The restoration of Gloucester Power car 51118 reached a milestone this week when the glaziers called and fixed in all the windows.
New glass has been bonded in all locations as the vehicle had formerly been fitted with plate glass windows which are now not suitable for the transport environment. All the sliding and quarter lights have also been replaced, which has involved many hours of work, while the provision of 6mm laminated glass had also been extended to the large cab windows.
Electrical work has continued on trailer 56097 with attention paid to the plate where the wiring runs through the floor under the cab desk. This is having to be modified due to the presence of a cross member directly underneath where it was planned to be located.
At Llangollen the workshop has been quiet due to the requirement to turn out three units for the weekend's Thomas event. The 141 also worked two days midweek at the Midland Railway.
At the Llangollen workshops there has been much activity on the maintenance front with the Class 127/108 set's M-Exam being completed and the Class 108 set's A-Exam taking place. A few faults were discovered during the work on the Class 127 51618, one of the alternators was found not to be working, some conduit had come adrift and a fuel gauge was leaking. A number of loose bolts and some worn out step boards completed the total of jobs discovered.
The class 108 and class 104 where out together at Llangollen on Friday. One set providing the normal "A" timetable service, and the second a charter service.
In the Class 105 trailer the last of the new ceiling supports has been fitted and some aluminium trim was refitted in the first class. Some parts were also dug out of where they have been kept over the several years that this job has been in progress.
Over at Butterley the rear of Gloucester 51118 has been receiving its first paint while work has continued to make the unit ready for the glassfitter.
At Butterly the front and sides of the Gloucester power car have had a coat of gloss paint. Certainly not the final coat but it gives a good idea of what the unit will look like once the restoration is finished.
More of the glass work has taken place, with the guards van area being tackled. Inside the main saloon the bulk of the new woodwork that will be needed to align the windows, and on which the trim attaches has been fitted.
At Llangollen the 104 underwent an FP exam. This went without issue apart from one brake block which was changed as it was approaching the minimum thickness allowed.
Some sticking internal doors were tackled in 56223, and some work was done on preparing 56171 for more paint.
