79018 Derby Lightweight Driving Motor Brake Second
Home Railway |
Location History |
Midland Railway ButterleyMar 97-Nov 14 |
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Current Location |
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Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Nov 14-Present |
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Current Status |
Under Restoration |
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Current Livery |
BR Green (Plain End) |
Visited Railways |
Severn Valley RailwayOct 04 |
TRA Designation |
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Partner Vehicle(s) |
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Owner |
Derby Lightweight Preservation Group |
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Website |
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Record Last Updated |
1 February 2024 |
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Preservation Modifications |
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Preservation Information As the only surviving Derby Lightweight 2-car set, 79018 & 79612 were purchased by the Derby Lightweight Preservation Group (DLPG) which had been formed in 1990. Following a huge public fundraising campaign, 79018 was asbestos stripped at Doncaster works and moved to the Midland Railway Butterleyin 1997 for restoration to begin. The asbestos stripping had left the vehicle as an empty shell. December 1997 saw the restoration begin, and the vehicle received contract body repairs until April 1998 where many of the departmental modifications such as relocated doors and plated over windows were returned to their original condition. The vehicle was also stripped down and primed, the aluminium bodies (which don’t rot) coming into their own. 1998-2003 saw the project progressed by the DLPG, who concentrated on the interior. The floor and partitions were returned and a start made on reconstructing the driver’s cab and wiring, all of which had been lost in the asbestos stripping. As some will know, the Derby Lightweight design was later used for the Class 108 vehicles: consequently the two types share a lot of components and have very similar interiors. Therefore the scrapping of donor Class 108 DMBS 50987 during this time allowed much of the interior and a myriad of other components such as missing window frames etc to be returned to 79018. November 2003 saw a much needed boost to the project in the form of a £49,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. This enabled contact work on the vehicle to recommence, and progress surged forwards. In under a year, the vehicle’s interior was completed; with all the cab fittings being returned, new lino, original seating (complete with authentic upholstery pattern), new interior panelling and a completely reconstructed guards compartment. The exterior was also finished off in original green livery and varnished. The mechanical restoration (which had previously been slowly progressing in the background) was also completed with the full selection of overhauled components returned to the underside of the vehicle and wired up. September 2004 saw the vehicle move for the first time under its own power, and it was sent to the Railcar50 event for display the following month. Between 2004 & 2014 the vehicle was put on static display in the cattle dock at Butterley while the group undertook the mammoth restoration task all over again with partner 79612. Without the help of a lottery grant this time, the rebuild progressed at a much slower rate and 79018 had to wait patienty. In 2014, with the DLPG's restoration efforts on 79612having stalled, the 2-car set was relocated to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for the DMU group there to complete the work required. As 79018 had suffered some damage after a decade on display outside, some restoration work was done on the vehicle despite it previously being regarded as "finished". An engine was quickly revived (being started up in December 2014) and water damaged ceilings removed from the interior. It was then stored awaiting resources to restart the restoration. 79018 was put on public display during the annual Railcar Convention Weekend in September 2015, in the station at Wirksworth, appearing again the following year during the railway's annual gala event. 79018 had been in storage for so long that it was not considered watertight. It was therefore brought into the shed at Wirksworth in May 2016 for two months for its roof to be resealed and repainted. This work signalled the re-start of the restoration. Later the same year, the whole underframe was completely stripped of its mechanical equipment, so all the components could be overhaulled and also to leave the underframe clear for rewiring work to convert the vehicle from original "yellow diamond" configuration to the superior and standard "blue square". The stripping would also allow the underframe to be receive a long overdue clean and facilitate all the rusty steel pipework to be sufficiently protected. Electrical work was also progressed on the new jumper cable sockets which 79018 would need as part of its "blue square" multiple working conversion. 2017 saw a continuation of the electrical and air modifications required to convert the vehicle to "blue square". This included the installation of air pressure switches and modifications to the battery isolation switch box. In summer 2018 the main focus switched to 79018's partner, 79612. However limited component overhaul progress continued on 79018, notably the two radiators. The gearbox overhauls were completed during 2019. After an absence of a year or so, the full 2-car set (79018 & 79612 ) was placed on display during the annual railcar gala in March 2020, where progress was admired by visitors. In April 2022, there was a step change in the restoration as 79612 had progressed to a point of almost completion, so 79018 became the main focus of attention once again. The vehicle was assessed and unfortunately it had been found that some of the work completed leading up to 2004 had been hurried and had not stood the test of time. Additionally water leaks had allowed significant damage to occur to 90% of the interior restored in the early 2000's. It was decided to strip most of it out and start again. Shed space allowed 79018 to be lifted to extract the bogies and give full access to the underside for a rewire, which was completed over the summer converting 79018 fully to blue square multiple working. At the same time, repairs to the damaged interior were ongoing with new lino being fitted and replacement ceilings/wall panels also being installed. The intensive work continued throughout 2023. By the end of the year, the interior had been re-restored to approximately 80% completion, with mainly the cab still outstanding. Seating was restored and refitted along with replaced ceilings and the water damaged side panelling renewed. Doors were overhauled with the rear panels varnished up and refitted. The vehicle spent much of the year on jacks with finishing off of the blue square rewire and the fitting out of overhauled components progressing very well. |
