The interior after it was swept.

The interior after it was swept.

The underneath is being cleared of wood.

The underneath is being cleared of wood.

Sample left of interior wood moulding.

Sample left of interior wood moulding.

Aera of the sliding door.main support is grooved!

Aera of the sliding door.main support is grooved!

New tools!

New tools!

Cab end B steels before treatment.

Cab end B steels before treatment.

A brum tram, also 3ft 6inch.

A brum tram, also 3ft 6inch.

And you thought Brighton had tight curves?

And you thought Brighton had tight curves?

Writing/numbers on the brake cylinder.

Writing/numbers on the brake cylinder.

The brake cylinder.

The brake cylinder.

53 in the sunshine.

53 in the sunshine.

The wood mountain destroyed!

The wood mountain destroyed!

A great display!

A great display!

You will buy!

You will buy!

Modelworld itself.

Modelworld itself.

The 53 team in action!

The 53 team in action!

53 items for sale!

53 items for sale!

Two lost locos in the Palau jungle.

Two lost locos in the Palau jungle.

battery way on the Rock, with more tram rails.

battery way on the Rock, with more tram rails.

Tram rails on Corregidor.

Tram rails on Corregidor.

Where I am going.

Where I am going.

The netting at the back.

The netting at the back.

Better.

Better.

The devil may care workers, feast in the tram of ice!

The devil may care workers, feast in the tram of ice!

Ice inside 225, proving the cold weather!

Ice inside 225, proving the cold weather!

How the pyramids were built, 53 style.

How the pyramids were built, 53 style.

Keeping fit, the 53 way.

Keeping fit, the 53 way.

53 might be better of then this, hope it gets restored.

53 might be better of then this, hope it gets restored.

Old buses!

Old buses!

Sleepers, do not disturb.

Sleepers, do not disturb.

Another shed view!

Another shed view!

Allan on the roof with the mesh!

Allan on the roof with the mesh!

A new view of 53 from the other shed roof!

A new view of 53 from the other shed roof!

Beautiful concrete sleepers!

Beautiful concrete sleepers!

A beautiful day for sleepers.

A beautiful day for sleepers.

What is this device in 225?

What is this device in 225?

Detail of the wood framing by the saloon door.

Detail of the wood framing by the saloon door.

You can now get round the back of 53.

You can now get round the back of 53.

The downs from 225.

The downs from 225.

Are these wheels lower?!

Are these wheels lower?!

Ken next to 53.

Ken next to 53.

the rear wheels off the ground!

the rear wheels off the ground!

The wood in place.

The wood in place.

The front wheels off the ground.

The front wheels off the ground.

The lift gang, where were the rest of you?

The lift gang, where were the rest of you?

The party crowd high on mince pies.

The party crowd  high on mince pies.

It's not santa, its El presidente!

It's not santa, its El presidente!

John Kempton braves the cold in the dockyard.

John Kempton braves the cold in the dockyard.

Our white van man, Tony, by a wrapped 53!

Our white van man, Tony, by a wrapped 53!

Parts of the Medway Queen.

Parts of the Medway Queen.

Gillingham wood.

Gillingham wood.

More wood for the lift.

More wood for the lift.

El Presidente and the roof of perpetual leaks!

El Presidente and the roof of perpetual leaks!

Malcolm's rubbing down reveals sound wood.

Malcolm's rubbing down reveals sound wood.

More metal restoration under the other cab end.

More metal restoration under the other cab end.

John loves red wood primer!

John loves red wood primer!

Big wood for the lift.

Big wood for the lift.

Both ends of 53 are now covered.

Both ends of 53 are now covered.

53 awaits our attention.

53 awaits our attention.

The foot bell painted by Allan Marriott.

The foot bell painted by Allan Marriott.

The top deck, haven't been here for a while!

The top deck, haven't been here for a while!

The jack collection.

The jack collection.

Are ye men or gods? Or just anoraks?

Are ye men or gods? Or just anoraks?

An existing brighton tram shelter.

An existing brighton tram shelter.

This shows a resistor box and controller, similar to 53s layout.

This shows a resistor box and controller, similar to 53s layout.

53 in June 1987, spot the difference!

53 in June 1987, spot the difference!

The rust treatment edges along 53.

The rust treatment edges along 53.

Roger's sorted wood.

Roger's sorted wood.

Richard's wood!

Richard's wood!

The orignal deep burgundy and a little cream revealed.

The orignal deep burgundy and a little cream revealed.

