ONE BOGIE AT A TIME

An early task in preparing Centenary Car 641 for its new 'look' is cleaning the special bogie frames used on these cars. Whereas cleaning and painting the bogies on the Trust's Brush rail coach 290 was relatively easy - the large frames with their heavy 'compartments' is a serious proposition. After a decade of use and storage, the amount of accumulated rust and layers of old paint bonded together on the frame exterior surface, presents a lengthy ground level job.

So one bogie at a time is now subjected to scraping and wire brushing to get to the original metal surface for preparatory painting. The hard rubber absorbers on either side of the axle box are particularly worn. The original English Electric axle box itself is the most clearly identifiable component. The top photo shows an untreated bogie waiting attention.

The images below are of the first bogie after strenuous removal of detrius from each of the several angular frame 'compartments'. The amount of material removed being evident on the ground. Not being inside a workshop and without the essential equipment for heavy duty metal treatment we have to make best use of what is to hand.

The bogie frames will be given a grey finish - distinctive and hopefully showing to best effect this bespoke design originated in Rigby Road Workshops and finalised at East Lancashire Coachbuilders with other specialist input. The rubber absorbers will be painted matt black.

Watch the blog as this story continues over the coming weeks and months.