Carriage Restoration

This page contains photos and captions about the restoration of the passenger carriages at Feilding Steam Rail.

Russell and Rod have started to clean up the first of the two Helensville first class carriages A1023. The plan is clean them out and repair broken and rusted parts and eventually return them to service. 21st April 2001

We removed the rotten carpet and then water blasted out the carriage, 18th August 2001

First priority it to fix the two ex-Auckland Subbie Cars that Russell brought back in the mid 1990's. These cars have been leaking and need a bit of wood and steel replaced.

A new beam was manufactured locally to replace the rotten one above.

The very important brackets (body knees) that hold the carriage together have rusted badly. One part of one carriage needed total replacement of the brackets, in this photo we are removing the rusted bracket.

We have removed all of the sheeting from all of the cars. We plan to assess what needs to be repaired. The sheeting has rusted badly in the weather but constant maintaince from the previous owner has prevented much of the water getting into the structure of the carriage. This Picture shows John Lissette removing the panel steel from the sleeper car.

These brackets have been made and fitted by members of the Society. 3rd November 2002

This is a corner end of one of the ex Auckland Subbie carriages Russell Wiseman purchased a few years ago. Much of the woodwork needed to be replaced. We intend to replace the external skin with fibreglass instead of steel.

Click on the picture to see photos from the Work Week 2003.

This is one of the Ex-Auckland Subbie Cards A56833 or TMS A56884 with the sides removed so we can check for rust in the brackets.

Water has got into some parts of the carriage and removable of some of the seats is required to fix the problem

We have a gang of about seven people working on the carriages, some work full time. Here you can see the rusted spark guards being removed.

We have a few members that are electricans. This is Bevan installing wiring for power points and heaters that are being fitted to every carriage.

Tony (Society welder) removing yet another rusted body knee.

Bob Judd removing yet another rusted body knee.

Keith fitting steel sheet to the underside of the carriage. The stops sparks from the brakes coming in contact with the wooden surfaces of the carriage.

Tony is welding in cross braces that will make the carriages stronger than they have ever been.

The carriages are being fitted with insulation to help make the ride quieter and warmer.

These corners were orginally badly rusted. But the hard work from the team has restored them back to new condition.

Orginally the curved vestibule cladding was made from steel. We have made all the replacement sheets from fibreglass.

The bogies are being overhauled to ensure they are up to mainline standard.

Removing more body knees, November 2003

Peter preparing the carriage to have a new body knee welded into place. Dec 2003

We are removing the lights so we can clean and revarnish the electrical wiring capping. Most of the work centres around this carriage.

Light Fitting Wanted for carriage restoration. Click on picture for more information

Keith fitting the new panel work. January 2004

Mike pulling in the wiring for the sound system and heaters. Jan 2004

Rod removing the old paint from the seat frames. Jan 2004

We have laid carpet in one carriage so far. This type of carpet is designed to be used in high wear installations. This will be a very pleasant carriage to ride in. Feb 2004

Merv painting the seat frames. 27th March 2004

Painted seat frames

Reconditioned seats installed. August 2004

The axles on all carriages must be crack tested. In order for this the bearing covers must be removed. To prevent dust getting into the bearings, the covers were only taken off just prior to the actual ultrasonic test. 8th January 2005

The test head sends a ultrasonic sound wave down the axle. This wave is bounced off the end of the axle or crack and the length of the axle or location of the crack can be found. 8th January 2005

The car Van has had a lot of work done on it too. The interior has been tidied up, although not refurbished. The exterior has had many new panels fitted. Here you can see Peter fitting the tail lights back on the carriage after the new curved panels had been fitted. 12th Febuary 2005

We overhauling a pair of bogies. Work includes full needle gunning, painting, crack testing, re bushing, renewal of worn pins. 12th Febuary 2005

Bob Judd continues with work inside the carriage. All the interior timbers have been stripped and revarnished. 12th Febuary 2005

Keith can be seen here fitting new rounded panels, on the carpeted car. These panels are made from fibreglass. 2rd April 2005

Keith refitting the doors that have been overhauled. Also note the new aluminium sheeting fitted to this car. The handrails have been removed and re-chromed. 23rd April 2005

Keith fitting the circuit board for the electrical support to run the heaters to keep the carriage warm. 21st May 2005

