The restoration teams at the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) and the Clacton Express Preservation Group (CEPG) are pleased to announce the successful completion of interim restoration work on Class 309 EMU vehicle BDTC No.75965.
The six-month restoration programme primarily aimed at weatherproofing the vehicle after it had experienced vandalism at its previous storage location. Key restoration efforts included:
- A full strip and repaint of body sides and roof to identify and address areas of corrosion.
- Limited metalwork and panel replacements.
- Rebuilding several damaged doors.
- Removal and cleaning of window frames, followed by re-sealing with new double-glazed units.
During the workshop phase, the decision was made to repaint the vehicle into the distinctive 1987 “Original” Network SouthEast livery, the scheme it first carried following refurbishment until its withdrawal from Great Eastern service in 1994.
The restoration project was generously supported through fundraising by the CEPG and a significant £1,500 donation from the Clacton Classic Car Club, specifically for replacing the damaged glass.
The refurbished vehicle has now been moved outdoors for public display at the Chapel Winter Beer Festival, running from today until Saturday, March 1st. Further interior restoration will be carried out ahead of The Essex Electrics Exhibition scheduled for April.
Long-term restoration plans include additional bodywork; however, immediate attention now shifts to weatherproofing the other Class 309 vehicle onsite, MBS 61928. Similar restoration works are planned for this vehicle in the upcoming months.
