Since the previous report we have provided 'A' timetable services on Tuesdays - Fridays and Sundays using the class 108 and the Wickham class 109 mostly together as a 4-car unit but occasionally solo.
The following picture shows the class 108 trailer car 54504 at the front of the 4-car unit shortly after arriving at Llangollen Station with the empty coaching stock on the morning of Friday 5th August...
The following picture shows the class 108 leading its partner into the 'Dee Bridge Rumble' while approaching journey's end with the 12.50 Carrog - Llangollen service on Sunday 7th August...
Also playing out that day was a class 08 shunter that gave members of the public a chance to become a 'Driver for a Fiver' in Llangollen Station in between providing shuttle services between Llangollen and Berwyn. The following picture shows the last shuttle of the day crossing the Dee Bridge on its way back to Llangollen on Saturday 6th August...
The intermittent shutdown fault on the no. 2 engine of the class 108 remains and is very variable because there are have been days with several "random" unexplained shutdowns and others with no such shutdowns at all. The plot thickens!
The construction of the second tool cupboard at Pentrefelin progressed with the installation of a couple more shelves together with lighting and power on both. As a bonus, the original "tool cupboard one" now benefits from a new LED light that is rather more effective than the previous one, and some lights on the outside of both cupboards will hopefully provide better lighting for painting in the area.
Information about the work that was carried out on specific railcars can be found in the unit-specific work sections below.
The sanding, filling and painting of the secondman's side continued last Saturday and resulted in the vehicle taking on several guises during the space of the day. The number of people carrying out the work varied somewhat due to the temporary drafting in of ones with special skills (at least that's what they told me!)...
One of the above pictures shows how the weather (sunlight in particular) has caused the yellow front of the vehicle to be given a 'bleached' appearance. We discovered, almost by accident, that the original colour (or, at least, something very close to it) can be restored simply by rubbing the paint with a cloth...
As Paul Daniels used to say, "Now that's magic!". Seriously, it seems that the type of paint that was used is broken down by sunlight to produce a white powder that can be removed. Just how many times that can be done, or what can be done to prevent it happening, remains to be discovered.
The back of the vehicle was improved with the addition of some gloss paint and then further attention was given to the corner of the cab front that had been damaged by tree sap...
Class 108 (51933/54504)
The class 108 became due for a mileage-based Fuel Point (FP) exam that was carried out last Saturday. It involves checking and topping up (as appropriate) various oils and waters, checking items including the batteries, brakes, wipers and emergency equipment, and doing a thorough lighting check by testing all of the lights and switches...
After the exam had been completed the remaining time was put to good use with the cleaning of the luggage racks throughout the unit.
Thanks to Mike Martin and Martin Plumb for the pictures.