Restoration of trailer coach 60528

This article is open, and was last modified on 30 March 2024.

Completion!

History of the restoration work

Restoration work began in August 2002 on second-class open trailer No. 60528 which was then in ex-withdrawal condition. From early in 2005, work was put “on hold” because restoration of our fourth motor coach 60019 was seen as being of higher priority, because it would increase our options for providing two trains for service. Although this requirement hasn’t become a reality, the change in priority meant that work on 60528 was suspended for a considerable time.

The initial batch of work proceeded as described in the following paragraphs.

Staff at St. Leonards have been plating and welding bodywork areas affected by decades of seaside corrosion, a process they carried out to advantage on our active fleet. In late summer 2002 the underframe area was “needle-gunned” to remove the brittle, sometimes inches-thick accumulatation of brake-dust deposits, and painted with primer. In the second week of October, a batch of seat-cushions was sent away for re-upholstering; this will be [was then planned to have been] in the red material already used in Tunbridge Wells, since 60528 is to be another Club/First Class vehicle. The floor linoleum from the saloons has been restored, with replacement in certain areas where necessary.

In March 2003, the glass was removed from the sliding windows and thoroughly cleaned, being reinstalled with new rubber seals throughout; one saloon had the wooden panelling restored; and the under-seat heater-grilles were repaired where necessary, and repainted. Further work on these items and on the body of the vehicle has been continuing in August. On Tuesday 21 October 2003, all four wheelsets were sent off to Eastleigh for new bearings and new tyres; a second batch of seat-cushions was sent off for retrimming. The refurbished wheelsets were returned to the depot in early December, and one bogie has been fully repainted and now contains its wheelsets.

The wiring-conduit for the heater cables, which runs along on the underside of the underframe, suffers particularly from corrosion; these have now been completely replaced on one side, and inspected, cleaned, and replaced where necessary on the other. The whole underframe was painted with green primer, and black top-coat has now been applied throughout. All the seat-cushions have been retrimmed, and arrived back at St. Leonards on a Monday during March (probably 22nd, possibly 15th). In the second half of July 2004, 60528’s second bogie has been needle-gunned and painted with the green anti-corrosion primer; staff have also been cutting out & renewing bodywork pillars and floor supports on the toilet end, which has always suffered from the more severe corrosion problems on these vehicles.

As of the start of 2005, both toilets have been completely refurbished, including new water pipes from the tanks. The first saloon is fully reassembled, with new/reconditioned windows and restored wooden panelling.