progress with Test Car 2 restoration

Dave Bower · 19 Aug 2019

The restoration work on Test Car 2, ADB975397 has progressed significantly over the last few months with the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group; now back in its 1980s DM&EE livery, the group are planning to have this unique coach on display and open to visitors at Quorn & Woodhouse during the Great Central Railway Diesel Gala weekend 6-8 Sept 2019.

https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48568913371

RailUK Forums

Cowley · 19 Aug 2019

Dave Bower said:
The restoration work on Test Car 2, ADB975397 has progressed significantly over the last few months with the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group; now back in its 1980s DM&EE livery, the group are planning to have this unique coach on display and open to visitors at Quorn & Woodhouse during the Great Central Railway Diesel Gala weekend 6-8 Sept 2019.

https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48568913371

That looks exceptional. A friend of mine is modelling an RTC train at the moment. I’ll forward the picture to him.

Roast Veg · 20 Aug 2019

The lad that keeps sitting on the roof made me jolly nervous when I was there last!

Journeyman · 21 Aug 2019

Dave Bower said:
The restoration work on Test Car 2, ADB975397 has progressed significantly over the last few months with the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group; now back in its 1980s DM&EE livery, the group are planning to have this unique coach on display and open to visitors at Quorn & Woodhouse during the Great Central Railway Diesel Gala weekend 6-8 Sept 2019.

https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48568913371

Excellent! Good to see something preserved in its departmental guise, that doesn't happen very often. What was it used for?

Dave Bower · 21 Aug 2019

Thanks, Test Car 2 was predominantly used for Slip/Brake testing between 1974 and 2006.

There is a summary here http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2019/07/adb975397-test-car-2/

A full account of it's history is in my book Rail Vehicle Testing

Edders23 · 30 Aug 2019

Nice to see an interesting bit of stock getting restoration well done to all involved

Dave Bower · 30 Aug 2019

Thanks for your kind comments, we're keen to conserve it's history as a Test Car, inside and out.

Looking forward now to the GCR Diesel Gala next week (6-8 Sept) when we're showing it off to visitors at Quorn. The team will be on-hand to talk about the restoration and also it's history, we'll be demonstrating how some of the specialised equipment was used, including the 'slip-coupling' that was fitted to Test Car 2.

https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/

Dave Bower · 31 Aug 2019

Test Car 2 looking stunning in it's 1980s DM&EE livery !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48653849341

Peter C · 31 Aug 2019

Dave Bower said:
Test Car 2 looking stunning in it's 1980s DM&EE livery !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48653849341

Amazing! I assume you have been working on it, and if so - well done sir! You deserve every bit of praise you get for being able to restore and preserve such an interesting piece of railway rolling stock.

I hope this is used maybe in the future to show off how they worked to the public, and maybe to be used for its original purpose, if suitable....!

-Peter

Dave Bower · 31 Aug 2019

Hi Peter, thanks for your kind comments, yes I'm part of the Quorn Wagon group that has been restoring TC2, I also worked on the coach for many years in the 1980s & 90s at the RTC doing slip/brake testing; so this has been a fantastic time for me re-creating a unique piece of railway history. Yes we intend to show it off, static at the moment, but the coach is a runner and we'd like it will feature in photo charters in the future at the GCR. Doubtful that it will ever slip-test again though.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654104573

Peter C · 31 Aug 2019

Dave Bower said:
Hi Peter, thanks for your kind comments, yes I'm part of the Quorn Wagon group that has been restoring TC2, I also worked on the coach for many years in the 1980s & 90s at the RTC doing slip/brake testing; so this has been a fantastic time for me re-creating a unique piece of railway history. Yes we intend to show it off, static at the moment, but the coach is a runner and we'd like it will feature in photo charters in the future at the GCR. Doubtful that it will ever slip-test again though.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654104573

You are very welcome. It's nice to hear how another group are spending their time just doing what they love - in this case, restoring an old carriage to an amazing standard!

I read the link on the previous Flickr post and it is good that you will be showing it off to the public. It may not test again, but even having it as part of a rake which can be sent out at galas to show the public and make for some photo opportunities will be amazing. I wonder how many other test coaches there are on the heritage circuit, and what condition they are in?....

