Face lift

During its 46 year life the 629/729 has undergone several makeovers to keep it on track with the changing railway regimes.

As introduced to service the 2 car diesel train wore a livery of Indian red relieved with yellow lining, whiskers and end of car "eyes". This attractive livery served for 3/4's of its in service life with the only change being the removal of the above window side line.





Escaping the "reverse"era, the 629/729 was painted in the Belbin designed "Candy" livery during the mid 1980's. This bright livery which is still loved by many certainly brightened the fleet but was not to last long.

During an attempt to cheaply give the Newcastle railcar fleet a makeover several sets including the 629/729 were treated to a coat of all over brown with a single orange waist band line. Unfortunately due to the poor quality paint used these sets faded quickly and locally became known as "turds".

With commuter complaints being received about old trains in service and a shortage of funds to replace them, the remaining sets in service at Newcastle were treated to the Cityrail "Prong"livery which attempted to make them look more like their modern "Endeavour" stable mates. It was this livery that the 629/729 wore when she finished her public service career.

With restoration well advanced the painting team has now commenced the next face lift to restore the 629/729 to her original livery.

With the lower end completely covered in 2 coast of yellow 729 briefly looks like the long fallen North West railcar 403!

The original line work on the ends of the cars was extensive and so careful planning with picture and drawing references was made to ensure that the final product is correct. Greg Edwards excellent "Datasheets" drawings work well to produce 12 inch to the foot gauge models too!

The side lines are carefully measured, checked and remeasured to make sure they're in the right spot, evenly spaced and parallel.

To prevent overspray the cab windows are masked again....

While the signwriter tends to the intricate curves of the eyes and whiskers.

At the end of a tiring day the effort looks great and ready for the Indian red to be sprayed but what will the final result look like??????

Details

While some may call it rivet counting, and others may curse at the extra time it takes, the attention to detail with the restoration of the 729 / 629 will ensure that the result is historicly correct and preserves the look of an era of train travel now past.
With the speckle and other paint finishes in place the saloon areas of 729 are looking like new and now require only final touch ups and the refitting of lights, overhead ribbed rack carpet and rubber before its ready for the floor covering and seats to be reinstated.


As reported previously, the iced drinking water unit has been included in the restoration program and with the fitting of original signage plates (thanks Andy) its ready for a second service career.

Even the waxed cups are back in place.

The lights in the vestibules were changed in later days with simple rectangle units being installed.

Fortunately a supply of early round fittings with original domed glass have been obtained which Bob took no time to install.

All they need now is a lick of ceiling white paint and it will be like they never left.

Left till last, the toilet cubicles in the centre of the trailer car are now at the head of the queue for a tidy up. Stripping the doors of labelling and fittings allows a thorough clean prior to painting......

....but has also revealed some labelling of the locking fittings that proves that what went into workshops didnt always come out in the same configuration.

Several components bearing other numbers including that from DEB set cars 902 & 954 have been discovered to date but the most common numbers by far are 629 & 729. The restoration team anxiously awaits finding a component off 3805.

More detail not seen for many years being prepared to be added to the outside of the cars are replica builders plates.


The counting continues........

Speckle reproduction

The restoration of 629/729 is planned to incorporate the reinstatement of as many original fittings and features as possible to tell the story of the sets early years of service.
A distinctive feature of the 600/700 & 620/720 class railcar interiors was the use of a distinctive "speckle" paint on the lower internal walls. This decorative paint finish incorporated a beige/brown base colour covered by a random mixture of stringy paint speckles to produce a durable and attractive wall coating.


To prepare the wall a base coat is applied throughout the lower car.

Experimentation has derived that a special brew of 2 different "Camfleck" speckle paint mixes achieves the right colour balance. The application of the final coat is certainly not delicate being made by using a 3mm tip!

The final paint finish looks great and just like the original....

...and is only bettered when the upper walls are also painted and the dividing aluminium trim repositioned.

The painter is in.

To suit servicing requirements 629/729 has been moved undercover temporarily and currently enjoys the shade alongside class leaders 621/721.


Whilst in the workshop area the opportunity has been taken to reinstate the Countrynet Satellite antenna which was removed when the set was retired.


The holes for the old securing bolts and cable were diligently covered by the techs when the antenna went and now makes replacement easy.


After a scrape clean of the surface and some Mastic for a good seal the antenna is back in place.

With the floor down the painter has been busy in 729.

White ceilings and the Alpine green upper walls are quickly taking shape with Pete rolling the big surfaces...

and then cutting in the detail bits and panels with a brush.

A nice surprise has been the discovery of the Iced water unit which was never removed, just plated over.

Watch this space for the next installment.

Progress at Paterson

Clear skies and warm days have resulted in good progress with trailer 729 at Paterson.

Body preparation works have almost finished and with the undercoat applied the top coat is being sprayed onto some panels.

Everyone is looking forward to an original liveried set again but theres much less enthusiasm about the job of applying the lining!

At least on the car sides the task will be easier.

Inside our contracted carpenter has completed the first stages of the floor reinstatement.

The new timber is down, secured and ready for a sand to prepare for the floor covering.

Even the vestibule tread plate drains have been restored to their correct position, the first time in many years!

A lot of old damp and rotten timber has been removed....

... and tell tale signs of past variations identified.

Now its back to preping the walls, adding the trims and more painting......

The brown vinyl mission

Whilst the visible restoration works progress at Paterson much effort continues in the background assembling the components and materials required to complete the desired end product that will be the restored 629/729.
Recently the opportunity to secure some seats covered with original brown vinyl presented itself and with the help of many oldmates including the usual Eveleigh brigade, Mario the train mover, Tony Tilt and our new mates at Valley Heights the mission was successful.
A former running mate 670/770 was the donor of the seats which have weathered many years since entering service in the early 1950's.


A walk through of the car revealed many original features including the class divider, signs and even the magic black line with its famous smoke repelling ability!


Unfortunately many of the windows had been smashed some time previously and many of the seats have suffered from water damage.


Despite the casulaties, enough seats to equip a car were salvagable and so the removal process began.


Once unfixed the oldmates removed the booty and secured them in the temporary storage container.


Here we see an oldmate resting in the early afternoon (13:50Hrs) and thinking through both the days efforts and the many years of service that the seats have provided.



A full container means a goods days effort and a lot less needle work for Matty in the future.

Not knowing when the next meeting will be with this old girl, the team takes a minute to ponder the destinations previously visited and where it will head next.
Thanks to our newmates at Valley Heights and all the very best with your ongoing excellent efforts to preserve this heritage precinct.

Long live 610/710 - 670/770!

Small steps

While the marathon of body restoration works continues on cars 729 & 629 other small tasks are also being completed as time permits.
Recent reports have confirmed that the selection of 629/729 for preservation was a sound choice and it appears that the 2 engines are in good order and are not suffering like its preserved sister sets. To ensure the ongoing health of the engines a coolant concentration test has been completed with excellent results measured. To celebrate both engines were turned over with ease and the No 2 motor run for a short time. Its heartening to know that not only are the engines well but the batteries are in good order too!

















The jumper recepatacles on the ends of the cars have obviously had a very hard life with the lids and casing badly cracked and damaged.


















To support future multiple unit operations the decision was made to overhaul or replace them and so our oldmates at New Macey were again approached to work their magic.


















The before and after shot clearly shows the excellent work that Rick and his team deliver with the rebuilt units looking like new.


















With the first overhauled unit remounted in place theres a sense that its all starting to come together.