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Future Plans |
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Underframe preparations progressing steadily inside the shed at Wirksworth, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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The underside of 79018, comprehensively stripped and undergoing a complete wiring conversion to make it a fully fitted blue square vehicle, 1/9/22. Chris Lings |
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79018's restoration restarted in earnest with a lift inside the shed at Wirksworth to extract the bogies, 22/4/22. Chris Lings |
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79018's restoration restarted in earnest with a lift inside the shed at Wirksworth to extract the bogies, 22/4/22. Chris Lings |
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79018/79612 under restoration at Wirksworth, with the adjacant trailer car significantly further on than the powercar, a strange reversal considering how the situation was in 2004! 4/7/21. Ken Jones |
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A corridor end view of M79018 which was on static display during the annual railcar gala at Wirksworth, 15/3/20. Chris Moxon |
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A freshly overhaulled gearbox for M79018, 23/5/19. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association |
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A radiator for M79018 during overhaul, 10/6/18. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association |
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M79018 tries out the railway's new maintenence facility, 9/6/17. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association |
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M79018 after receiving roof repairs and a roof repaint inside Wirksworth shed, 6/7/16. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Association |
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M79018 was put on public display during the annual Railcar Convention Weekend in September 2015, in the station at Wirksworth, 26/9/15. Chris Moxon |
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M79018, on a lorry for the first time in 10 years, arrives at its new home at Wirksworth, 24/11/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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M79018 on static display at Butterley whilst the restoration of 79612 progresses. The vehicle has had a protective coat of green as the original paint job had been sun damaged after six years exposure, 11/9/11. Chris Moxon |
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M79018 on static display at Butterley whilst the restoration of 79612 progresses, 22/5/10. Andy Neil |
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M79018 on static display at Butterley whilst the restoration of 79612 progresses, 28/3/09. Chris Moxon |
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M79018 on static display at Butterley whilst the restoration of 79612 progresses, 27/9/08. Daniel Adkins |
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M79018 on static display at Butterley whilst the restoration of 79612 progresses, 1/4/07. Chris Moxon |
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M79018 resplendent in the yard at Butterley, 8/7/06. Robert Chilton |
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M79018 in the snow at Butterley, 23/2/05. Stuart Mackay |
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Back at the Midland Railway, M79018 was stabled at Swanick for a few weeks while the C&W was filled by other vehicles requiring attention, seen here before leaving Swanick, 1/12/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 was shunted around on the Sunday, with the trailer car correctly behind the power car, 17/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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MThe vehicles were spaced to allow better photos. Shunting restrictions prevented the vehicles being sorted into a better order till the Sunday, 16/10/04. Roland Carr |
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MThe vehicles were spaced to allow better photos. Shunting restrictions prevented the vehicles being sorted into a better order till the Sunday, 16/10/04. Roland Carr |
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M79018 at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway during Railcar50, 15/10/04. Ian Francis |
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M79018 spent the night in Allelys yard, and arrived at Kidderminster early the next morning, 13/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 having arrived at Kidderminster, 13/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 with 79612 at Bewdley, 13/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 moved under it's own power from the C&W yard at Butterley to the loading site in Butterley Engineering. To do this required going via Butterley Station, 12/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 moved under it's own power from the C&W yard at Butterley to the loading site in Butterley Engineering. To do this required going via Swanwick Station, 12/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 in the yard at Butterley Engineering, 12/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 being loaded at Butterley Engineering, 12/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 being loaded at Butterley Engineering, 12/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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M79018 sitting outside the C&W shed, the power car created lots of interest, and nobody with a camera could resist a picture, 15/9/04. Stuart Mackay |
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It wasn't long before the engine was connected up, and various new fuel / coolant pipes made. 79018 moved for the first time in preservation during the DLPG's AGM, and was taken out for a completely trouble free run the full length of the MRC a couple of days later, seen here at Swanick, 6/9/04. Stuart Mackay |
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An overhauled engine ready for refitting, 29/9/07, 9/8/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The radiators were missing from when the DLPG obtained the vehicle. Lightweight radiators differed from later ones also, but we they to make-do with later ones ex-108. They had one in stock, and the lads at Chappel (DUPA) thankfully did the DLPG a swap to give them a second. When new, 79018 had the header tanks in the vestibule ceilings, but after a few years in service it was altered to a small tank on top of the radiator, 17/6/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The unusual double door arrangement for the gangway door, 6/6/04. Stuart Mackay |
