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Post by thomas on Jun 19, 2008 19:20:41 GMT
I noticed at the diesel gala that the middle coach of the DMU is comming along nicely. Is there a date for finishing it and what will the group restore next, they seem to make a good job of every job they do. Thomas
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Jun 22, 2008 22:16:50 GMT
Thanks for the compliments thomas, we do our best!
Fingers crossed we would like to get it into service around the 2009 mark...
As for what we will restore next the list is endless! Having a 3-car DMU is only half the fleet, there are another three on the line just waiting to be restored.
Until then we plan to plough on with the centre car as it won't put its own doors on!
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Post by Admin on Jun 23, 2008 10:14:08 GMT
Hi DMU
May I take this opportunity to welcome you to the Forum.
Hope you continue to post us updates on the DMU centre car as I too am waiting eagerly to see it in action.
It is also good to hear about the 'pending' projects too.
Are you saying these are all DMU stock too?
Cheers.
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Jun 23, 2008 10:30:04 GMT
Yes they're all DMUs and all of the Class 104 type - I'll explain the fleet for anyone who wishes to know.
The most obvious to volunteers is the 2-car already in service numbered M50455 and M50517. M50455 has second class and a guards van while M50517 has second class, first class and a toilet. Both have driving cabs and engines.
There is a centre car, with toilet, first and second class which is being restored at Chedddleton. Inside it is the same as M50517 but it has no driving cab and no engines. This will form a 3-car set with the two above.
There is what we call the "driving trailer" numbered M56182 which is stored and hidden from the public. This car is identical to M50517 except it has no engines.
Finally, there is another two car "power twin" (also stored) identical to M50455 & M50517. These are numbered 53437 & M53494.
If you count the driving cabs the you will notice there are enough vehicles for a 3-car set and a 2-car set with a spare driving vehicle.
Unknown to most visitors we, like most departments on the railway, have vans for all our "stuff" as well. Many of them we chose with historical purposes as well, as 3 out of the 5 we have will be able to be authentically pulled by the DMU. So far we have only borrowed a small box van to pull at galas but when restored it will pull one of our own coaches. For example the van that was at Cheddleton in the siding for years with "Parcels Express" on the side is ours and on loan to the commercial department.
Pictures of all the DMU vehicles and vans can be found on our group's website which I run at www.brcw.moonfruit.com
Hope all that made sense and I'm happy to answer any more DMU queries!
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Post by Admin on Jun 24, 2008 12:12:38 GMT
Hi Chris,
Thanks for all that!
Very interesting.
Of diesels, only the DMU is of my interest so I am glad we may see more of them on the CVR soon.
I can't wait to see the 3-car running together and I also would like to see eventually both 'sets' coupled together to form a five-car train too. I have memories galore of riding in DMU's right from around 1957 when I was perhaps one of the first to travel on them between Kidsgrove and Stoke, also later on the loop line. I suppose my biggest 'dream' or fantasy is to be whittled back in time to when they were running regularly on the loop and to take endless trips along that stretch, sitting at the front on the right, with an uninterrupted view alongside the driver! :-)
Ah, such dreams......
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Jun 24, 2008 13:02:36 GMT
mmmm, it may be a while before two sets are coupled together - unfortunately it takes years per-coach (for example the centre trailer was started in 2005).
Same old story really, you can count the volunteers on one hand!
However we're sure the next one will be quicker than the center car, we assessed that it had the worst bodywork of all 6 DMUs on the CVR! It is the only one left in existence though so definitely worth it in the end!
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Post by Admin on Jun 24, 2008 13:08:05 GMT
Yes I can imagine the time it will take.
I can also apprecaite the good job you have done on the centre car because I remember it when it first arrived and it looked like it was only fit for scrap metal!
While I am not much use as a volunteer myself, at least I try to recruit friends where I can, to help out.
Good luck
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Post by thomas on Jun 24, 2008 15:59:35 GMT
Thanks Chris for all the information, nice to have you on the website. I like to keep abreast of the progress of the centre car restoration but since being put in the yard it is difficult to see the progress. Is it possible to post any photos of how it's going on this website.Thanks Thomas.
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Jun 24, 2008 16:36:48 GMT
News updates are added at least Monthly at the following address:
www.brcw.moonfruit.com/#/news/4525320916
I include all the pictures here and its the place on the web where the most images of the restoration can be found.
Also for your interest:
www.brcw.moonfruit.com/#/2008/4527089480
That links to a gallery of our activities in 2008 (updated monthly)
The flash nature our site etc means I can't put them on here, however if you bookmark/save to favourites the site I assure you there's a steady stream of information and pics!
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Post by Admin on Jun 24, 2008 18:07:41 GMT
I took this shot at the Steam Gala in February. It looked prety good even then.
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Post by thomas on Jul 21, 2008 21:39:49 GMT
There is some great footage of the DMU on You Tube, it's in 4 parts the first 3 being on each section of the track, the 4th one is the complete track in 3 mins. Well worth looking at on You Tube Churnet Valley Railway DMU cabride
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Jul 26, 2008 19:39:18 GMT
A few months back I compiled a list of all the video clips that our 104 featured in. They can be found at:
www.brcw.moonfruit.com/video
I believe the first one was recorded by a certain member of this forum!
Has anyone noticed any further ones that aren't already on the list that I could add?
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Post by Admin on Jul 27, 2008 18:15:51 GMT
Thanks for that Chris.
I particularly liked the first one :-)
I have some unedited footage of the 104 at various places on the CVR and when I get chance I will edit them together and put them on Revver. I'll post the link on here for you.
Cheers.
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Post by thomas on Aug 7, 2008 17:53:35 GMT
Hi Chris, I've heard a rumour that there might be another DMU comming to the CVR, either a class 101 2 car unit or a class 121 bubble car. Is this your group or is there another group coming in, it would be good to see a bit more variety of DMU in the valley. Thomas
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dmu
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Post by dmu on Aug 8, 2008 15:25:13 GMT
Thomas,
All just talking at the moment, no deals sealed. I can post any details as soon as there's something solid to go on, until then it would be pointless going too far into "might be's"
So for variety down the valley DMU wise, check out our visitor we'll be bringing in for the DMU Gala, details to be released in a week!
I'll update should anything be actually confirmed.
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