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2-HAL EMU
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2-HAL units en-route to a scrap yard C1970.
Acquired broken and in need of cosmetic repair, these ex-Southern EMUs have been sitting
in a siding at the back of the works for many months and now need to be robbed of useful
parts before sending off to the scrap yard. The Workshop Foreman has declared the motors
useful for other motive power, so having been removed along with the cast metal cradle, a
solution was required for getting them rolling again. A set of replacement bogies
(non-powered vehicles) were despatched from Peter's Spares, whilst base plates were made to
fill the hole now left in the chassis.
The cast metal power chassis weighs in at around 250 grammes, which is a lot compared to
the trailer at only 45 grammes. The motor housing has been hacksawed off to bring the weight
down to 130 grammes, to try and equal things out a bit for a non-powered loose-fitted load
of 8 vehicles and a bogie brake van. Not only have the stores gained some spare motor
bogies for future projects, but the mounting casting can be used to house them again and
provide valuable weight over driven wheels. The 1.5mm thick plastic card infill pieces have been
made to shape and secured in place by a bead of epoxy resin around the outside edge. A
pair of pre-drilled 1.5mm thick squares are welded together and countersunk both sides,
then onto the underside of the chassis to allow the bogies to pivot freely at the right height.
With everthing taken off which can be reused, it's time to send them off to meet their maker
and here they are being hauled by a Class 73. The load is probably a bit much for E6018
off the juice, so it should really be a Class 33 or at least a pair of electro diesels.
For a bit of variety (and what was available in the scrap line) this 2-BIL has joined the 2-HAL
rake, as they were being withdrawn at the same time and sent for scrap between 1969 and 1971.
Gritty reality aside, this 8-coach formation was a regular sight in the early 1970s, and has
become an ecconomical project with the release of the 4 motor bogie units. There are some
issues with the placement of bogie mounted steps due to the configuration of the different
trailing bogies used on the Hornby model. Missing or misplaced items on this subject matter
can be saved for a rainy day.