If you can find them, and they like your tram, the A team..

If you can find them, and they like your tram, the A team..

All black steels!

All black steels!

Some original paint revealed.

Some original paint revealed.

Pevensey Malcolm's new path.

Pevensey Malcolm's new path.

The controls of the showboat, note tea facility!

The controls of the showboat, note tea facility!

Our works officer rode this beauty on Friday!

Our works officer rode this beauty on Friday!

One of the high quality layouts at kew.

One of the high quality layouts at kew.

Kew is an old pumping station, here is an example of the machinery.

Kew is an old pumping station, here is an example of the machinery.

Magnus Volks original model of the Daddy Longlegs, made by the man himself!

Magnus Volks original model of the Daddy Longlegs, made by the man himself!

Why it's Ian Gledhill, Volks supremo, Ian Buck and Tony Marsh at the 53 stand.

Why it's Ian Gledhill, Volks supremo, Ian Buck and Tony Marsh at the 53 stand.

Our new foot bell next to the original 53 bell holder.

Our new foot bell next to the original 53 bell holder.

These guys deserve money, or at least beer!

These guys deserve money, or at least beer!

Carriage paint finish on the frames.

Carriage paint finish on the frames.

The frame of the broken up tram.

The frame of the broken up tram.

How 53 will look again, a 1939 shot of an F class.

How 53 will look again,  a 1939 shot of an F class.

A Brighton tram being broken up in the early sixties.

A Brighton tram being broken up in the early sixties.

Two new key rings for sale.

Two new key rings for sale.

The prototype of the 53 clock, let your favourite tram tell you the time!

The prototype of the 53 clock, let your favourite tram tell you the time!

2nd coat of red oxide.

2nd coat of red oxide.

Slog squad on the case.

Slog squad on the case.

The last bolt in at the front cab end!

The last bolt in at the front cab end!

Bell device from inside cab.

Bell device from inside cab.

The metro at Wolverhampton.

The metro at Wolverhampton.

Oh, I am a tram driver! Sad middle aged boy!

Oh, I am a tram driver! Sad middle aged boy!

Top deck of Bournemouth tram.

Top deck of Bournemouth tram.

Similar colours to 53.

Similar colours to 53.

Another day of tram therapy.

Another day of tram therapy.

These windows once opened!

These windows once opened!

More red oxide, and the new nuts in place.Notice El Presidente's legs!

More red oxide, and the new nuts in place.Notice El Presidente's legs!

The dynamic duo tackle the last remaining windows, kerpow, zonk!

The dynamic duo tackle the last remaining windows, kerpow, zonk!

Roger gets serious with the grinder!

Roger gets serious with the grinder!

How repairs should be done, the Bluebell!

How repairs should be done, the Bluebell!

Tram shelter spotted in Stanmer park, in the museum grounds.

Tram shelter spotted in Stanmer park, in the museum grounds.

The chefs prepare the A La Tesco menu!

The chefs prepare the A La Tesco menu!

The banner on 225

The banner on 225

The open day at 53.

The open day at 53.

Picture of the under floor gong.

Picture of the under floor gong.

Odd little device that holds up the wood lengths at the cab front.

Odd little device that holds up the wood lengths at the cab front.

Why we need mahogany!

Why we need mahogany!

More painted steels underneath.

More painted steels underneath.

First coat of red oxide.

First coat of red oxide.

ORIGINAL BTON TRAM TRACK, NOTE SLOTS FOR TIES.

ORIGINAL BTON TRAM TRACK, NOTE SLOTS FOR TIES.

IAN ENJOYS THE GREAT BRITISH SUMMER!

IAN ENJOYS THE GREAT BRITISH SUMMER!

THE MAGNUS VOLK ARCH OFFICE

THE MAGNUS VOLK  ARCH OFFICE

THREE MEMBERS ENJOY THE VOLKS EXPERIENCE!

THREE MEMBERS ENJOY THE VOLKS EXPERIENCE!

There is work to do here!

There is work to do here!

The naked framing of the front cab!

The naked framing of the front cab!

El Presidente shows off his dirty state.

El Presidente shows off his dirty state.

The front is off!

The front is off!

53 with less glass. Notice all the glass is marked for reference. .

53 with less glass. Notice all the glass is marked for reference. .

El presidente underneath 53, with the green goo.

El presidente underneath 53, with the green goo.

Malcolm starts to unscrew the windows.

Malcolm starts to unscrew the windows.

John and Richard work on the cab windows.