Last Update 5th June 2005

Photos taken by Stan Jenkins

Back to Restoration

	Russell and Rod have started to clean up the first of the two Helensville first class carriages A1023. The plan is clean them out and repair broken and rusted parts and eventually return them to service. 21st April 2001
	We removed the rotten carpet and then water blasted out the carriage, 18th August 2001
	First priority it to fix the two ex-Auckland Subbie Cars that Russell brought back in the mid 1990's. These cars have been leaking and need a bit of wood and steel replaced.
	A new beam was manufactured locally to replace the rotten one above.
	The very important brackets (body knees) that hold the carriage together have rusted badly. One part of one carriage needed total replacement of the brackets, in this photo we are removing the rusted bracket.
	We have removed all of the sheeting from all of the cars. We plan to assess what needs to be repaired. The sheeting has rusted badly in the weather but constant maintaince from the previous owner has prevented much of the water getting into the structure of the carriage. This Picture shows John Lissette removing the panel steel from the sleeper car.
	These brackets have been made and fitted by members of the Society. 3rd November 2002
	This is a corner end of one of the ex Auckland Subbie carriages Russell Wiseman purchased a few years ago. Much of the woodwork needed to be replaced. We intend to replace the external skin with fibreglass instead of steel.
	Click on the picture to see photos from the Work Week 2003.
	This is one of the Ex-Auckland Subbie Cards A56833 or TMS A56884 with the sides removed so we can check for rust in the brackets.
	Water has got into some parts of the carriage and removable of some of the seats is required to fix the problem
	We have a gang of about seven people working on the carriages, some work full time. Here you can see the rusted spark guards being removed.
	We have a few members that are electricans. This is Bevan installing wiring for power points and heaters that are being fitted to every carriage.
	Tony (Society welder) removing yet another rusted body knee.
	Bob Judd removing yet another rusted body knee.
	Keith fitting steel sheet to the underside of the carriage. The stops sparks from the brakes coming in contact with the wooden surfaces of the carriage.
	Tony is welding in cross braces that will make the carriages stronger than they have ever been.
	The carriages are being fitted with insulation to help make the ride quieter and warmer.
	These corners were orginally badly rusted. But the hard work from the team has restored them back to new condition.
	Orginally the curved vestibule cladding was made from steel. We have made all the replacement sheets from fibreglass.
	The bogies are being overhauled to ensure they are up to mainline standard.
	Removing more body knees, November 2003
	Peter preparing the carriage to have a new body knee welded into place. Dec 2003
	We are removing the lights so we can clean and revarnish the electrical wiring capping. Most of the work centres around this carriage.
	Light Fitting Wanted for carriage restoration. Click on picture for more information
	Keith fitting the new panel work. January 2004
	Mike pulling in the wiring for the sound system and heaters. Jan 2004
	Rod removing the old paint from the seat frames. Jan 2004
	We have laid carpet in one carriage so far. This type of carpet is designed to be used in high wear installations. This will be a very pleasant carriage to ride in. Feb 2004
	Merv painting the seat frames. 27th March 2004
	Painted seat frames
	Reconditioned seats installed. August 2004
	The axles on all carriages must be crack tested. In order for this the bearing covers must be removed. To prevent dust getting into the bearings, the covers were only taken off just prior to the actual ultrasonic test. 8th January 2005
	The test head sends a ultrasonic sound wave down the axle. This wave is bounced off the end of the axle or crack and the length of the axle or location of the crack can be found. 8th January 2005
	The car Van has had a lot of work done on it too. The interior has been tidied up, although not refurbished. The exterior has had many new panels fitted. Here you can see Peter fitting the tail lights back on the carriage after the new curved panels had been fitted. 12th Febuary 2005
	We overhauling a pair of bogies. Work includes full needle gunning, painting, crack testing, re bushing, renewal of worn pins. 12th Febuary 2005
	Bob Judd continues with work inside the carriage. All the interior timbers have been stripped and revarnished. 12th Febuary 2005
	Keith can be seen here fitting new rounded panels, on the carpeted car. These panels are made from fibreglass. 2rd April 2005
	Keith refitting the doors that have been overhauled. Also note the new aluminium sheeting fitted to this car. The handrails have been removed and re-chromed. 23rd April 2005
	Keith fitting the circuit board for the electrical support to run the heaters to keep the carriage warm. 21st May 2005