News

May 2010 The horns and wipers are now working in the south cab ( 370003) for the first time in years. We are progressing really well with the model railway layout in the party coach and are hopeful that that area of the train can be opened on a permanent basis. The other things that we want to do are get the buffet car up and running again, it has been scrubbed down just waiting for it to be " plumbed in", and also the train ride simulator in the north cab to be fitted. All in all there is still a lot to do, but we are getting there slowly. I have uploaded a short video of the wipers and horn going to this site, hopefully it will work April 2010 With the gala event out of the way and all the work involved in getting things ready, i am concentrating on the APT again starting with the horns. I dismantled one set off 370003, stripped them down and cleaned them. It wasn't an easy job due to the fact the bolts where rusted in place and it took loads of WD40 and persuasion to strip them down. having done that i fitted them back on the following week, turned the compressor on to supply air to the train, then tried them. They didn't work at first until i put the selector into forward then tried it, Jesus they were loud !!!!i have been waiting to try these for at least 2 yr s and now its done i know how to do the other set on 370006. the next thing i did was to give the kitchen area a big scrub down and clean ready to reconnect the water supply and to get the tank and water boilers properly checked for leaks and pressure. When this is done we hope to sell beverages and light snacks over the buffet car counter again. We still have loads of work to do on board but we are getting there slowly. I have downloaded 2 files with the horn sound on you will need real player to play it, but it will work in media player if you right click the file and select media player, then skip the error warnings. Jan / Feb/March 2010 With the 1980's gala event taking most of my time up restoration on the APT as slowed down some what, with me helping repaint a class 47, 87 and 03 into BR blue. the is however a " shuttle 2 layout now in the buffet car area with a Hornby APT, going up and down a 20 ft enclosed layout. It works by going from a station up to a tunnel and sits inside the tunnel for 20secs then returns back to the station, repeating the process. When the gala event starts on 2nd April all of the APT will be open to the public for the first time ( except power car due to the very cramped and dark interior ) The layout in the party coach is 95 % complete and will be working on the event. After the event is over the APT will be cleaned down outside and polished with some paintwork touched up to bring her back up to a " ex-works " condition. Hopefully before the end of the season we will have a simulator working in the North cab , depending on time conditions. So come along to the 1980's event over Easter from 2 April - 5th April to see this glorious machine and loads of other things. Nov/ Dec The party coach model railway is professing really well and the displays in the buffet car are being rearranged and new pictures are being put in All our plans are still on target for next year and Crewe Heritage Centre is having A "1980'S GALA DAY " During the Easter weekend from 2-5 April where the whole of the APT will be open to the public for the very first time and there will be loads of exhibits and displays on site such as class 47's class 87, class 03 all in BR blue, various steam locos etc. Sept/ Oct with the season finished till next April, work will commence on the North part of the train that as never been open to the public before. It is intended to put a large model railway in the old first class coach, which was wrecked beyond repair, not by us i might add, this now called the party coach. The north cab will receive a simulator which will be " wired" in to the APT control desk allowing people to " drive " the train using the controls off the desk. Hopefully we can get this up and running by the start of the season next year. July/Aug With the both sides now repainted the APT looks a whole lot better with the lettering also on both sides of power car. We are now working on what will become the " party coach " by installing a kitchen area, model railway and access steps to a new miniature railway halt, on the west coast side of the train which will give access to train from that side. So far we have put up the false wall in the kitchen and also started to redo the north cab ready for a simulator which hopefully will be interactive. Most of things we are now doing should be done ready for next season when the site reopens in March/ April time as it closes at the end of September have added some more pictures. May-June all the one side of the APT is now painted including the dreaded power car. It is by no means perfect but it looks great now with a fresh coat of paint and all that is left to do is 5 coaches on the west coast side which hopefully will be done for the " Railway Children " charity gala on the 18th July. It has been a great achievement to get her into some kind of order with the painting, displays and all the cleaning that has been done in the last 6 months. Please come and look for yourself at the Crewe Heritage Centre, on Saturdays and Sundays. I have put some more pictures up showing it what it looks like now. April-May All the displays are up and the DVD system is also working in the buffet car area. Repainting on the outside is progressing slowly but the North DTS ( 48106 ) as virtually been painted with the yellow, red, white (stripes), dark grey and executive light grey all done. All that's left is to redo the orange cantrail stripe and the white cantrail stripe along the body side at the top. Although it isn't a perfect job , it know looks a lot brighter and will protect it a little longer from the weather. Work has started on the party coach with it being jet washed first then repainting will begin on this. Hopefully the whole train will be painted by the end of July/Aug. March-April 2009 Work is now complete on the display boards where two new displays have been erected. They are in the DTS (48103) and the first class guards compartment, where most of the rubbish and spare bits were kept. as seen by the pictures this makes it a better and cleaner place than before. Also we are now working on the outside mainly the north end to start with as this needs the most attention. So far the balck window surround as been repainted and the yellow undercoat as been done aswell. The redstripe as also been done and the white will follow when time permits. With all the displays going back up and repainting along with polishing, the APT, is beginning to look a lot better than it has done for the last 7 years. Updated MON 23 Feb 2009 january-febuary 2009 Things are now moving along with the south cab (370003) cleaned and repainted and the cab window surround outside reapinted black. Also the yellow around the cab as been repainted and these two alone make it a whole lot better to look at. We are now working on the bodysides with t- cut to bring the paint work back up and it as made a big difference. The inside of DTS 48103 has been cleaned with all seat covers washed and worn ones replaced. >>> 2008 <<< December - Well the restoration as been coming along slowly but gradually and things are getting done. The power car will be sanded down and repainted for the new season at Easter and the party coach should be up and running by then. The train inside as had a good clean before the site closed, but will need redoing again before it opens. Most of the repairs are either done or on going, and the team consisting of myself, gary, mike, danny, craig, hayley and luke will start back on the 10th Jan to get stuck in and really get the restoration going. November - October - September- August - Sanding back the body, finish cleaning up the public access areas, striping back the power car July - Light Fixed /Replacing Carpet / Replacing tilt sensors May / June - Inside Work Driver Trailer 370006 / 1st Class guard van/ 1st Class), Reconstruct the Cab (Still needs new floor) 1st Class coach (Turing into a Party Coach) April - Power Wash

Video / Audio

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