birchden on
JUNE 2007 - MOTOR COACH RESTORATION
The roof has now been painted and saloon fitting reassembly is well underway ready for August’s diesel gala. The radiator compartment is undergoing cleaning and restoration.
Above Left:- Installation of the litter
grilles gets underway after restoration, in late June -Photo J. Clapton
Above
Right:- The wooden door pillars are re-fixed in position inside the passenger
saloon - Photo J. Clapton
CENTRE COACH
Three
weekends in April were spent scraping and needlegunning the underframe, which
had suffered from the salt air when the coach was stored at St Leonards.
In June we have turned to interior tasks such as cleaning all the window frames and fitting window drains.
Above Left and Right:- Needle gunning, scraping and painting underway on the underframe of the centre coach in April - Photo J. Clapton
FEBRUARY 2007 - MOTOR COACH RESTORATION
The
motor coach is currently in the shed at Tunbridge Wells West. After a mammoth
year of ceiling sanding, saloon interior reassembly has started.
The
roof is being prepared for painting and external sanding is virtually complete.
Help is welcome to scrape debris build-up from the underframe.
Left:-
Reassembly of the saloon is underway - Photo J. Clapton
CENTRE COACH
The centre coach is being stored at our contractors’ site. Volunteer work will restart when the longer days and better weather arrive. This work will be restoration of the interior and the brake gear. The second part of the professional contract is planned to start in Summer 2007.
Right:- The offside of the centre coach in undercoat, outside the contractor's shed in Cranmore - Photo J. Clapton
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2006 - CENTRE COACH RESTORATION
Professional Restoration Contract Started
After
nearly 18 months of intensive window work, interior dismantling and assessment
of the coach’s overall condition, the centre coach has now gone into our
contractor’s workshop. The first phase of the contract includes sectional and
complete replacement of structural pillars as required, bodyside welding and
bodyside sanding. This work is being paid for by donations from 5 Tunbridge
Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society members. The coach belongs to the
Society, having been donated by Hampshire and Sussex Units Preservation Society.
Left:- 23/10/06 - Dave Golden-Hann welding new bottom sections on the end crash pillars - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
Oxted
Unit 1317 Support Group are carrying out work in parallel with the contractors.
This includes reseating the remaining window frames (dependent on bodyside
repairs), needle gunning the solebar and overhauling the brake gear.
Right:- 24/10/06 - All the saloon doors are currently being refurbished - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
CENTRE COACH RESTORATION
November 2006 - Saloon Interior
Paint stripping is being used to remove the last of the ceiling paint, after which we can start painting, varnishing and reassembly of the saloon.
Exterior
Exterior sanding has continued during the Autumn. Other work has included roof needle gunning and radiator grille cleaning / restoration.
Left:- 27/10/06 - The sanded bodyside clearly shows the previous Network South East livery; this coach never went into Connex colours having been withdrawn in 1993 - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
APRIL – AUGUST 2006 - CENTRE COACH RESTORATION
Window
Frame Reseating
The
time-consuming job of reseating all 36 saloon windows moved on a stage during
several long weekends and a week of work at our contractor’s site. The coach
is due to be worked on by commercial restorers in the Autumn, and reseating the
windows ourselves saves time and money which can be spent on other work. All the
window frames have been unseated and sanded clean of several thick layers of
paint and filler and a third of the windows have been permanently reseated.
Right:- By the end of June, most of the windows had been unseated - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
Above
Left and Right:- By mid July many of the windows had been reseated and rivetted
back in - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
JULY
2006
- MOTOR
COACH RESTORATION
Saloon
Interior
The
main job has been the labour intensive sanding of the ceiling back to melamine
– this is nearly complete.
The
woodwork on the seat ends has been sanded ready for varnishing.
The
seats have now been upholstered in new ‘Trojan’ moquette and are currently
in storage.
Luggage
racks and litter grilles are being repaired and powder coated.
Exterior
APRIL
– MAY 2006 -
MOTOR COACH RESTORATION
Bodyside rust treatment, filling and sanding are in progress, in preparation for repaint. Continued ceiling and seat end sanding takes place when the weather is too wet for outside work.
Right:- A view of partially sanded bodyside on the motor coach - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
20/2/06
- MOTOR
COACH RESTORATION
1317's Motor Coach spent 4 months from October 2005, inside the shed at Tunbridge Wells to enable essential work to be carried out. This is all detailed below.
