As the Mid-Norfolk Railway works towards reopening on 30th April, the railway's Traction & Rolling Stock Department have been busy preparing coaches and have also carried out the first stages of a Pacer refurbishment.
The Class 142 Pacer unit, 142061, has undergone a deep-clean on the interior with particular attention to the seats and floor. The seats frame have been stripped, treated for rust and then repainted. The floors have been deep-cleaned removing decades of dirt.
The door lights in the foot wells have been stripped, rust treatment applied, painted and then re-fitted with new lights installed.
Externally, the underframe has been cleaned and then repainted making the unit ready for this season's running.
The work on the Pacer has been carried out by some of the Working Members of the railway under the supervision of Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Manager, Colin Makcrow.
In the future, the railway plans to paint at least one Pacer in a different livery, but that will not be for some time as there are other coaches to be finished. The railway's Class 101 unit is also currently out of service, with various jobs needing doing before a repaint that will be the final step before a return to service. Which means there is significant work to do before any of the Pacer units at the MNR receive a new livery.
In addition to the work on the Pacer, Colin Makcrow and Tony Dunford, Traction & Rolling Stock Restoration Manager, have carried out the annual 'C' inspection for all seven Mark 1 and 2 coaches that make up the railway's operational vacuum-braked coaching sets. All of the coaches have also received a deep-clean and minor interior repairs have been carried out.
Working Members under the leadership of Tony Dunford have also continued the refurbishment of the railway's Mark 1 First Class FK M13225 coach in preparation for its launch later in the season into service following what will be the most extensive restoration ever undertaken at the MNR.
The railway will reopen to the public with a steam service running over the May bank holiday weekend. Trains will be running on Saturday 30th April, Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd May. Tickets will be purchasable on the day.
The 'kids-go-free'* promotion is also in operation for these days, which means two children (aged 5-15) can accompany an fare-paying adult passenger for free, under 5s are free.