The Restoration team at the EARM and CEPG are jointly pleased to reveal today the completion of interim work on one of two Class 309 EMU vehicles at the East Anglian Railway Museum, BDTC No.75965. This is the culmination of a six-month programme to weatherproof the vehicle which had suffered from several vandalism attacks at its previous storage location.
The scope of works has included a full strip and repaint of the body sides and roof to assess for areas of corrosion,with limited local metal and panel replacement, the rebuilding of several damaged doors, and removal of the window frames, cleaning and then re-sealing with new double glazed units. Whilst in the workshop the decision was taken to complete a full repaint into 1987 "Original" Network SouthEast livery, which is the livery 309624 carried when first refurbished, and which it carried until it's withdrawal from Great Eastern service in 1994.
The work has been possible thanks to fundraising efforts by the CEPG and a large donation from the Clacton Classic Car Club who donated £1500 towards the replacement Glass.
The vehicle has now been moved outside in position for display at the Chapel Winter Beer Festival which begins today and runs until Saturday 1st of March. It will have some further work on the interior ready for The Essex Electrics Exhibition in April.
The vehicle requires further bodywork in the long term but attention for now must turn to weatherproofing of the other 309 vehicle on site, MBS 61928. It will be treated to a similar programme of work in the coming months.
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