John and Richard work on the cab windows.

El presidetnte attempts to increase the attacking value of the society!

El presidetnte attempts to increase the attacking value of the society!

Inside the Oporto tram, with the missus acting as glamorous tram buff!

Inside the Oporto tram, with the missus acting as glamorous tram buff!

El Presidente next to an Oporto tram.

El Presidente next to an Oporto tram.

We need this truck!

We need this truck!

Richard Gs, huge wad of, er plastic stuff!

Richard Gs, huge wad of, er plastic stuff!

Serious corriosion, this needs welding.

Serious corriosion, this needs welding.

Ready to de- rust.

Ready to de- rust.

Green rust goo!

Green rust goo!

Nice display of buses at Lewes.

Nice display of buses at Lewes.

The first rally, with the new banner.

The first rally, with the new banner.

The offical banner.

The offical banner.

Original fretwork in the Hastings trams.

Original fretwork in the Hastings trams.

Hastings Tramway poster from the 20s, beautiful illustration

Hastings Tramway poster from the 20s, beautiful illustration

53 and Hastings group shot.

53 and Hastings group shot.

Hastings Tram HQ!

Hastings Tram HQ!

Inside a Hastings tram.

Inside a Hastings tram.

Another picture of rail supports in Queens Park Road.

Another picture of rail supports in Queens Park Road.

Tram rails in Queens park Road, reused as track supports.

Tram rails in Queens park Road, reused as track supports.

The stall at the May day rally!

The stall at the May day rally!

Most of the cab floor gone, the rest can only be removed when the top floor is supported.

Most of the cab floor gone, the rest can only be removed when the top floor is supported.

Was this the reset button mounting for the tram guard?

Was this the reset button mounting for the tram guard?

One o'clock tea, why the UK was created by God!

One o'clock tea, why the UK was created by God!

More under the floor, air pipes for the brakes.

More under the floor, air pipes for the brakes.

El presidente and Allan get serious with 53s floor!i

El presidente and Allan get serious with 53s floor!i

Was this a fixing point for the truck?

Was this a fixing point for the truck?

A general view.

A general view.

Was this the foot bell mechanics?

Was this the foot bell mechanics?

Master brake cylinder of 53.

Master brake cylinder of 53.

The president's desk.

The president's desk.

225 ready for business.

225 ready for business.

Is this 225 in happier days?

Is this 225 in happier days?

Here is a Graz tram in the 60s.

Here is a Graz tram in the 60s.

Inside the works car.

Inside the works car.

It all seemed to go back in time to Nuremberg, Who is this weirdo?

It all seemed to go back in time to Nuremberg, Who is this weirdo?

membership stuggle to keep awake, as El presidente exhorts the society to a five year plan.

membership stuggle to keep awake, as El presidente exhorts the society to a five year plan.

Works car 1 in the second half of our galalxy spanning visit!

Works car 1 in the second half of our galalxy spanning visit!

More milling!

More milling!

53 in the spring sunlight.

53 in the spring sunlight.

Members mill around 53.

Members mill around 53.

53rd member Phil waits for his t-shirt and picture!

53rd member Phil waits for his t-shirt and picture!

A cup of tea inside 53, essential for the British worker!

A cup of tea inside 53, essential for the British worker!

Malcolm shows his Picasso side.

Malcolm shows his Picasso side.

Simon Cole takes a break from rubbing down

Simon Cole takes a break from rubbing down

Another view of the wiring pole, this deserves better...

Another view of the wiring pole, this deserves better...

The last Bton tram pole rusts at Amberley, what a waste.

The last Bton tram pole rusts at Amberley, what a waste.

Simon Coles tram added to our display as it did a circular!!

Simon Coles tram added to our display as it did a circular!!

Your friendly 53 society mamgaement pose at Model world,just another 53 day.

Your friendly 53 society mamgaement pose at Model world,just another 53 day.

The 53 stand at bton Modelworld, with John Hayward and Ian Buck.

The 53 stand at bton Modelworld, with John Hayward and Ian Buck.

Still some leaks in 225, @~!!*

Still some leaks in 225, @~!!*

staircase area gets second coat

staircase area gets second coat

The other end gets some paint.

The other end gets some paint.

225 has a second primer coat

225 has a second primer coat

53 with paint front and rear!

53 with paint front and rear!

More paint on 53

More paint on 53

Two 53 models, is this possible!?

Two 53 models, is this possible!?

The card model

The card model

Another view of the prototype, should be on sale at Model World next month!

