As the Mid-Norfolk Railway works towards reopening on April 30, its carriage and wagon team has been busy preparing coaches – and has also carried out the first stages of a Pacer refurbishment.
The Class 142 Pacer unit 142061 has undergone an interior deep clean, with particular attention to the seats and floor. The seat frames were stripped, treated for rust, and then repainted. The floors have been deep cleaned removing literally decades of dirt. The door lights in the foot wells have been stripped, rust treatment applied, painted and then refitted with new lights installed. Externally the underframe has been cleaned and then repainted making the unit ready for this season’s running.
The work on the Pacer has been carried out by some of the working members of the railway under the supervision of one of the railway’s joint rolling stock and traction managers, Colin Makcrow.
In the future, the railway still plans to paint at least one Pacer in a different livery, but that will not be for some time as there are other coaches to be finished. The railway’s Class 101 unit is also currently out of service, with various jobs needing doing before a repaint that will be the final step before a return to service, which means that there is significant work to do before any of the Pacer units at the line receive a new livery.
In addition to the work on the Pacer, Colin and Tony Dunford, the railway’s other joint rolling stock and traction manager, have carried out the annual C inspection for all of the seven Mk.1 and Mk.2 coaches that make up the railway’s operational vacuum braked coaches. In addition, all the coaches have also received a deep clean and minor interior repairs have been carried out.
Working members under Tony’s leadership have also continued the refurbishment of the railway’s Mk.1 FK M13225 in preparation for its launch later in the season into service following what will be the most extensive restoration ever attempted at the MNR.
The Mid-Norfolk Railway will reopen to the public with the running a steam service over the May bank holiday weekend. Trains will run on Saturday, April 30, Sunday, May 1, and Monday, May 2. Tickets are available on the day and can also be booked via the railway’s website. The popular ‘kids go free’ promotion is also in operation for these running days.
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