Whisky Shunters: Paintwork

Title

While the main focus of the Strathspey Railway is running steam trains for the paying public, a small but dedicated group of volunteers has been restoring other items of heritage interest in spare moments between working on the loco fleet and improving locoshed infrastructure and facilities.

The current project is a Ruston Hornsby 48DS diesel shunter of 1948 which worked at Longmorn distillery until 1980 (even though Dr Beeching had closed the adjacent main line in 1967). Because it was presented to the Strathspey Railway repainted with advertisements for Queen Anne blended scotch whisky, it is known to most people as “Queen Anne”.

To find out more about our aims, follow this link or click the [About] button above.

This Blog was started over 5 years after the project began, so most of the initial blog entries are retrospective.

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Paintwork

Painting Progress

The bodywork has been rubbed down and a grey undercoat applied to around 50% so far. A further undercoat may be applied followed by the top coats.

Rear perspective

Front perspective

Interior

The exact shade of green for the topcoat has still to be decided. A piece of the original bodywork has been kept and sand blasted to reveal the original colour. This seems much lighter that the "Deep Bronze Green" (BS381C 224) paint sample we have - the original "Ruston Green". A book about Ruston locomotives states they used a lighter shade of green for a while after World War 2 before reverting back to the original Deep Bronze Green. Perhaps our green is this lighter shade, or perhaps it was a special colour. It doesn't seem to be a BS381C colour.

Original panel and paint sample

Engine

The engine is now running nicely with all its injectors now having the correct "VRH" nozzles. It has been cleaned up ready for a final touch-up with special Ruston Green engine paint.

Cleaned Engine LHS

Cleaned Engine RHS

Cable

The armoured cable has arrived thanks to a £200 contribution from the Strathspey Railway Association's "200 Club". New cable clips have been ordered and rewiring has begun. The ends of the brass wire need to be bound with cotton cord and varnished to prevent them unravelling.

A cable end with cotton binding

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