-Peter

EDIT: Assuming this picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/47200159541/in/album-72157705726190461/
is what the coach was like when it arrived at Quorn, the Carriage and Wagon group deserve more praise. Good job.

Dave Bower · 31 Aug 2019

Yes, the coach was a little un-cared for, it had stood at Old Dalby for 5 years, then after transfer to GCR it stood at Rothley for another 2 (as seen here in 2018),
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654471588

There's a lot more pics of the coach during it's life in my Flickr album,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/albums/72157705726190461

As for other test coaches, in BR days these were split between the DM&EE (which were'Test Cars') and the BR Research department (which were 'Laboratory Coaches'). Of the DM&EE coaches there are a few in preservation including Test Car 1 which is at the South Devon railway but returned to passenger use, Test Car 2 at GCR, and the original Test Car 5 which ended up in the Crewe Works test train, I believe is at Peak Rail. Test Car 3 (Mentor) is still in the Network Rail fleet and Test Car 10 is still in use in the NMT. There are also a few laboratory coaches preserved including Iris at Wirksworth, Lab 11 at Dartmoor and the Trib train auto trailer I think was at WSR.

I think Test Car 2 is unique in preservation being the only test coach preserved as a test coach !

IanH440 · 31 Aug 2019

Dw 150192 is (was) preserved as a test car - it was Test Car 4 - it had many runs on the mainline in preservation behind 71000 Duke of Gloucester and was owned by Ron Mitchell who was Chair of 71000 group at that time.

I believe it is now in open storage at 10A - shame as it was rather tidy and apropriate when it was based at 81E.

Ian

Peter C · 31 Aug 2019

Dave Bower said:
Yes, the coach was a little un-cared for, it had stood at Old Dalby for 5 years, then after transfer to GCR it stood at Rothley for another 2 (as seen here in 2018),
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654471588

There's a lot more pics of the coach during it's life in my Flickr album,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/albums/72157705726190461

As for other test coaches, in BR days these were split between the DM&EE (which were'Test Cars') and the BR Research department (which were 'Laboratory Coaches'). Of the DM&EE coaches there are a few in preservation including Test Car 1 which is at the South Devon railway but returned to passenger use, Test Car 2 at GCR, and the original Test Car 5 which ended up in the Crewe Works test train, I believe is at Peak Rail. Test Car 3 (Mentor) is still in the Network Rail fleet and Test Car 10 is still in use in the NMT. There are also a few laboratory coaches preserved including Iris at Wirksworth, Lab 11 at Dartmoor and the Trib train auto trailer I think was at WSR.

I think Test Car 2 is unique in preservation being the only test coach preserved as a test coach !

Very interesting information there. Thanks a lot!

-Peter

Dave Bower · 31 Aug 2019

IanH440 said:
Dw 150192 is (was) preserved as a test car - it was Test Car 4 - it had many runs on the mainline in preservation behind 71000 Duke of Gloucester and was owned by Ron Mitchell who was Chair of 71000 group at that time.

I believe it is now in open storage at 10A - shame as it was rather tidy and apropriate when it was based at 81E.

Ian

Hi Ian,
thanks for the info, do you know if there are any plans for the coach in the future ?
Dave

Flying Phil · 1 Sep 2019

Going through Quorn Station yesterday Test Car 2 certainly makes a fine (and different) sight in its fresh paint and great condition - well done all concerned.

Ploughman · 1 Sep 2019

Dave Bower said:
Yes, the coach was a little un-cared for, it had stood at Old Dalby for 5 years, then after transfer to GCR it stood at Rothley for another 2 (as seen here in 2018),
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654471588

There's a lot more pics of the coach during it's life in my Flickr album,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/albums/72157705726190461

As for other test coaches, in BR days these were split between the DM&EE (which were'Test Cars') and the BR Research department (which were 'Laboratory Coaches'). Of the DM&EE coaches there are a few in preservation including Test Car 1 which is at the South Devon railway but returned to passenger use, Test Car 2 at GCR, and the original Test Car 5 which ended up in the Crewe Works test train, I believe is at Peak Rail. Test Car 3 (Mentor) is still in the Network Rail fleet and Test Car 10 is still in use in the NMT. There are also a few laboratory coaches preserved including Iris at Wirksworth, Lab 11 at Dartmoor and the Trib train auto trailer I think was at WSR.