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79018 outside the carriage shed at Butterley, 1/6/04. Ian Francis |
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After painting it went back in the air again, 25/5/04. Stuart Mackay |
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After painting it went back in the air again. One of the jobs this time was the bogies, where cleaned up and painted, the air seals on the final drives renewed and the vacuum cylinders removed and overhauled, 25/5/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The local signwriter is seen applying some of the finishing touches to the vehicle end, 4/5/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Back on its wheels for painting, it's seen here in gloss, flatted down for its next coat. From the original 'temporary' coat it started it, in received a further eight coats - two undercoat, one half undercoat / gloss, two gloss, one half gloss /half varnish, (lining) and two varnish, 1/5/04. Stuart Mackay |
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In-between the interior going-ons one side was sanded and etch primed where required. This stopped though as the vehicle was moved to the other side of the shed and put up on jacks, 5/2/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The vehicle was lifted up on jacks to make work on the underframe components easier, 5/2/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The vehicle entered the shed for the weekend to allow the volunteers to start the project off following the £49,000 HLF grant, 28/11/03. Stuart Mackay |
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Another view of the robbed underframe, 4/4/03. Stuart Mackay |
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79018 in the sunrise, 23/1/03. Stuart Mackay |
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The un-varnished paint has lost its shine. The whiskers appeared at the request of a group member, 26/5/02. Stuart Mackay |
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The empty underframe, devoid of engines and many other items, 26/5/02. Stuart Mackay |
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By the time the contract work was over, the windows & doors & gangway were refitted, the shell completely stripped back to bare alloy, and painted to gloss stage. An unconventional shade as a temporary coat until work was further advanced, 1998.Chris Lings |
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By the time the contract work was over, the windows & doors & gangway were refitted, the shell completely stripped back to bare alloy, and painted to gloss stage. An unconventional shade as a temporary coat until work was further advanced, 29/4/98.Chris Lings |
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Paint stripping further advanced. The hole under the centre cab window has also been plated over, 1998. DEPG |
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The two front off-side windows replaced, and paint starting to be applied, 1998. DEPG |
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In departmental service some doors and windows were removed and sealed up. The window frames from Class 108s, although slightly different, were able to be fitted, and Class 108 doors were able to be used. Also note the paint has started to be stripped from the lower body, 31/12/97.Chris Lings |
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The rear windows had been plated over, this was removed exposing the original window apertures. The gangway scissors mechanism has also been removed at this stage for overhaul, and more paint stripped off, 31/12/97.Chris Lings |
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Lee Sharpe fits a door lock to the new timber frame, 18/12/97.Chris Lings |
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The first door is fitted, 18/12/97.Chris Lings |
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79018 arrives at Butterley, ready for work to begin, 8/12/97.Chris Lings |
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79018 arrives at Butterley, ready for work to begin, 8/12/97.Chris Lings |
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On display in Butterley Yard during the 2nd National DMU day, 31/8/97. Stuart Mackay |
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79018 before unloading, 18/3/97. Chris Lings |
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79018 before unloading, 18/3/97. Chris Lings |
Interior
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The cab of 79018, still with lots to do as part of the re-restoration effort, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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The passenger saloons of 79018, nearly completed as part of the re-restoration effort, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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A refitted passenger seat, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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A vestibule of 79018, nearly completed as part of the re-restoration effort, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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The guards area of 79018, well advanced as part of the re-restoration effort, 3/11/23. Chris Bull |
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New lino being fitted to the middle saloon, 1/9/22. Chris Lings |
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Renewed wall panels fitted to the front saloon, 22/4/22. Chris Lings |
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Renewed wall panels being fitted to the middle saloon, 22/4/22. Chris Lings |
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Damaged ceiling panels being removed, 12/14. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway DMU Group |
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The completed interior, seating installed, 10/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The completed interior, seating installed, 10/10/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The van had the cupboards built and they were then painted. The colour was identified by the Dean Forest DMU Group. It wasn't long before the vehicle was back outside. The paint finish has been admired by many, most no believing it was applied by brush and not sprayed! 6/6/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The van had the cupboards built and they were then painted. The colour was identified by the Dean Forest DMU Group. It wasn't long before the vehicle was back outside. The paint finish has been admired by many, most not believing it was applied by brush and not sprayed! 6/6/04. Stuart Mackay |
