Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"

[toastyhamster]

Excellent news, I've got the mag but not started it yet.

[Flying Phil]

Our 16T Mineral wagon is nearly finished - and we have completed our "Fitness to Run" examination of 10 of our running rake...so far!

[Rich1973]

Looking good Phil. Nice to see it retaining some 'distress'

[Flying Phil]

Thanks Rich...This will be our next project, as it failed its FTR with inoperative vac cylinder and bodywork corrosion....

[silverfoxcc]

Phil

That looks ( ignoring the brake problem) in pristine condition compared to some of the stuff i saw trundling down the Lea Valley line en route to Temple Mills

The wooden bodied wagons were worse

[Flying Phil]

Six more wagons in to do "Fitness to Run" examinations....

[matchmaker]

Flying Phil said:

Thanks Rich...This will be our next project, as it failed its FTR with inoperative vac cylinder and bodywork corrosion....

If it's vac fitted, shouldn't it be painted bauxite?

[Flying Phil]

Quite correct Matchmaker....however it was felt that the mix of bauxite and grey didn't reflect the "image" of the GCR Windcutters of the 50's and 60's and so all bar one are grey. There is a longer explanation on the GCR website.
We now have those 6 wagons "Fit to Run" and so will have a full rake for the Autumn Gala Sept 30th - Oct 3rd.

[Yertis]

matchmaker said:

Flying Phil said:

Thanks Rich...This will be our next project, as it failed its FTR with inoperative vac cylinder and bodywork corrosion....

If it's vac fitted, shouldn't it be painted bauxite?

I've often wondered why some were bauxite and others grey – does the same apply to all types of wagon, eg vans etc?

[Flying Phil]

Hi Yertis - yes, Unfitted wagons of all types were grey..... and Fitted (Either with through pipes or vac brakes) were bauxite.

Three more wagons were brought to Rothley by the Ops dept and one has passed its FTR exam (B 279742). The other two need some "light" body repairs (B 279721 and B573403). This means that we have 20 of our 30 wagons with new FTRs. We are still on schedule for our 30@30 at the end of next year......

[matchmaker]

Flying Phil said:

Quite correct Matchmaker....however it was felt that the mix of bauxite and grey didn't reflect the "image" of the GCR Windcutters of the 50's and 60's and so all bar one are grey. There is a longer explanation on the GCR website.
We now have those 6 wagons "Fit to Run" and so will have a full rake for the Autumn Gala Sept 30th - Oct 3rd.

I understand!

[Flying Phil]

Finally wagon B279719 is completed and it will be out in the running rake during the Gala Sept 30th - Oct 3rd.

[Flying Phil]

Very nice to see our 18 wagons at Loughborough station, awaiting Gala running. They are due to be pulled by a single chimney 9F which is visiting the GCR from the North York Moors Railway.
In the meantime we now have the next wagon in the shed. After removing two barrowloads of rust we could see what needs doing....a new floor!
So we have made a start....

[Flying Phil]

More metal/rust has been removed!

[Flying Phil]

I have been sent a couple of pictures from the recent Gala (Thanks to Richard Warren) which helps to explain why we volunteer to restore rusty 16T wagons.

[toastyhamster]

Looks great Phil.

I have a really dumb question. I know steam boilers can't be made from stainless steel (well they could but they'd never get a boiler cert), but why not use stainless steel in wagon use/more generally in railway stuff that rusts? Cost? Ease of use? Also, why are connecting rods etc stainless?

[spikeyhead]

Ever tried doing anything with stainless? It's a nightmare to work with.

[The ArtfulBodger]

toastyhamster said:

Looks great Phil.

I have a really dumb question. I know steam boilers can't be made from stainless steel (well they could but they'd never get a boiler cert), but why not use stainless steel in wagon use/more generally in railway stuff that rusts? Cost? Ease of use? Also, why are connecting rods etc stainless?

Cost, pure and simple.

Goods wagons were not and still are not expected to last a lifetime - making them out of stainless won’t extend their useful service life nor make them more economical to operate.

[The ArtfulBodger]

spikeyhead said:

Ever tried doing anything with stainless? It's a nightmare to work with.

Ever heard the phrase you’re doing it wrong 😂👍

Stainless is only a nightmare to work with if you don’t have the skills, knowledge or equipment to work with it.

[spikeyhead]

The ArtfulBodger said:

spikeyhead said:

Ever tried doing anything with stainless? It's a nightmare to work with.

Ever heard the phrase you’re doing it wrong ????

Stainless is only a nightmare to work with if you don’t have the skills, knowledge or equipment to work with it.

If it's so great, why don't we make cars from it. If Mercedes used if for the bodies of Sprinters they'd become the perfect van.