Another view of the prototype, should be on sale at Model World next month!

Thanks to Kingsway Models, the prototype 53 card model!

Thanks to Kingsway Models, the prototype 53 card model!

225 gets more primer1

225 gets more primer1

The other cab end, a lot of rotten wood here.

The other cab end, a lot of rotten wood here.

225 is becoming a workshop/office!

225 is becoming a workshop/office!

Blue and purple, this could be a case for the taste police, the paint was free though!

Blue and purple, this could be a case for the taste police, the paint was free though!

225 from 53

225 from 53

Outside wood treated with hardener.

Outside wood treated with hardener.

More lights!

More lights!

the decay at the covered end.

the decay at the covered end.

53 interior with some new lights

53 interior with some new lights

All white now, well almost!

All white now, well almost!

A little step forward.....

A little step forward.....

More paint on the cab roof, with Ian's restored rear lamp on!

More paint on the cab roof, with Ian's restored rear lamp on!

Richard G, aka, billy the cat checks 53s upper deck!

Richard G, aka, billy the cat checks 53s upper deck!

let there be light, thanks to Ian Buck!

let there be light, thanks to Ian Buck!

Ian's lights for 53

Ian's lights  for 53

El predidente works on the Graz tram roof on a cold November day!

El predidente works on the Graz tram roof on a cold November day!

the works car at the old steine

the works car at the old steine

53 from the top of the Gratz tram, 1st september 2010

53 from the top of the Gratz tram, 1st september 2010

no.1 in her former glory, thanks to James for the pic!

no.1 in her former glory, thanks to James for the pic!

no 1 door and handles

no 1 door and handles

A better view of the works car

A better view of the works car

the works car in it's rustic setting

the works car in it's rustic setting

close up of the works car

close up of the works car

World exclusive, a second Bton tram exists! The former works car became a garden shed for the trolley bus manager, in a garden he designed!

the Gratz tram is also used as a display site

the Gratz tram is also used as a display site

Malcolm demonstrates his painting skills on the gratz tram!

Malcolm demonstrates his painting skills on the gratz tram!

Told you it is big!

Told you it is big!

Huge corporation map of the trams, at lewes Road depot, age unknown.

Huge corporation map of the trams, at lewes Road depot, age unknown.

El Presidente catches the pm Gratz tram, whilst deftly nibbiling a banana!

El Presidente catches the pm Gratz tram, whilst deftly nibbiling a banana!

Gratz tram and 53, look carefully!

Gratz tram and 53, look carefully!

Unloading the Gratz tram

Unloading the Gratz tram

inside our new club house, and I am serious!

inside our new club house, and I am serious!

Our new club house!!

Our new club house!!

53 being de-tramed, 1939.

53 being de-tramed, 1939.

pre-war transport history coming back to life

pre-war transport history coming back to life

underneath is not too bad,

underneath is not too bad,

air brake handle

air brake handle

I'm a tram driver!

I'm a tram driver!

the inside looking a bit cleaner.

the inside looking a bit cleaner.

first work party on 53 22nd of May!

first work party on 53 22nd of May!

if only bton Buses could match these fares!

if only bton Buses could match these fares!

Clark's bread and walks!!

Clark's bread and walks!!

side view of the model

side view of the model

model of F class tram

model of F class tram

says more about you then money! Or did!

says more about you then money! Or did!

another beautiful badge!

another beautiful badge!

tokens

tokens

parcels service advert

parcels service advert

cap badges

cap badges

A pass!

A pass!

certificate for passing the motorman test

certificate for passing the motorman test

badge from a brighton Tram, showing it built by the Corporation!

badge from a brighton Tram, showing it built by the Corporation!

the trams did have a parcels service.

the trams did have a parcels service.

button

button

the tramway band

the tramway band

cap badge of t'corporation

cap badge of t'corporation

more of Lewes road tram lines

Tram lines in lewes road depot, where 53 was built.

Tram lines in lewes road depot, where 53 was built.

tram 53 interior

tram 53 interior

Saturday 24 August 2013

24th Pictures.

24th of August.

Darren, Malcolm and myself out at 53 today in rainy weather. Whilst the other two removed panels, I continued de-rusting, priming and top coating.A very good days work and the wood was taken of the steel lower framing to reveal very little rust, so it won't be long before a lot of the main framing is signed off, cool! More pencil marks were spotted and a lot of what was revealed looked good.I also tried my hand at tracing the lettering on the side panels, not bad with grease proof paper!