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There was major delays in completing the seats. Despite being ordered right at the start of the project, there were manufacturing delays with the moquette, and when it did arrive it was at a very bad time for the upholsterer's, 6/6/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Partition poles are fitted to the interior, which now looks complete apart from seats, 25/5/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The interior was further enhanced by the laying of the linoleum, thanks to volunteer Chris Lings, taking some time out of restoring "Iris". The colour seems very bright at first, but the original colour is untraceable and it was the only colour that would blend in with the vinyl wall panels. The ceiling lamps had been fitted by this stage, 7/4/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Roller blinds were fitted, using recovered ex-108 blinds in the correct maroon coloured vinyl. This allowed the fitting of the last wall panels, and so a start could be made on the new alloy beading for all the wall joints, 7/4/04. Stuart Mackay |
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In the van the partition's are complete. Not an easy task, this partition is in four pieces, having to be made to the curves of the wall and celing. The floor was finished in tongue & groove working from the work drawings, with new chequer plates at doorways, 7/4/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Some of the cab panels start to be fitted. The formica panels are ex-Iris, it is the original pattern, 28/3/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Part-way through the work the DLPG were offered an original gear/direction controller, thanks to Tim Stubbs. It had been sitting in a garage for about 40 years. They had to alter the desk back to it's original configuration. The sections added for the 'Sharpe's' controls had to be cut out, 25/3/04. Stuart Mackay |
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The interior was further enhanced by the laying of the linoleum, thanks to volunteer Chris Lings, taking some time out of restoring "Iris". The colour seems very bright at first, but the original colour is untraceable and it was the only colour that would blend in with the vinyl wall panels. The ceiling lamps had been fitted by this stage, 23/3/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Wooden panelling and window trims were made and fitted to the guard's van, 23/3/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Wooden panelling and window trims were made and fitted to the guard's van, 23/3/04. Stuart Mackay |
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79018's middle saloon, 9/1/04. Stuart Mackay |
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79018's middle saloon, 9/1/04. Stuart Mackay |
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79018's guards van, 9/1/04. Stuart Mackay |
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In this unit the air and vacuum gauges are mounted quite high up! 27/1/04. Stuart Mackay |
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79018's front saloon, 9/1/04. Stuart Mackay |
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Original style steel partitions were fitted, which were ex-79900 Iris. The floor is made of two 1/4" ply layers, the top layer being cut around 1/4" steel plates where the seats bolt onto, 24/12/03. Stuart Mackay |
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All the wiring for the cab desk was layed in and tagged, running in the original conduit underneath the floor, and joined into the junction box behind the drivers seat. Being Yellow Diamond it took quite a bit of getting used to all the circuit numbers being different, 17/12/03. Stuart Mackay |
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79018's front saloon, 17/12/03. Stuart Mackay |
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A start being made on fitting the glassfibre insulation to the interior, 28/11/03. Stuart Mackay |
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79018 was being used as a store! Space in the shed was at a premium, so advantage was taken of the dry environment for working and items such as recovered seat cushions destined for Class 109 56171, 4/4/03. Stuart Mackay |
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Not much had happened in the van, although the ex-108 timber partition had been taken down when they realised that the door should be offset, and that they had the originals stored in 79612, 4/4/03. Stuart Mackay |
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The 'original' desk that came with the vehicle was cleaned up and painted. It had already been altered to take the later 'Sharpe's' controllers. These differed considerably from the original style, which we didn't have. Not much could be done about the gear controller, but the original throttle controller was hidden under the desk. We modified a Sharpe version, rotating its workings to get the handle as far into the corner as possible, and altering the cams to work in the yellow diamond fashion. The handle would be altered later when the desk top was fitted. The new wiring seen is for the marker lights. The sloped instrument facia was added ex-108, 23/8/02. Stuart Mackay |
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The wires into the cab had been sliced where they passed into the cab. New wiring was spliced to these, belled out and fitted to a junction box behind the driver's seat, 23/8/02. Stuart Mackay |
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The ceiling timbers, another job that was done more than once! The first ply that was used wasn't flexible enough so we had square corners. Seen here is it's replacement. It was clamped in place, then drilled and screwed in with self-tappers. These strips cover a top hat section, where the ceiling panels join and screw into. Later on it was discovered that behind these strips should be a packing in the hollow section, so they had to be removed again, 15/7/02. Stuart Mackay |
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Panels have been fitted to the partition frames, the partition poles are awaiting fitting. A lot of ex-108 timber framing has been fitted to the ceiling, 1/10/00. Stuart Mackay |
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The floor was one of the first places where work was required. The bare aluminium floor is formed of 'i' beams and so dangerous to walk on as feet can easily get caught. A layer of glassfibre insulation was laid down then sheets of 3/4 exterior ply. They get fitted around the partitions, so some of these were fitted ex-108. Unknown at the time the floor and partitions were removed later and replaced with alternates. Lee Sharpe is seen screwing down some of the floor sheets on the 16/7/99. Chris Lings |