NER Autocar - restoration progress

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richard
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by richard »

Perhaps because it is a one-of-a-kind as well. It isn't "yet another Bulleid Pacific or Class 37" - both worthy things to preserve of course, but how many do we really need?


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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

Seen one, seen them all? I know members of numerous classes are all different in minor details, but to the average person in the street or even the casual railway enthusiast, they don't have any rarity value. We had a stand at the Leeds Exhibition and had quite a bit of interest over the weekend, I think due mostly to the uniqueness of the autocar. What with alternately talking about the project and explaining scenery to people, I'm feeling quite hoarse!

If any exhibition managers would be interested in us attending with a publicity stand, then please do get in touch. Hopefully in a few months, we'll be able to pester folk into joining working parties and have some more obvious/visible progress to report...
Exhibition Stand R.jpg
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

I'm pleased to say that we have heard we will be getting a grant of £20,000 from PRISM. This will finance the restoration of the body and the newly acquired (historically accurate) underframe within twelve months. This was in some doubt because of the government cuts and while we're happy we will be getting the money, we're sorry for the staff at PRISM who may shortly be losing their jobs. They have been very helpful and supportive. If they aren't reprieved, I hope they find alternative positions soon.

Part of the balance funding was a grant from the Ken Hoole Trust for bodywork repairs. These two grants will enable us to restore the autocar as an unpowered coach and if our Lottery application is successful, that money will equip the autocar with an engine, controls and brakes and allow us to restore the autocoach as a driving trailer.

Trust chairman Stephen Middleton said, ‘We are immensely grateful to both bodies. In such tough times competition for increasingly limited funds must be intense, so it is wonderful to see our work valued. Trust members are excited at the prospect of beginning restoration work after so long and would welcome new volunteers to help us achieve our tough deadline.’

For details please visit http://www.electricautocar.co.ukor ‘phone Stephen Middleton on 01423 561965 if you wish to volunteer at the Trust’s Embsay base.

Edited once to add further details.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

I don't think I've mentioned that the underframe has also arrived - this is from a GNR built Doncaster 1920 Diagram 310 brake and milk van. If the NRM allow us to use their photos, I'll post one.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Rlangham »

Great news guys
Author of 'The North Eastern Railway in the First World War' - now available in paperback!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Eastern-R ... 781554552/

Happy to help with anything relating to the railways in the First World War, just ask
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

Yes, so far, so good.

The autocar has now been towed to Embsay and partially unsheeted to allow for access. The Lottery application is being considered and we should hear by the end of March. In the meantime, if anyone fancies helping us out with the restoration, we are currently engaged in preliminary work on the body - paintscraping, sanding etc, so you don't have to be a skilled craftsman... their turn will come only too soon. We aim to have the autocar running by Spring 2012, and if we get the Lottery money, under its own power, with the autocoach to follow a year or two later. You would be welcome both mid-week and at weekends.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

Working parties are now attending on Thursdays and at the weekends, but if you are able to help another day, do get in touch, we'll make the necessary arrangements.

We had a visit from Look North today, they filmed the autocar and Stephen's appeal for volunteers to help with the work.

I'm told they will show this tonight (Friday) on the 1830 local news, though I'm not sure if it's on the Yorkshire Look North or BBC NE.

Paint stripping went well, there were some stubborn bits but most came off with some application of our elbows... We were pleasantly suprised as to the condition of the timberwork, it is coming up very nicely indeed - there's been no enhancement of the condition of the woodwork, either chemically or electronically!

(For technical reasons Richard has added the photo...thanks for that.)

Edited once at 17.10 on the 21st.
Last edited by Autocar Publicity on Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by richard »

We hit the board-wide quota. I've cleaned the orphan images up, and bumped the quota again.

Here's the interior shot:
Attachments
Simon's interior photo
Simon's interior photo
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Bryan
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Bryan »

[quote=
We had a visit from Look North today, they filmed the autocar and Stephen's appeal for volunteers to help with the work.

I'm told they will show this tonight (Friday) on the 1830 local news, though I'm not sure if it's on the Yorkshire Look North or BBC NE. [/quote]

A clip of it was shown this morning on the 0657 slot on BBC Newcastle Look North.
Some photos of car in action at Newcastle included plus current status at Embsay and a short interview with Stephen Middleton.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

And if you want to see it, the clip has now been posted on You Tube (with permission of the BBC) and the link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPp1WZ7almc

Apologies for the three scruffy-looking characters, we are usually a bit smarter but given temperatures of around freezing and the amount of dust and flakes generated by scraping, it was a bit of a competition as to who could look fattest and had the oldest clothes... (Yes, if you can help us, we will provide face masks, it's just we didn't want to be confused with bank-robbers or terrorists in the film...)
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

The current state:
Feb Autocar 1 (AC).jpg
Feb Autocar 2 (AC).jpg
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by CVR1865 »

She's looking good. I live a little too far to help but am envious of those who are able to take an active role in this or any of the other activities at preserved railways. Great job, and thank you for sharing.
Last edited by CVR1865 on Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Autocar Publicity »

Thanks, I will keep on posting, I know members from further afield are following the restoration. And London to Embsay is quite a commute.

Today's news. We will soon be attending two model railway exhibitions with the publicity stand, Settle/Scoutrail on the 12th March and Scalefour North on the 9th and 10th April. Thankyou to the organisers for having us. If you are in the area, do come and see us and catch up on the latest news and progress. And you're welcome to buy some scenery and detailing bits from my stand as well!
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Rlangham »

Like CVR1865 i'm too far south to be able to help, a shame as i'd really like to be able to do more to support the project than just being a member
Author of 'The North Eastern Railway in the First World War' - now available in paperback!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Eastern-R ... 781554552/

Happy to help with anything relating to the railways in the First World War, just ask
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Re: NER Autocar - restoration progress

Post by Bryan »

I see that the GWR Railmotor has just returned to steam at Llangollen.
http://www.railmotor93.org/latestnews/latestnews.html

Hope yours won't be too far behind.
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