I think Test Car 2 is unique in preservation being the only test coach preserved as a test coach !

Does Lab 5 Still exist?
Rode in that a number of times as the Area Civil Engineers Rep on track recording.
Did the same sort of duty with the Sprinter based test train.

Dave Bower · 2 Sep 2019

Hi, departmentals webpages suggest it was scrapped in 1991,
http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975089
http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975090
As you say it's duties were replaced by the Class 150 TRU, which had newer technology equipment.

Dave Bower · 2 Sep 2019

Here's our latest update from the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group:-

https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/news-and-updates/

All is in place for our first public opening for Test Car 2. 6th, 7th and 8th September at Quorn and Woodhouse station behind the signal box.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48661848967

Ploughman · 2 Sep 2019

Dave Bower said:
Hi, departmentals webpages suggest it was scrapped in 1991,
http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975089
http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975090
As you say it's duties were replaced by the Class 150 TRU, which had newer technology equipment.

That TRIM unit does not look like the vehicle I was on.
I seem to recall a MK2-3 coach as part of a set of about 5 vehicles and loco hauled.
It was for track recording purposes and not structure gauging.
My trips were in approx 1990 - 92

Dave Bower · 2 Sep 2019

I was doing some digging this afternoon and found this, was this the coach?

http://www.departmentals.com/search.php?searchValue=977469&fs=1

Ploughman · 2 Sep 2019

That's the one.

Dave Bower · 20 Sep 2019

UPDATE
Test Car 2 (ADB975397) resplendent in it's 1980s DM&EE livery, drew a lot of attention during the recent GCR Diesel Gala; thanks to all who visited and took an interest in this special piece of railway history. The internal set-up is preserved as the test coach, the layout hasn't changed much since it was converted in the mid 1970s. We hope to show off the Test Car 2 again at more events being planned into next year, to provide more of an insight into Rail Vehicle Testing and how the Test Car was used in it's heyday based at the RTC.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48661848967/in/album-72157705726190461/

More info about the coach on the Quorn Wagon group webpage:- https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/adb975397/

duffield · 22 Sep 2019

I saw it several times in passing yesterday, it's looking very smart and there appeared to be a number of people beavering away.

pdeaves · 22 Sep 2019

Once restoration is complete, could this vehicle be used for any type of testing if required (if only as a demo, much as the travelling post office is only really for show)?

Dave Bower · 22 Sep 2019

The coach which will be normally be stabled at Quorn on static display, but will be available for the GCR to operate as a spare brake coach. It will be opened to the public during special events and available for photo charters. We are also hoping to be able to operate in trains formed as typical freight test trains during selected events. It will not be used for testing, only demonstration.

Dave Bower · 18 Nov 2019

For anyone who's been following the progress this year with Test Car 2 at the Great Central Railway, take a look at the December issue of Rail Express magazine that has a four-page article covering this unique coach.
https://www.railexpress.co.uk/category/latest-issue/

NeilNX · 18 Nov 2019

Not been upto gcr for abit but like the additions of different aspects of railways the brake tender and now this nice piece fitting in with modern traction, adds that eye catching coach for visitors when passing.

Peter C · 18 Nov 2019

Dave Bower said:
For anyone who's been following the progress this year with Test Car 2 at the Great Central Railway, take a look at the December issue of Rail Express magazine that has a four-page article covering this unique coach.
https://www.railexpress.co.uk/category/latest-issue/

Interesting - thanks for sharing. I'll have a look.

This is all reminding me that I need to get back up to the GCR soon! Been well over a year since I last went.

-Peter

JKF · 19 Nov 2019

Wish they’d paint Ixion or Experiment back into RTC livery, it was a good look on both and they were always well turned out.

progress with Test Car 2 restoration

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