Right:-
1317 on the carriage and wagon road in the shed at Tunbridge Wells West, shortly
after being placed inside in mid October - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
February
2006
– Upholstery,
luggage racks and heater grilles
Reupholstery
of centre coach and motor coach seats, armrests and quarter panels has started,
using the original Trojan moquette pattern for the seating and a matching grey
moquette for the armrests and quarter panels.
The
luggage racks and heater grilles are being sandblasted and powder coated.
Both
these jobs are very costly and any donations to the 1317 Fund will help towards
completing the work on the entire unit.
February
2006
– Scraping
the underframe
This
time on the motor coach, using a power scraper – which proved very effective.
December
2005 onwards – Sanding
the ceiling
After
its long life as a smoker coach, the motor coach ceiling was always going to be
the most difficult saloon to start with. We aimed to preserve the original
patterned formica underneath the paint, so we started with hand-sanding.
However, the flaky top layer of paint had to be removed completely from the high
gloss, nicotine-stained layer underneath – power sanding was resorted to.
Right:- Scraping of the motor coach ceilings underway - Photo J. Clapton Homewood
October
2005 – February 2006 –Window
frame reseating
The remaining 5 motor coach saloon fixed window frames were reseated in an intensive week’s work in October. Two of the engine compartment window frames were also done – previous experience on the (same sized) centre coach toilet window showed that these large, heavy windows are a bit more challenging than the saloon ones. The centre engine compartment window has been left for the time being as it was heavily rivetted after 207017’s engine mishap on its last day in network rail service (March 2004). Filling of window frame screw holes took place when weather allowed.
Right:-
Reseating of the two engine room windows in late 2005 - Photo J. Clapton
Homewood
October
2005 onwards
- Bodyside filling and sanding
The
Connex vinyl ‘speed’ stripes have been removed by heat gun. Filling and
sanding of the bodyside can only be done in suitable weather so will carry on
well into the Spring.
November
2005 - Lighting battery box
What started as a battery inspection became a full-blown overhaul of the lighting battery box.
Right:-
The overhaul of the battery compartment underway whilst the unit was in the shed
- Photo J. Clapton Homewood
September
– December 2005 – CENTRE COACH PROGRESS
The dark cold winter days are not favourable for centre coach work as its current storage location does not have mains power or lighting. However, we still managed a couple of weekends of underframe scraping before Christmas. To make best use of available skill, all 37 fixed light window frames were prepared for removal and reseating in the Summer.
23/9/05 - August – September 2005 – CENTRE COACH PROGRESS
Oxted Unit 1317 Support group are completing several preparation tasks before the centre trailer enters works for professional restoration.
Several
weekends and a summer holiday spent on the centre coach have achieved:
▼
all fixed passenger windows
reseated in new rubber
▼
interior fittings stripped
ready for window frame reseating
▼
loose underframe dirt
removed
▼
work
has started on refurbishing the brake gear
Above
Left:- Work on the centre car progressing around the toilet compartment. The
window is resealed - Photo Janet Homewood
06/08/05
– 07/08/05 –
Visitors
travelled from as far afield as the
Above:- 1317 is seen waiting for departure at Birchden during the 2005 Southern Diesels Gala - Photo S. Homewood
3rd
September saw the naming of South East Loco Group’s Crompton 33063 ‘R J
Mitchell – Designer of the Spitfire’. The loco had been lavishly reliveried
in Railfreight grey for the occasion, which included a spitfire flypast and
visiting dignitaries. Services included 1317 being hauled by SELG’s other
Crompton, 33065.
Above:-
33065 'Sealion' propels 1317 in a push and pull formation towards Groombridge
from Birchden - Photo S. Hatcher
More details of the day's events can be found on the South East Locomotive Group's website. Details will appear on this website soon.
1317
operated morning services at Spa Valley Railway’s Mixed Traction Gala. For
fans of the former Connex yellow and white livery, preparation for bodyside
repainting is planned in Spring 2006.
Above:- 1317 descends Birchden Bank during one of its' early morning runs during the 2005 Mixed Traction Gala - Photo S. Hatcher
12/7/05 - WORK ON THE CENTRE COACH 09/7/05 - 10/7/05
Three
members of Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group started work on dismantling interior
fittings on 1317’s centre coach (60616).
The
coach last operated in 1993, before it was removed from the rest of 1317 and
taken out of service. In the intervening years, it suffered missing doors and
windows before Hampshire and Sussex Units Preservation Society acquired it and
paid for external restoration. H&SUPS kindly donated the coach to Tunbridge
Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society in May 2005 and it was transported
for offsite storage prior to further restoration funded by Oxted Unit 1317
Support Group.
