A few years ago we acquired four wheel van No.638a (formally No.2971) from Iarnród Éireann for preservation, with a view to converting this vehicle (the last four wheel carriage on the books of IÉ) to a generator van for use on our loco-hauled carriage set (our existing generator vehicle, No.3223, is badly in need of an overhaul). Built by CIÉ in Inchicore Works in 1956, the vehicle began life as a TPO, being demoted to permanent way duties in the 1970s when it became part of the weedspray train, and after that as an office in the yard at Heuston Station Dublin.
Much work has been undertaken by our midweek team towards rebuilding the vehicle’s bodywork, and recently it had got to the stage where we needed to consider how we would actually install the generator. Many complex schemes were devised, bringing in diggers or cranes, and plans that involved a lot of shunting. Fortunately, one of volunteers pointed out that there is a platform in the gallery (adjacent to the workshop), and roll into the carriage through the door.
Four castors were fitted to the bottom of the generator, and then a pallet truck was used to transfer it through the door safely. The next step is to the bolt the generator in – and test it!
