This page will be updated regularly to inform about progress on current projects. If you like what you read, and feel that you can lend a hand, please contact us.

As you can read elsewhere, with the arrival of 68008 from Coventry, much of our efforts have been concentrated onto this new MLV. The first priority is to make it waterproof and secure. After many years sitting in the open with little or no glass in some areas and doors that just would not shut (due to lino/floor lifting or corrosion) it was fair to say that the interior was a nature reserve. Various old bird's nests, bird droppings, plants!, fungi and saplings were removed and the unit has seen a start being made on cleaning it. All the old broken glass has been removed and mostly replaced, with a staggering 19 of 23 panes already replaced. Some of the worst buckled and rotten doors have been persuaded to close and secured. The list of missing parts is astounding which continues to grow with each day worked on the unit. Our focus is now turning to replacing some parts. The route indicator at No.1 end was totally shot to bits with the fibre glass box holed and internal parts robbed. It was deemed unrestorable and as luck would have it, 68007's route indicator had been recovered from it and put in '008 at Coventry. This box was in relatively good condition, and so was brought to our off site workshop and fully restored and rewired. This just then left refitting it in place of the old one, which was done a couple of weekends ago. Testing of the bulbs will have to wait, as much of the electrical circuits are incomplete with wires cut in places. Mechanically, the running gear is fairly complete, the main thing that is missing is the handbrake at No.1 end! Yes, we do mean literally the whole thing including the wheel, gears, screw box and pull rod. At the moment we can rely on the other end's which is complete. More on '008 coming soon!

5759's repaint into green for the second time round is nearly complete. Only minor work remains to complete the front end of the Driving Trailer. Decals have now been applied and then a full varnish of the paintwork is planned. Due to the impeeding winter weather, restoration work will soon return to the interior of 5759's compartments and 68001, not forgetting work on the Cep.

The MLVs continue to improve with 68001's offside completed in BR green, all that remains is to refit some battery box catches and apply the crest. Work has now begun on the other side, with the cabside at No.1 end painted green and sanding out the NSE lines.

68002's repaint into Network SouthEast Livery is now well under way, nearing completion. Plans are underway that shorterm, the restoration of the exterior of 68002 into BR Green will be put on hold; allowing for the offside to be repainted into full NSE livery and the nearside in L&SE Livery or "Jaffa Cake" livery as it was affectionately known. It is hoped that we have productive winter months, hopefully mostly dry ones so that this work can proceed. As can be seen from the pictures, a start has been made with the blue and to date it has been completed along with the first coat of white.

The CEP still continues to have odd jobs carried out, mainly interior restoration in the passenger and cab areas.

Other work carried out on 5759 included the repacement of the Buckeye coupler on 77558 due to having problems opening it on the EMU Days event.







There is plenty more going on at the EKR, so see you at Shepherdswell. See the EKR timetable for running days.

N.B. Neither EPB nor EKR membership gives automatic entitlement to concessionary travel on any train on the East Kent Railway.