It
is expected that the centre coach will be reunited with the rest of 1317 during
2006.
Above
Left:- 1317's centre coach currently in store awaiting the start of its'
contract restoration - Photo J. Homewood
Above Right:- Work underway to
remove the internal fixtures of 1317's centre coach - Photo J. Homewood
Simon
Homewood organised a special event to commemorate the last day of BR passenger
operation on
Several
members of Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group put in a lot of extra hours to get 1317
ready for this event.
▼
Restoration of the cab ends
was almost continuous from January
▼
All 56 scratched passenger
windows and most of the droplights were replaced
▼
The
motor coach roof was scraped and primed in the week before the event
Above
Left:- Some of the people involved in the 20th commemorative celebrations of the
line closure, at Groombridge - Photo J. Homewood
Above Right:- 1317 stands at
the Tunbridge Wells West with the headboards it carried 20 years previous -
Photo J. Homewood
1317
operated several services during this gala weekend, carrying the two original
line closure headboards (supplied by Simon Homewood and Roger Bradgate). The
Support Group reminded themselves how much work running a sales stand involved
and enjoyed meeting the punters. During the weekend, historic Tunbridge Wells
DEMU audio footage and photos were brought in by visitors.
Above:- The headboards are placed on 1317 on the first day of the Anniversary Closure weekend - Photo J. Homewood
29/4/05 - 1317’S CENTRE COACH (60616) IS COMING HOME!
1317’s centre coach (60616) is to be reunited with the rest of the unit - for the first time since the early 1990's. This will produce the only unrefurbished 3-car Oxted unit in existence, as no other original Oxted centre coaches have survived.
The vehicle has been kindly donated to Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Preservation Society by Hampshire and Sussex Units Preservation Society, who had already undertaken substantial restoration work on the body structure. Additional restoration will be funded by Oxted Unit 1317 Support Group and carried out offsite, before the coach is reunited with the rest of 1317.
For more information, see our News pages.
Important livery news: in the last couple of weeks, 1317 went into green … primer, followed by yellow undercoat.
Since Easter, a considerable amount of work has been done on the cab ends in preparation for repainting them in yellow. The aim is to recreate their 1985 appearance for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Tunbridge Wells – Groombridge – Eridge line closure in July. Special Events Page.
1317 is currently undergoing bodyside repairs and therefore a full repaint in 1985 blue and grey livery will not be possible before July.
Above Left:- 1317 motor coach end in
green primer in April 2005 - Photo S. Homewood
Above Right:- 1317 trailer end
being painted into yellow undercoat - Photo J. Homewood
Saturday
2nd and 
The Spa Valley
Railway is holding a special event weekend based on the anniversary of the
line’s closure to BR passenger services in July 1985. 1317 is the only piece
of rolling stock on the line to carry passengers on both occasions – not to be
missed!
Please see the
Special Events page for further details.
Right:- 207017 (1317) stands in the platform at Tunbridge Wells during a heavy snowfall on the 27th February - Photo J. Homewood.
Wednesday
6th July
This event is now fully booked.
More photos of 1317 and the work on the unit can be found at a new photo gallery. This can be found by clicking on the following link:- Oxted 1317 Photo Gallery
Above
Left:- Old meets new at Brighton - Last Thump Railtour - 27/11/04
Saturday
20th November was cold and cloudy, with snow flurries in the
afternoon, but the yellow glow from 1317’s light bulbs was a welcome sight.
1317 narrowly escaped refurbishment in the early 1990’s, thereby avoiding
conversion to fluorescent strip lighting. Following a very pleasant run from
Tunbridge Wells, the yellow and white Connex livery matched the Autumn colours
at High Rocks.
The
Oxted 1317 Support Group made good use of space onboard to carry a promotional
stand out to High Rocks. This was used to display photos of 17 during its
working life, and of preservation work in progress. The most popular item was an
audiovisual display, incorporating a slide show and Richard Hibbs’ audio CD of
diesel electric multiple units on the Uckfield line and Marshlink. During the
showing, the star performer pulled up just outside the window, making plenty of
noise of its own.
The
Oxted 1317 Support Group welcomes donations and offers of help.
Please
click here to order copies of the DVD ‘Thumpers on the Uckfield line’
or the audio CD ‘DEMU’s 2003’. All profits go towards 1317’s
restoration.
Above Left and Right:- 207017 (1317) waits in High Rocks platform on AGM day.
All photos on this page © J. Homewood unless otherwise stated.
Last Updated 5th February 2008. ©M. Dives
