27 November 2021
A recent visit to the Brighton Belle four cars under restoration at Locomotive services at Crewe (Cars 88 – Beryl, 85 Gravetye Manor, Doris 82 and 91 Mabel) now reveals substantial progress since their arrival from Shirebrook. There have been major problems affecting the work: firstly managing through the restrictions imposed by Covid, and secondly the need to rectify the extremely complex installation of the electrical equipment needed to make a 1930s build, electric multiple unit fit to run on today’s modern rail network, with all the safety systems demanded. This has been both very expensive and complex. Fortunately the people at Crewe have been up to the job. Apart for the inevitable requirements of the inevitable ‘snagging’ works, the restored unit now approaches the time for it to be able to advance to the next stage.
During the next stage the 4BEL unit will be taken to Eastleigh, where the vehicle will have all its systems tested on the third rail itself. When it is ruled compliant, it will then undergo proving test running, and all the passenger systems, like catering, will be brought to satisfaction. A huge amount of work has therefore still to be carried out, as well as all the equipment must be obtained and installed to allow the service of high-quality meals on board.
We shall not forecast and date for the completion of the work at either Crewe or Eastleigh, as we have been too optimistic in the past, leading to high hopes, that have then had to be dashed with subsequent disappointment.
Following are a series of interior ‘working’ photographs of each of the four cars, taken whilst the ‘job’ was going on. You can see the improvements that have been achieved at Crewe. The quality of the fitments and furnishings are a delight to the eye, and the restoration work of the teams is excellent. The finishing touches are still to be made, but these photographs are something of a celebration of where we have come so far.