Thursday 22 August 2013

Midland Rail centre.

22nd August.

Work party this Saturday, so come along and see for your self! I have also added one or two photos from the Midland rail centre, not trams, but very cool trains.

Monday 19 August 2013

More Crich pictures.

Crich report.

Here is a summary of the trip of the 16th to the 18th of August.I turned up at Darren's a little early and though we left on time, bad traffic on the M25 and M1 meant we were forty minutes late. Luckily, so were the Crich staff.Just like the Batman of my youth, we found ourselves at a seemingly deserted warehouse on the edge of the city, ok village. You almost expected the Joker to appear, but instead we filtered into a small door to find ourselves surrounded by vast amounts of tram bits and trams.It was unbelievable, I have seen stacked equipment on many railways, but this was massive. In a cage in the corner they had even kept a group of ex Glasgow tram inspectors to clone, how they fed them,etc, I don't know. If you have seen the end of Indiana Jones and the Ark of the covenant, then you were close, but we didn't need the golf trolleys. It was very business like and we selected two controllers, another truck in one piece, a compressor with governor and two circuit breakers. I am not sure about the the finance/ cost, but let us see.Crich are confident that we can do a deal, it will be the cost of bringing them down to Sussex. I have never seen so many spares.... more then my total un- made model collection,which is not inconsiderably big. just ask the missus.There was also a tower lorry for the overhead and even a dismantled steam tram.I could have stayed for hours but the staff are busy, so after mucho thanks we left for Crich. We went straight to the workshops where one of my favourite trams, Sheffield Roberts 510, was been overhauled. There was also another tram from the 1920s been rebuilt which gave us a lot of clues on 53. The ever courteous staff explained what they were doing and how they did it, and the one piece of advice that sticks out was dismantle everything. That one piece of wood you don't check could be the defective one. The turn buckel device on each side of 53 should be stripped, nothing hard there according to the men who do.We also saw the sand box layout as well as wiring,so again we have more clues. We then moved on to the trucks area,where we found ourselves next to a Brill 21e and the Maley and Taunton truck from the Roberts car.I had a very special moment when I did a Vulcan mind fusion with the Brill truck, Darren will section me later. The Roberts truck, was very complicated, it was the final four wheel truck design of British trams and contained Silent bloc rubber suspension, magnetic track brakes, rubber bushed gear wheels, a lot of air cylinders for all the brakes and even roller bearings on the motor sprockets, amazing.The staff had spent six months on the truck and it was almost ready, our truck/s will be easier.After a nose round the sheds to see some old favourites,we went out to our hotel and a meal that evening that could have fed most of the society, the portions up there are BIG! Next day I went for a ride on the Blackpool car and we also went round the museum to see if any thing else would yield clues for 53. I am pleased to say the shop stocks models again, so I bought a Becs London E tram, only a tenner! The weather was now cloudy and rain threatened, so after a final look round we headed off to the Midland railway centre at Butterley, which is fantastic, but that is another story.....We left Sunday morning and I was home by 2.30, thank you to Darren for being such a good driver, he knows the pubs and the area very well! Thank you to all at Crich for being so helpful. If you haven't been, go!

Sunday 18 August 2013

18th of August, pictures.

18th of August.

Just back from Crich. Will give a full report later, but here are some pictures. Clay cross was amazing but I cannot publish pictures of that mighty store, so hope these are of interest! We have had a first quote for the sheet metal work, about £522 with vat.

Saturday 10 August 2013

10th of August, pictures.

10th of August

Malcolm, Brian and myself were out at 53 today. Malcolm and Brian removed more sheet metal, whilst I concentrated on more painting.The wood and the lower girder look o.k at first glance, see photos and we saw some of the original pencil marks when they put 53 together, see pictures.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

7th of August pictures.

7th of August.

Roger finished the welding for one side, which I tidied up and primed. Also did a second coat of primer and a bit more rust treatment. For the first time since about 1940 I also reunited the new sign with the air brake handle, see pictures.

Sunday 4 August 2013

Tinkers park, photos.

Tinkers park 3rd and 4th of August.

Always an interesting place to hang, we raised a respectable £101.42 for 53.There were some fantastic railway layouts and of course a real steam engine went past the shed through out the day,traction engines, lorries and buses, what a great place! A fair amount of interest was shown about our project and people recognized the stand, so 53 is out there.If you have never been to Tinkers park, go, it is very unique,a real den of vehicles and bits!