Heritage - Rail - News
The same old Flugel
27th August 2007
Another one of those nothing much to report days. No work on 'F13' today so we scrounged around for other things to do.
I was able to do a repair job on the overpressure shut down valve on the Broomwade compressor. I'd been promising myself to do it forever and as the compressor came in for a steam clean, the better the day, the better the deed. Simple little valve with a totally failed piston seal. Most of the time was spent in finding a vendor who could supply a seal. Mike Webb finally went out and got one after much ringing around and it worked like a charm. It was one of those 'quad' rings, hence the difficulty.
Have you ever noticed how old hardwood can look absolutely soft, yet show it a chainsaw and it suddenly gets all hard in the middle? Of such, was this dozy looking post.
Back home after dip stripping. The panels from the interior of 'A222'. That's Keith whipping off the first panel.
Just outside the back entrance to the carriage shed, this unusual seat has been left to the elements. On making enquiries, Keith was surprised to see it and indicated that we should lose no time in putting it under cover. The only one of its type that we have, it is a single, reversible, first class seat out of the 1920s I believe.
From the rear, there is a footboard for those in the next seat back. When the seat is thrown the other way, this folds back under the seat.
The NZR logo on the aisle side of the frame.
We were puzzled by these levers on either side. Possibly to set the seat angle? If you know, please let us know.
Undercover and tipped sideways, you see the substantial underframe. Let me tell you, these seats are seriously heavy!
Just beside where we laid the seat, we have this wagon which is coil sprung. A picture of the corner gives all the details. Date of manufacture? Let me refer to my stock list, kindly supplied by Sir Colin. It says; 4 wheel, open 5 plank of 1910. It is in fact, part of the Heritage Trainset, although it is only run infrequently. The overhaul date as you see, is February 2003. Thus it precedes my Flugel notes, but I do have it on regular pictures as it was being rebuilt.
We have spoken before about stampings on axles and so forth. From this, we see that the axle is later than the wagon, suggesting a wheel swap at some time.
Here's something of which I have not spoken earlier. This is the corridor of the sleeping car from the 'Northerner'. It still has its batteries in place and they are charged from time to time. In the gloom of the carriage shed we see the novelty of having the lights on.
Looking the other way, you see it is equipped with every convenience.
'A222' continues apace. Graham is nailing the reinforcing boards beneath the seat rail.
These boards contribute to the longitudinal stiffness of the car body.
Endless second hand timber is recycled for reuse. Keith is dressing a length, for what I don't know.
There you are now, not too bad for a day with nothing to rave about. Cheers gang, 'K'.